forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
Modelers Lounge => Time to relax => Topic started by: Des on August 03, 2016, 03:01:42 PM
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Just for a bit of fun I have started this poll, seeing Bob taking his first flight sparked this idea, lets all get involved.
Des. (yes, I had my pilots licence)
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Always dreamt of it, never had courage or financial security to give it a go. My Flying is/was done on PC where crashing doesnt dent more than your pride. ;D
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I have my flying licence too and I fly jet liners, actually Airbus A330.
Giuseppe
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Yea I am in the same position of kornbeef!
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I just voted; the operative word of "am" (a qualified pilot) is obviously "was" in this case! Don't you just love aging?! ::)
Cheers,
Lance
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I just edited the poll Lance and added am/was a qualified pilot, this now fits my category as well, yes, getting old is a real bummer.
Des.
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Dreamed of it, been up front and held the controls on a few single engine and one twin engine while in flight. Dad was a lifetime pilot and a career USN aviator. Grew up with his stories, books and magazines. However, I ill spent my youth, got married and had kids, and the dream took a back seat that now will always be just a dream. So I read, build models.
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I have always been a passenger and love flying. I did get to take the controls on a Cetabria while flying with a friend ONCE! Not sure I spelled the aircraft name right?
RAGIII
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Lance and Des,
How many different types of aircraft did you fly and can you name them..... please :)
Cheers,
TopGun Von Yoke Yanker
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Never had a formal lesson. During my years as an A&P, I either couldn't afford it or couldn't obtain spousal approval. I did, however, taxi everything from a J-3 Cub to a Ted Smith Aerostar out to the compass rose, took off in and flew, but didn't land, Cherokees, Cessna 150s and 172s, Aerostars, Mooneys and Bonanzas. I took off, flew and landed the Cub (with a stick, not a yoke!) What a blast that was! Now that I'm married to Carol, approval is no longer an issue, but she has been so kind and generous with me when it comes to my modeling, I'd hate to press the issue. Besides, it's no longer a priority for me, although I still love to fly. It does get in your blood.
Cheers,
Bud
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I worked on them but have lots of air time. I did get some stick time on a 4 engine bird and was given control in a glider but have never gone for my license. Closest I come to flying now a days is test flying a flight simulator almost daily.
James
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Errr, does leaving by the side door count :-\
First experience was an 'acclimatisation' flight age 17 in a Handley Page Hastings - two weeks later it was the first aircraft I jumped out of :)
Tug
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Lance and Des,
How many different types of aircraft did you fly and can you name them..... please :)
Cheers,
TopGun Von Yoke Yanker
von Birdman,
I started my military career as a Navigator and later the fast version of same as an Weapons Systems Operator or Air Intercept Navigator as the RCAF called us. To enhance my chances of being selected for Pilot Training I took my initial Private Pilot Training at my own expense, and flew Cessna 150's, the Citabria, the Cherokee, Cessna 172's and the 180 briefly. After training on Beechcraft Musketeers, Tutors, and the T-33 I then flew the Voodoo, CF-5, T-33 and CF18 Hornet both operationally and as a Flight Instructor during my RCAF service. Total flight time just under 3,750 hours, mostly in Fighters and before that, 3993 hours as a Navigator
I feel so very fortunate to have realised my childhood ambition to fly, and yes, I miss it at times. It doesn't help that my neighbour flies a Bearcat from his back field! Number 1 on my Bucket List is to get a trip in a rebuilt or replica "Stringbag" like the TVAL BE.2's for example, that would be a true thrill in my books. Oh yes, I also, like Tug, stepped over the side of a perfectly serviceable aircraft just for fun in my youth, logging over a dozen jumps as a sport jumper, still wonder what led me down that path!
I had several "rides" in the Hornet as a Guest well after retirement as recently as 14 years back, and found that "it" all pretty well came back almost immediately. Being told that "we don't fly formation THIS close any more" while doing so made me feel very smug, the fellow who'd signed for the jet was probably just trying to make an old Fart feel like he was somebody!
There's already been some good advice given here, von Buckle, but I'll add to it; as many have indicated, go for it as much as you can and if the money angle gets difficult, try the more affordable rewards of Gliding. As you get older the good health that allows you these choices will inevitably abandon you, just ask me!
At the risk of becoming maudlin, I'll offer the great words of Ernest Hemingway, "You love a lot of things if you live around them, but there isn't any woman, and there isn't any horse, not any before, not any after, that is as lovely as a great airplane."
As has already been said here, your "adventure" has kindled many great memories, thanks for that, and Manni, Borsos, Martin, Bertl, and all of my German friends here please forgive the inevitable mis-spelling and errors.........."Hals und bienbricht" von Buckle!! (I sure hope that's close enough to at least bring the correct version to mind!!)
Cheers,
Lance
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Bob,
I took my first flying lesson at age 16 (1966), didn't even have my car licence so dad had to drive me to the field, took first solo after 15 hours. Gained my private licence at age 17, I never flew professionally but only for pleasure. I was endorsed to fly Victa Airtourer, Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Cessna 180, Beechcraft Duchess (twin), Tiger Moth and various ultra light aircraft. I was forced to hand my licence in after my heart attack in 1997 but flying is still, after my wife, my one true love.
Go for it Bob, your first solo will be an experience you will never forget, I still remember mine as if it happened yesterday.
Des.
I forgot to mention Bob that during my years of flying I clocked up close to 3,500 hours, because I loved flying so much I spent as much time as possible behind the stick or as much time as finances would allow, in the later years it became very expensive. I remember my very first flying lesson cost me $13 for a one hour lesson, solo flights cost me $9 an hour.
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I followed my childhood dream and don't regret it for one second. Glider licence through the Air Training Corps at 17, Private licence at 21 ( I had to sell both my motorbikes for that!) then when I reached 34 I sold my house and MGB, moved to the USA and did the rest of my training. I now have
nearly 9,000 hours and just got rated on my largest aircraft yet, the King Air 300. 2,600 hours as an instructor, 6 months bush flying in Guyana, 8 months flying in the Caribbean, and 5 years flying single pilot for a small airline on Cessna 402 and 208s. My most memorable flight, apart from the first, would either be 1/2 hour in a Stearman or my flight to Duxford with Brian Lecomber in his Extra!
Ian
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Started learning to fly in the early 70s in NZ. Started with a DH82A Tiger Moth and got a few hours in on Cessnas and Cherokees. Later, as a defence reporter with the media, I got the chance to get flight time in the RNZAF's fleet with particular hands on experience of the CT4 Airtrainer and (my favourite) a C130 Hercules and many memorable hours flying with 3 Squadron's Iroquois helicopters. Happy memories!
Now I fly a (modelling) desk :)
Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
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I have always been a passenger.
But I was allowed to take my hands on the stick while flying through the mesas in Venezuelan Jungle and across the Angel Falls. It was so overwhelming, just great.
The other time I flew with a sailplane over the german alps and saw Schloss Neuschwanstein and some Carpricorns.
But I have to say I am always a bit concerned, when flying with a big plane. But I have to do that because my job makes it necessary
Manni
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I began taking flying lessons with the Edmonton Flying Club in 1966 when I was still 17, and
because of a relocation, stopped it "temporarily" just after soloing. The only model I flew was a
Fleet Canuck, a high-wing, fabric covered tail-dragger. Lance might know what they looked like. :D
Anyway, the "break" in the instruction turned out sadly to be permanent, as life then heart
troubles got in the way. Today I am still in love with flying as it is pretty hard not to be once
you get a taste of it, but unfortunately it is from the ground, looking up. :( :'( ;) ;D
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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"Lance might know what they looked like."
My oh my, Ernie, you wouldn't believe the number of Guys I've known over the years who started their flying lives on those Fleets at the Edmonton Muni! Now it's a vacant field awaiting the Builders next move and like the Canucks will soon be only a memory; you must really look back with fondness on those days!
Cheers,
Lance
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Single Engine, land-sea, commercial, Instrument, flight instructor and A & P, flew the mission field in the Caribbean and south America did some work as a float plane pilot in the world of part 135 (on demand charter) but have not flown in years. Kids in college and an ex-wife had to have a steady paycheck.
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Like Ian my earliest experiences were in the Air Training Corps, where my eyesight unfortunately prevented me winning a powered Flying Scholarship, although I was able to get my glider licence with them. My first solo was terrifying as I went up on a ground winch, reaching 1,000ft when the Slingsby Tandem started to vibrate like hell! In a cold sweat I tried to work out what was wrong - of course I had forgotten to release the tow and was being cranked down to earth like a kite! Once I pulled the toggle all was well but I really can't remember a thing about the rest of that first circuit!
Got lots of hands-on in DH Chipmunks, including a flight with one mad instructor who took us UNDER the Forth Rail Bridge from Edinburgh Turnhouse. Don't think he'd still be flying if he tried it these days!
One of the biggest disappointments of my life was at ATC annual camp at RAF Waddington, where we were told we would be taken up in a Lancaster in groups of six or so. I was in the third group and it landed after the second trip with oil pouring out of an engine, signalling end of flying for the foreseeable future. Wonder what the cost of a flight like that would be today?
More recently my younger son joined the Air Cadets and won a powered scholarship and now, post Uni, is currently going through RAF entry procedures, so if he ever gets to fly in the Battle of Britain unit I might dream of a flight in a Lancaster yet!!!
Sandy
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Up until last year I worked in the oil industry, then after the oil price crashed I was made redundant, along with 20000 of my colleagues (just in one company). Bad times in the oilfield. As it turns out it was the best thing that ever happened to me, I'm now training full time for my ATPL. Flying was the only thing I even considered doing for a living after I was laid off. All this is mainly why I haven't posted on here for so long.
I'm over half way through ground school now and if everything goes well I'll be heading across the pond to Phoenix in October for the fun part, which even includes 3 hours in an Extra. Hopefully this time next year I'll be with an airline doing a type rating.
I did some flying when I was younger before University and work put a stop to it, and I never got my PPL. Most of my flying was in PA28s with a few flights in a TB9. I once got to fly a Yak 52 which was an incredible experience.
As a passenger I've been up in a Stearman and a Tiger Moth, to me that's proper flying although both of those were in hot countries. I don't think I'd go up in short sleeves in an open cockpit even in summer in the UK!
Tom
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I'm afraid for flying , just not a very comfortable experience on my last flight . Weird though , I love aircraft one of mans greatest invention :)
Terri
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Like Ian and Sandy I was in the ATC and went up in Chipmunks and gliders.
I never got a license which I regret now as it would have cost nothing back then. I remember when in RAF Hendon the pilots winging about a famous DJ and TV personality who lived neighbouring the airfield (I dare not mention the name for fear of a lawsuit but most Brits would know who I am talking about). He would fly his helicopter across the airspace above the airfield much to the anger of the RAF personnel. One particular pilot said he will ram the B&*$'&D if he ever does it while he is up. Low and behold he was up in the air with a cadet when the afore mentioned helicopter took a cut over the airfield. The pilot made a swooping dive for the helicopter and most probably scared the crap out of the well known personality flying the chopper much to the amusement of those on the ground. I will of course never know what reaction there was in the helicopter but I have never been able to see the guy in the same light since.
Alan.
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I started to learn to fly, but ran out of money before I got far.
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" I'm now training full time for my ATPL. Flying was the only thing I even considered doing for a living after I was laid off."
Tom,
Good on you, I admire your spirit and determination. Go at it with a vengeance, enjoy, and all the best in your quest!
Cheers,
Lance
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Sadly, I'll never have the money to do this. Through my ignorance in my youth (young, dumb, and full of . . . .well you know, at least that's what we used to say at Infantry School at Benning) I never knew that my G.I. Bill would have paid for flying lessons, and for multiple ratings. I only thought it was for "college".
I envy all of you who are able to do this.
Warren
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Some truly inspirational stories - thanks guys!
Amazing!!!
von LighterThanAir
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Wow, lovely to see all the varied types of flying here, and read about some great experiences! Also an ex-PPL checking in, I did go solo at 17 then had to stop due to studies. Then spent a lot of time as GIB with the Red Cross Air Ambulance, as I was in Trauma and Emergency, so then I did a lot of time as aeromedical crew, flying out of Cape Town to many small South African towns and Southern African counties. We started off with a Piper Chieftain, then graduated to two Cessna Citation II's, fitted out as well as Intensive Care with a large door for stretchers... Lots of fun flying into tiny towns with unpaved runways. Later Also PC 12's, really sturdy and surprisingly spacious... This was all volunteer work and unpaid. Later on went to get a PPL and had lot of fun, but now family and work take up too much energy... Looking back in my log book lots of time on C150, and 152, Piper 140, 180, and one of my favourites, the 177 Cardinal, also Piper Arrow(PA-28R-200) with all the goodies, and even some time in a Citabria... Good times!
Regards,
Marc
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Thanks very much for the fantastic response to this poll, it is wonderful to read all the stories that have been posted, when it comes to flying what a variety of members we have here and all with their own story to tell, I hope more members join in.
Des.
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For someone who has been intereted in aircraft since they were about ten years old I have flown only four times in my life. Once was in a De Havilland Dragon Rapide at Old Warden, last year. Once was from Manchester to Amsterdam in some nondescript airliner, in 1999, and then the return flight a few days later.
But my first was the best. I would have been about 15 years old and as a member of the Air Training Corps we got the opportunity to fly an RAF Chipmunk at RAF Finningley (Now Robin Hood Airport). I remember the film about how to bale out in an emergency, and the safety talk almost put me off doing it but I waddled out to the aircraft with the parachute and was strapped into the back seat by the groundcrew guy and then, once we had clearance, the RAF pilot took off and up to about 3000ft.
He asked if I wanted a go (I can't remember the exact procedure but it was something about him saying "you have control" and I replying "I have control"). I took the stick and was very surprised at how little movement it needed as we went diving toward the ground! The pilot, cool as a cucumber, and in a stereotypical posh English voice calmly said "Pull up, old chap, you're not in a Spitfire, you know". After that I remember gently banking round in wide circles and looking down on Thorne Moors until he took over and brought us in to land. I think the total flying time was about 20 minutes but I will always remember it. :)
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What an awesome, wonderful experience Squiffy.
Warren
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When I was young I would have liked to be able to fly, but I was soon discouraged because I was wearing glasses. I realised too late that I would have been able to get a gliders licence. My maiden flight as a passenger was on a F27 Troopship of the RNLAF when I had to serve there. I got the chance to fly quite often in these planes and also in a Bölkow 105B.
Nowadays I'm a frequent flyer with KLM. I always want to have a window seat as somehow I'm able to navigate. If the weather is clear that is. I remember on time flying from Crete to the Netherlands when I realised we were flying above Bosnia and I asked the flight attendent whether or not that was safe at that time (1995), but she didn't know. Within 5 minutes I was asked into the cockpit and the pilot confirmed my guess and told me it was allowed above a certain height. He pointed Sarajewo and Belgrad out to me.
Thinking about what has happened to MH17 in the Ukraïne, we now know how safe safe can be.
regards,
Ivo
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I am lucky to have a friend who has a plane and landing strip.
I do not have a pilot's license and fly only as a passenger.
I invite all lovers of flying !
Info: http://www.zalasem1.cba.pl/english/main.html
Greetings.
Jacek