I’m not going to pull out every Cessna, Piper, Mooney, etc. bug smasher I’ve flown, nor any helicopters or sailplanes. But, here’s a quick list off the top of my head (With some memory aide of family and friends here that I’ve flown with for a couple of decades.) of some of the more interesting aircraft I’ve flown, that most folks don’t often get the opportunity to.
I Count my blessing every day that I have had the opportunity to be a part of an awesome industry. One that is actually quite small. Where fellow aviators treat you as a friend. One where you can make lots of friends. I rarely if ever said no when any offer was made to either ride along in the cockpit, or solo anyone’s aircraft. Going to ERAU opened many of these doors to me as well. I worked for both Evergreen International and Boeing. Those two opened a lot of doors !!
Aviation isn’t necessarily a “What you know” industry as much as a “Who you know.” Never burn a bridge. Always jump at any opportunity to leave the ground.
Me:
Airline Transport Pilot.
Airplane Multiengine Land and Sea.
Rotorcraft. (Comm Privileges)
Glider. (Comm Privileges)
ME-CFII.
Mechanic - Airframe.
Mechanic - Powerplant.
Inspection Authorization (A&P/IA)
AS Aviation Maintenance Technology - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
BS Aerospace Engineering - Texas A& M University (Never used it.).
BS Aviation Maintenance Management - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
AS Aviation Business Administration - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
MBA - Texas Christian University (TCU – NSB).
MBA(Aviation Management) - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, DBC online.
Two Caterpillar Club pins. (Not a fun accievment.)
Some of the Vintage (50s-60s):
Beech 18
Lockheed 18 Loadstar
DC-3
DC-6/7
L-0149 Connie
P-3
CV-2B
DHC-2
DHC-3
DHC-4
DHC-6
Most of the Warbirds (WWII):
PT-17
PT-22
BT-9
BT-13
T-6
P-51D TF/H
CV-F4U
F-6F
B-24
B-25
A-26
Some more Warbirds (Other):
Sopwith F1 Camel Replica (never again)
L-4
L-5
L-16
L-17
L-19/O-1
OV-1
T-41
T-28
T-33
T34 A/B/C
SF-260
Grumman S-2
HU-16 L&S
C-123
P2V
141 Gnat
BAC T5 A
EE Canberra Mk2
Rockwell T2
Aero L-39
Others perhaps worth mentioning:
Part 121 Ratings (Big Boys)–
DC8
DC9
L1011
B707
B727
B737
B757
B767
Part 91/135 (Corporates)
Citation (CJ1-4, E & XLS)
Citation X
C-675 (& Amphibian)
PC-6
PC-12
Lear Jet (35/45/55/60)
Beech 400A
Gulfstreem (350-550)
B/C Challenger 300 / 600
I'm sure I probably left a few cool ones out, but oh well. Short notice list.
