Quote:
Originally Posted by bigchillcar
that's the plane i'd always wanted to fly..the 'classic' 747..had several models of them as a kid and still have every 'airport movie' on old vhs..  i just really loved it..never got a chance to fly one of course.
and you're right about the warrior..i spend a great deal of time each week giving instrument instruction/ipc's in warriors/cherokees/arrows. they're my favorite 'trainer platform' for doing instrument training.  although it would be nice to fly 'just one' with decent gyros and radios..  |
Incidently, the movie "Air Force One" was filmed using N704CK, a Kalitta Air airplane that I've flown around the world.
The "whale" is a great airplane to fly. I've learned that the bigger they are, the easier they are to fly, and the 747 flies great. It is easy if you are used to transport-catagory jets' decent profiles. You have to be careful with this airplane: Despite appearances, it is EVERY bit as maneuverable as a 727 or a Piper Seminole. The problem: There are four 13,000 pound engine/pylon assemblies on that wing, and if you really rack it over hard...you can actually throw one of them off. It is a little hard to land smooth, since there are four main gear trucks. It has one big vice however: It uses runway like you won't believe! Holy *****! My first takeoff in this thing was from rwy 32 up in Anchorage, and when we reached rotation speed...there was literally NO runway remaining! Same thing when landing. You land, you let the autobrakes do their thing...and the plane just goes on down the runway. "Hell-o! Wow...those red lights are coming up quick!" After you finally stop, you look back at the flight engineers' panel, and you can litterally watch the brake temperature gauges climb into the yellow and red bands...
If I were going to buy a light airplane, I'd buy either a Warrior or one of the Hershey-bar wing Cherokees. They fly nice, and feel MUCH more solid than the Cessna 152 or 172. You're right though- finding an IFR PA-28 that has been maintained properly isn't that easy.
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