I've heard a number of allusions to flying in the threads here and was curious how many of us are pilots or are learning to be pilots.

Who's a pilot, and what are you certified to fly? (I'm sure Mistress will be interested in this since she's now learning to fly.)

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

No man...she said FRY !!!! as in plantain chips

She's not into cooking. She's into soaring. Soaring, not snoring . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

damn miracle ear....

I'm not a pilot, but I used to "tell them where to go" -- I was an Electronic Warfare Officer (a specialized type of Navigator) on B-52s. Thus, I'm just about as knowledgeable as pilot types about flying, but since I've been out for about ten years, I'm certainly not up on the FARs and such. The only stick time I have is about three hours in a T-37.

Pilot here with a Mooney. If you've never heard of Mooney go to www.mooney.com

I'm certified as a Private Pilot with single engine privileges. I also have an instrument rating which is an operating privilege that is attached to the pilot certificate. It allows me to navigate and control the airplane without visual reference to the ground, such as when flying in clouds. This is done only with reference to the instruments on the airplane. It requires additional training and instruction beyond what is required for a Private Pilot certificate, including rules and procedures specific to instrument flying, additional instruction in meteorology and more intensive training in flight solely by reference to instruments.


Herb

So, Herb, was the test for your instrument rating fraught with anxiety? I can imagine that it would be. I wonder if JFK Jr. had that? Probably not. Wouldn't that make flying through fog possible?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I can't land in fog. Once you break out through the clouds you need to have adequate visibility to land visually. The legal minimums for me in approaching an airport are 1/2 mile visibility and a 200 cloud ceiling.

JFK didn't have an instrument rating. Although he was perfectly legal to fly at night since he did have training in order to obtain his certificate. He may not have the recent practice flying at night....I don't know. However, the theory is that he got disoriented by losing the visual horizon when flying over water and got into what is known as the "graveyard spiral." If he wasn't looking at his instruments and just trusted what he "felt," thats how he got into trouble.

More on graveyard spirals: http://www.aero.ca/e_graveyard_spiral.html

Herb

Also, don't forget the all-important "Kennedy Curse."

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Got my Private Pilot ticket in June of 1993. No instrument rating. I fly recreationally and not very often of late. Career change, marriage, 4 teenagers and just the daily grind tend to affect the disposable income. I'm trying to talk the boss into buying a plane so I can wear still another hat in the firm. The need for more frequent expeditious travel may steer him that way, at which time I will probably start working on the Instrument rating.
Chuck.

__________________
1983 M-B 240D-Gone too.
1976 M-B 300D-Departed.

"Good" is the worst enemy of "Great".

That's the way to do it, Chuck. Get somebody else to pay for your hobby. Good luck.

What business are you in, anyhow?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Pilot? Hell no. Not me. Never will be. I hate aircraft of any type, and want nothing to do with them.

They are dangerous and should be completely outlawed. Removed from the face of the planet. Just like all firearms, cars that can break the speed limit and rock-n-roll music.

Pilots are the devil in disguise, and aircraft are merely his evil winged chariots.

__________________
1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

I think planes should be registered. Planes kill people, you know. . . I read about it all the time. They really are just too dangerous. Only the government should be allowed to own and operate them.

Thank you for your astute observations WVO. What DO you do for a living, anyhow?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

My aviation career has all been a big lie.

I actually live in a old converted ’72 Blu-Bird school bus. I steal candy from the local mini-mart and sell it to little kids for money to support my drug use.
I have no wife, nor kids. It’s just me. My bus. My drugs. Oh - and my collection of over 5,000 pristine (still in unopened boxes) Barbies from the 1950/60s that I keep duct-taped to the bottom of the bus so nobody can find them.

As soon as I can steal a new set of tires and some gas for the bus - I’m heading over to your house. I hope your mom will let us play with your Barbie collection. Maybe we can even make some trades.

__________________
1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

Good one WVO. I'll keep a light on in the window.

I'm glad we can all finally let down the facades and be ourselves!

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles