Quote:
Originally Posted by Normy
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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normy..how interesting! thanks for the insight into the airplane. i think there may be a dvd you can buy from sportys that takes you on a 'real flight' in one, but i could be wrong. i'd love to have it if it exists. i was born a few years too late. actually, just turned 42 today.
yeah, show me almost any piper warrior or cherokee tied down at most fbo's and i'll show you a single-axis a/p that doesn't work, a dg that precesses, compass that hasn't been swung in a decade..and radios? don't get me started down that path..
