1946 piper with floats
 

I saw this the other day and thought Id go down to the marina and take a pic. When I got there the owner was getting ready to move it for the winter. Really nice guy, let me bother him with some questions and take a look.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323377831.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323377883.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1323377911.jpg

Taildraggers
 

The instructor has a 150 taildragger? Those are pretty rare because it has to be a conversion. Cessna never made a taildragger 150. Supposedly the quality of the different conversions can be quite different.

It can be difficult to rent a taildragger because the insurance rates tend to be high.

A Taylorcraft would be a great plane to learn in. You will actually learn about adverse yaw in a Taylorcraft and/or most taildraggers. A spam can will almost not teach you about adverse yaw.

The 150 Aerobat is fun but it doesn't really fly any different from a "normal" 150 or 152. The only real difference is that the frame is beefed up so that it is certified for limited aerobatics. You are not likely to be doing any aerobatics as a student other than maybe some spins. Besides, the normal 150/152/172 is certified for spins.

Try to get spin training if you can. Not the currently required "spin avoidance/prevention" but true spin training. Being able to get yourself out of a fully developed spin is a good skill to have both for the skill itself and the confidence it gives. It makes you less fearful of stalls if you know you can get out of a fully developed spin, not just "avoid" one. Most pilots either love or hate doing spins. BTW, unless you do not like your upholstery, do not practice spins with a passenger!

I was wrong on the 2 seat Cessna, it is a 140.

Well I've got a little over 7 hours in now, the weather hasn't really been cooperating, but I'm doing a little better. The only time the instructor took over was when we went out with a front coming in and the turbulence started nocking us around. We went back to the airport and just worked on takeoffs and landings that day. I'm impressed with you guys that soloed at 6 hours or so. I'm doing better on the landings but its still a pain worrying about the radio and lining up correctly with the wind bumping you around. The instructor said I'm doing fine and told me last time I need to bring my logbook and medical with me in the plane. I'm set up for three more times next week and then I'm on vacation for a couple of weeks. I plan on studying for my written while I'm on vacation.

Logbook and medical has to be in the plane? Why? OH! Maybe to help ID the bodies in case of a crash?

I am sure that is supposed to be green. More likely close to solo time.

he wants you to bring it so he can sign you off to go solo!!

but probably because, yes you have to have your medical with you in case you get ramped..

GUYS DAMMIT!!!

How about we let things go naturally and be a SURPRISE!!!

dont wear a nice shirt when you take your logbooks with you....

Yep..it was...sorry.

Awesome achievement on your first day....Happy Flying!!

do a couple spins with the instructor.. my first spin was on my first solo. exciting!

Great advise... but make sure you are ready. They took this off of the FAA training program but IMHO this needs to be taught to ever student.

Before you know it, you'll be doing this:

(which by the way, is the definition of haulin' A$$!! )

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1324769479.jpg

At that temp, bet you are shoveling JetA out the tailpipe...

BTW, thats cheating with a 100+ knot tailwind...

No tail wind here. Hit 185 (GS), but did not get the pic.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1324709169.jpg

Ha! exactly.. I think it averaged @ a 94knot direct tailwind today! and we were only at 38,000 ft in this pic burning about 1,150 pph a side, but the TAS and Mach numbers don't lie! :)

Dave, we have iPads and WiFi on our planes, so they are quite useful!

No wifi for us. :) Just a little GPS unit to throw on top of the instrument panel for the iPad.

What setup/program are you using with the iPad?

The app in the pic is by Jeppesen, although there is also a Foreflight app. Using one of these for the GPS unit.
XGPS150 Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver

looks good. We use a Jepp app also, but just for charts and approach plates.. It does have a moving map, but we dont need it as the plane has its own, so we turn that feature off.