First Time in a Small Plane...ya, I get it.
 

I have been flying commercially for almost 30 years. The past several years almost on a weekly basis. I didn't like it. Actually there was a time I really really hated it. There was nothing about it I enjoyed and to make matters worse I would get anxiety attacks - but I had professional positions that paid really well and were very interesting so I sucked it up. Past few years I have basically figured out a way to deal with the anxiety - meditate. I tried to medicate - nope. Meditate. Works like a champ.

A client needed me on short notice to be in Mississippi and a commercial flight would have been over $700 plus car to drive 2+ hours, hotel and food - this guy was gonna shell out over $1800 for my T&L and not even begin my billable rate. So he asked "you mind small planes? I can have one of the company planes get you in the AM and you will be back in the PM same day." What the heck. OK. He even told me the plane had a parachute! What could go wrong. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1510876818.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1510876818.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1510876818.jpg
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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1510876818.jpg

Nothing went wrong. It was actually amazing. Loved it. Only way to fly! The plane was a 2008 Cirrus. On the way home we hit some chop - 30 knot winds provided a bit of turbulence but only for a few minutes. Other wise it was awesome.

So to you pilots out there...ya, I get it. Makes me want to make serious $$$ to get one and take lessons.

I’ve spent most of my life flying small aircraft (helicopters under 12,500 lbs). There is something special about getting in a small pane/helicopter on an early sunrise flight and escaping the rat race below.

I loathe commercial airline flying - everything about it.

Looks like you had a great flight!

And you can take bottles of liquid, handguns or tequila. No TSA involved.

Shhhhhhhh.




They’ll here you.

And you don’t have to pretend your dog is a service animal.

I really like mine. And I take mine on longer trips. But small planes are very limited by the weather. It took me two days to get home from St. Louis due to the weather a few weeks ago. And it’s only about 6 hours of flying time.

But that said I think I need to see how Key West is doing since the Hurricane. It’s a 1hr flight vrs a 4-5 hr Drive.

Sweet! Cirrus is a nice A/C.

Good for you - envious!

We were going about 165 knots which is about 185mph? The pilot said he had it faster with the right conditions.

So, are planes like bikes and boats? You are never satisfied with what you have, you always want the next best one?

n+1

My grandfather was a bush pilot out of West Yellowstone MT, flying a radial engine. I'm 60. He died in his sleep.

I should have been an astronaut. Don't know what motion sickness feels like. Love to fly. It seems to me that flying a plane must be about as much fun as you can have with your pants on.

Mike? Any good at wrenching? You could build yourself one of these stunt rated things.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1510894942.jpg

So how'd you like Natchez?

Sometimes small planes aren't the best answer. Years ago a high school buddy who was a high dollar attorney thought one would offer advantages. He got his license & bought one a little bigger than the one Mike flew in. He used it to fly to San Francisco, L.A., Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, etc. & was chauffeured to the clients place. A few years later I asked him about it, & he said he sold it. Said he'd rather take a commercial flight first class, where he could relax, work, & read. After he flew to his destinations, navigated busy air ports, and arranged to store his plane, he said he was much more tired than taking a commercial flight.

Some of the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

Go take a few lessons, you’ll love it!!!

So you've experienced the freedom of moving in three dimensions.
The incredible perspective of looking down upon the earth.

There is nothing more challenging, yet so relaxing, as flying the airplane.
One hour in the airplane, and I'm as refreshed as if I spent a week on a tropical beach.

Absolute fun even if I have nowhere to go, just up and back down.
Now to use an airplane for transportation:
- No schedule. Come and go as you please.
- No TSA security hoopla. Though I did once tell my wife that as Pilot-in-Command I'm in charge of security, and she had been "randomly selected for an enhanced pat-down"
-Commercial airlines serve dozens of airports. That Cirrus you flew has access to thousands. I have friends in McKinney, TX. I can buy a ticket to DFW and rent a car for the hour-and-a-half drive, or.... Land at McKinney!

Getting a pilot's license takes time, money, and perseverance. Thus, aviation attracts high-quality people. Fun people. Interesting people.

Nothing else like it.
Glad you had the opportunity.

try a Glider !!

One of my buddies has two airplanes. The Cessna 210 Turbo is a super nice example. He often flies off for a $200 burrito with some other buddies. The food is actually regular price, but the round trip up to Ponca City cost $200 in fuel and engine time.

He also has a 1948 140 to play with.

If you have room for a couple of passengers, let me know. ;) We were planning on driving from FLL to Key West on December 15. We used to love to take the last leg on Cape Air in their Cessnas. But they left the market.

I never knew you were Robert De Niro ! ;-)

Those little things move way more up and down in rough air, I learned to fly them at 16 and remember it took me a while to get used to it... Stopped for 30 years and recently took it up again, same deal... Wow, lots of up and downs drafts ;-)

Learned to fly at a USAF aero club in SoCal. Would just rent the plane to go fool around, no where to go. Maybe take a cruise over the hills down into the desert or maybe spiral up and fly over Big Bear. Or just go out to one of our "practice" areas and practice maneuvers. An absolute blast.

Go take a lesson or two and get some stick time. It just might make you go the route and get your ticket. It's a great way to spend some hard earned cash.

Ive spent a few dozen hours in gen av planes, and worked at continental motors as an intern.

I know lots of people who fly. Its not for me and don't get it honestly. Price to fun ration is pretty low for me personally

You don't have to fly with pants on. :D

I’m at PGD, as far as I know I’ll be around. I generally leave here around 10:00 and leave there around 4:00. That’s usually enough time for me to go from Mallory Square, eat lunch, and stroll down Duval. That’s usually enough for me, but it’s not a hard and fast rule. It’s my plane, I can come and go when I want.

There is a guy at the airport that is fixing up an old DC3 for trips like this, not sure if there is a market for it, but that’s his plan.

It’s definatly not cheap, it’s just one of those things I always wanted to do, but only had the time and money after I quit working. I was 55 when I bought the plane and got my ppl. I’m 60 now and honestly don’t know how long I’ll be able to fly. I did just get my class 3 medical yesterday. But who know if in 10 years I’ll still be able to. So at least I can fly now.

And I don’t want to burden my kids with a large estate.:)

One of my former employers took his final flight as pilot in command on his 92nd birthday. He started flying before WW2. He never had an emergency, never had an off airport landing or damaged an aircraft. He had a perfect safety record and more flying hours than he cared to log.

Glad you enjoyed your flight. The Cirrus is a pretty fancy airplane in the general aviation world.

I had a Mooney 201 for several years, and really enjoyed. The problem with general aviation flying, as mentioned, is weather. It costs huge bucks to get an aircraft that can fly into most conditions.