How many Pilots are on this board?

[avi8torny]

started flying Cessna 150's in 1977 at Zahns Airport on L.I. and now flying Huey II's in this great country of ours.

[rexav8r]

I've had a couple beers in a couple of different countries...

A few weed-eaters: PA-28; C-150/172; Grumman Yankee & a couple different Bonanzas (my cousins)

Uncle Sams toys: T-41; T-37/T-38; C-141; C-5; C-17

CML: DC-8 (front seat and plumber); MD-11

I'd really like to fly a 'real' Boing one day... I hear that's nice. I'd also like to fly one of those gorgeous business jets...

My Fantasies: P-51; B-17; Lanceair; one of those James Bond type cars that turns into a plane !!!

[on2wheels52]

Got a PL in '93 but haven't been up in years, somehow lost intrest in that area. My 100 hours is pretty pale in this company.
Jim

[wdfifteen]

Puttered around in the 70s for about 100 hrs. I decided it was a too-expensive hobby - and that was when a PA-128 was $35 an hour! Went back a few years ago a put a few hours in a 172 at $75 an hour. Again decided my fun money was better spent somewhere else.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Puttered around in the 70s for about 100 hrs. I decided it was a too-expensive hobby - and that was when a PA-128 was $35 an hour! Went back a few years ago a put a few hours in a 172 at $75 an hour. Again decided my fun money was better spent somewhere else.

I agree that it is a rather expensive hobby..... I started out with the sole intention of only flying my scratch built ultralight. When my ultralight was nearing completion, I decided I had better take some flying lessons at least through solo before attempting to fly what I had just spent 1.5 years of my life building. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to get my private pilot.

Once I got to know the local EAA guys, I got wrapped up in it. I eventually realized I could not afford to continue playing with "certified" airplanes unless I could do my own work on them. Fortunately I was ambitious enough at the time to obtain my AP and later my IA ratings. I lucked into my current situation of having my own runway and I kind of doubt I would still be dabbling in it if I was still paying for annuals, hangar rent etc as I am not rolling in dough with my current mechanical engineering job.

[Danimal16]

320 hours, Instrument rated. Cost to much to stay current, even in those days.

[romad]

Story similar to many here......Commercial/Instrument/Multi/CFI/A&P Med'ed out of a Air guard slot and was between jobs in the early 90's. Took what I thought was a temporary Engineering job and that was the end of the flying career. Money was better, home every night, no more physicals or check rides every 6 months. As Porsche oh phile said " Flying is much more fun on someone eles dime."

Outside of the military and a major its a hugh grind with lower pay than many expect. When I tell people they are very surprise that commuter FOs back in the late 80's were making 13500 a year and had to buy their uniforms and sometime their training. And don't get me started on crash pads.....it would probable make a good sit-com.

After the first 1000 hours...and getting paid. Flying light aircraft at 75-200 dollars a hour just doesn't have that appeal anymore.

[Joeaksa]

I have a couple of hours in airplanes.

Below is my work and fun offices...



Used to fly one of these...

[Seahawk]

Just over 4000 hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

I just fly for fun now...my neighbor has his own strip and J-3 so we go flying once a month or so.

He has the desire to stay current, I don't: He let's me sandbag for gas money

[dar636]

This forum is awesome, lot's of good company in these pages. My car has certainly been improved from the things I've learned here and the off-topic stuff gets pretty intertaining, this thread as an example.

When I left high school college wasnt an option. The future was sort of blank until a friend who while in the midst of his ATP training took me flying one summer day in 1977, I found that this flying was something I just had to do. At the time the military and commercial pilot routes werent an option but the FAA mechanics route was. This choice has served me very well through a combination of timing, luck and skill, in non-equal portions. My career could not be repeated today, unfortunately.

Flying has always been a lifestyle goal vs. a career. I needed to be able to own my aircraft, perform all the work myself (in a hangar too) and flying could never be a means of financial support. Aviation has always been my career, but I promised myself flying would never be something I accepted money for. Flying remains one of the few things I do that is a compete escape for the stress of living in the modern world. And I'm lucky in that working and just being around these old light aircraft is nearly as rewarding as flying them.

95% of my flights are with friends, family or just someone who wanted a ride. I have a perfect traveling machine that takes me to Oshkosh and Reno each year but I spend a lot of my time just tooling around the Pacific NW looking out the window with the dog.

I think I am going to go make some noise now.

FAA A&P mechanic, Inspection Authorization. FAA DAR-T and DAR-F. Bermuda DAI, owner of a FAA certification and engineering consulting company. On my 5th aircraft, 4 of which came in boxes or on trailers. Next one is a Dehavilland Beaver. When I am done with the Beaver I plan to work back down the list of aircraft I have owned until I am back at the beginning with a Champ.

[cashflyer]

Navigator / Intel Specialist on OV-1 Mohawk in the 80's for the US Army.
Earned my Private license in 96.
Earned Instrument rating and Commercial license in 1997.
Earned CFI/CFII in 1998.
Earned A&P in 2003
Earned IA in 2010
Planning on MEI later this year.

[MT930]

Just celebrated 26 Years as a Pilot. Worked as a CFI/I and passenger 135 Pilot until 91. Just for fun now in a variety singles and light twins. I'm a back country junkie. Like those back country strips Trout, Peace & Quiet !

Tim Hancock is my hero! That is a great place you have there.

[rexav8r]

I keep telling my Porsche/Auto Mechanic buds how much I envy what they get to do for a living... & I mean it... I wish I knew HALF of what a lot of these know and they just look at me like I'm crazy and think what I do and where I go is incredible and would have LOVED to have been able to get the chance, but airplanes scare them to death or make them nervous flying into a combat area or an approach down to LOW weather minimums in mountainous terrain...

It really is true.. no matter what you do, the grass really is greener in someone else's back yard !!

I love the flying and don't think I'd be happy with most any other job... Right out of college, I tried to get hired by PIXAR and Disney to make Computer Animated movies. I thought that would be cool. Look at it today.... I could have bought my own race cars and an airplane or two !!! Now, realistically, I hardly use my Computer Engineering degree, at least not for what it was meant for....

What do you guys want to be when you grow up....?? Anyone like me and go to school for one thing and end up doing something completely different.... Maybe that'd be a good thread (with a Monty Python twist) ...and now for something completely different...


P.S. I envy a lot of you guys that get to fly the cool little tail draggers around in the bush !! I never get tired of hearing buds tell those stories...

Actually, I've got a bud with a LOT of cool stories like that and he's new to this board... Where are you Thor !!!

[MauleM5-235]

500+ hours in taildraggers.

Moving back this summer to our place on a private airstrip. Will then look into getting another Maule.

The only problem is that the costs of flying as a PPL makes drug addiction look affordable!

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by dar636

When I am done with the Beaver I plan to work back down the list of aircraft I have owned until I am back at the beginning with a Champ.

Beaver is a great airplane.

When you are ready to get going on the Champ let me know. I run the biggest bulletin board on the internet for Aeronca airplanes.

Joe A

[silverwhaletail]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I am not rolling in dough with my current mechanical engineering job.

German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '87 924S, '77 924, '92 325i, '03 330i, '00 New Beetle


Your doing okay Tim.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by silverwhaletail

German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '87 924S, '77 924, '92 325i, '03 330i, '00 New Beetle


Your doing okay Tim.

In my mid 40's, I can't complain (too much ).... That said....
Most of my German cars were bought CHEAP with problems over a couple decades. I am a sucker for hardcore DIY projects. I probably spend less per year on all my motorized vehicles/hobbies combined than what many here spend on one track/hobby car.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

A man after my own heart... A friend of mine calls me the "clunker Porsche collector" but they're slowly/steadily turning into much-loved, well-running and good looking displays of automotibilia. It must be something with guys into airplanes - definitely a DIY streak there. I HATE paying people for labor knowing that virtually anything can be learned and done by oneself. Goes to cars, motorcycles, houses, etc. Most recently I've been re-grading my own site and driveway. Pay someone? F that!

Something to be said about putting your own effort, blood, sweat and tears into something. Any idiot can write a check but it takes someone with real love of something to actually put the effort into.

I love your place too... If I only had the land I'd do something similar (could only get about 400' of TODA which isn't enough in most cases...). At least we've got a strip not too far from here. An airplane is definitely in my future at some point (want to do some freelance instructing for fun). Gotta pay for the house fix-ups first though!

[Brown747]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Beaver is a great airplane.


Joe A

Beaver flying from early in my career.

Now its a "real" Boeing as my friend rexav8r says...

Thor

[Dantilla]

I goof off with this: