Dancing with angels
 

I jumped all over plthijinx's invite to go flying today. Weather postponed us until the afternoon, but when he got the go-ahead I was all over it...

When I got to the airport this baby was all fired up and ready to go.

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight01.jpg">

Yeah right. This is the real taxi:

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight02.jpg">

I like the "No Hold" warning. Just try and stop me!

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight03.jpg">

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight04.jpg">

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight05.jpg">

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight06.jpg">

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight07.jpg">

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight08.jpg">

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight09.jpg">

I gotta tell ya, Fred fools around a lot, but in the air behind the stick he is focused like a laser beam. There aren't too many people I would trust my life with like that.

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Flight10.jpg">

But damn, I'm still waiting on that Bloody Mary!

<img src="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/images/Flight03_21_04/Still%20waiting.jpg">

NbN -- outstanding! You get serious points for the multiple images of the prop sweeping past the window. Cool idea!

Hey, I can see my house from there!

Headed north-northwest at 110 knots, the plane is level but in a slight decline, altitude just over 3000, visibility 5 miles hazy with scattered clouds?

that's it, UT! ATC (air traffic control) had brought us down from 4000 to 3000 and to expect vectors for the ILS (instrument landing system) into 35L at Ellington Airfield....we had everything that day weather wise. from clear skies to in the clouds. it was awsome. it feels so good to be back in the air after so long. i had obtained my currency requirements the week before......

edit: Hey NBN make some Vid clips of some of those approaches you shot with your video camera......

What, no buxom flight attendant?:)

Awesome pictures!

I have to ask as my airplane jargon is limited to 'roger that' and 'spalsh one bogey', what does the 'no hold' sign refer to?

If, by unforunate circumstance, there is an incident... there will be no hugging.

Preflight check
 

The purpose of the preflight check is to make sure all systems of your aircraft are functioning properly, and to make sure you have all needed equipment.

The first part of this video is funny as hell. Listen closely.

BIG! 21 mb .wmv file

<a href="http://www.myrefrigerator.com/videos/Preflight%20check.wmv">Checklist</a>

that's a placard telling the pilot/copilot not to grab onto the dash because he/she could pull it right off. i.e. when scooting your seat up and using the dash as a hold so you can scoot up is a no-no.

It looks like you guys had a large time flying about . I have ALways wanted to get my piolest licence , just because !!!!
UT evedently has a beter understanding of flight insrtuments than I do , every thing looks good to me but this one guage . What does it meen ??

It is a CRM-114 discriminator.

Whazzit discriminate ?

Too many --- smart ass answers --- coming at once. --- Must leave keyboard. ----------

It is an intrinsic part of the IFR instruments. As long as you keep the needle in the circle and the flag says "TO" (that's the red thingie), you are on a radial (a radio beacon, marked on a chart as a line) TO the airport. When the flag flips from "TO" to "FROM", you just passed over the airport beacon and are now on a reciprocal heading AWAY from the airport...turn around to land or make a procedure turn to your next heading (if using the radials to navigate).

That's if I can remember correctly...I have never been IFR rated and only sometimes flew a plane with such instruments. BUT! I have read books on the subject and hangar-flown with other pilots who are instrument rated so I have at least a working idea of what those "other" gauges do.

Brian

Great pics =) Think what you're needing is a UV filter though.

that instrument is tied into the Loran navigation system. it works sort of like a vor receiver (the two instruments on top of each other on the right side of the pilots instrument panel.....) in this plane however it has only worked correctly for me once so i've never used it since that one time. i'll use the readout on the loran for headings, distances and the like. otherwise i'll use either my hand held GPS or just the VOR's. but i do cross check every instrument with one another.

that light is saying that we are using the Loran navigation system in VFR or Visual Flight Rules. nothing serious here. some may recall however a story that i told here about losing an engine in flight due to my copilot at the time.......that was this airplane that the "oh shit" took place in. in a nutshell my copilot had switched gas tanks for me and he didn't turn the selector handle far enough so the ball valve was shut and the engine quit due to fuel starvation. it didn't take me long to figure it out though.

hey Tim, make some clips of the video where you made it psychadelic (sp?)!!!

I took the hint from NbN and went out on an offer from a co-worker to explore the skies in his 1967 Cherokee Piper. After getting past the bumps, dips, and "slides" the planes goes through while dealing with turbulence at 3000 feet, I have to say that it was an amazing experience! Much more so than a trip on a commercial airliner, too, as we got to fly over places I was familiar with and could point out.

And man, can that little four-seater haul. We cruised from Tampa to Lakeland and back again in around 30min -- twice as fast as any trip down the Interstate.

Must...resist...urge... to get pilot's license... nngh... So expensive.

Pictures coming soon of this fine aircraft and the wonderful trip.

can't wait to see them!

http://fox.org/~vince/log/images/20040420/67cp.jpg

1967 Cherokee Piper -- amazing little plane.

http://fox.org/~vince/log/images/20040420/67cp3.jpg

I felt in good hands with the pilot despite his pre-flight check consisting of an engine stall halfway down the taxiway followed by "whoops, forgot to turn on the fuel". To give him proper credit, it was the smoothest landings I've ever experienced on return.

http://fox.org/~vince/log/images/20040420/67cp4.jpg

Florida -- its a very, very flat place. Pictures would have been better, but the windows were pretty old and had plenty of marks to blur everything up and make dozens of images useless.

But wow, what a time. There is nothing as amazing as flight.

Its going to take me days to shake my craving to invest in a license, now. Damn.

Uh oh, When they say "invest", they've lost their sole to the god of flight.:)

Kitsune, you wouldn't happen to be active military, reserve or retired military, would you? If so, MWR offers reduced lessons (like 50% off) at NAS Jax.

I flew there and also at Norfolk NAS (Chambers Field). Saved a bunch on my license.

Brian

MWR offers reduced lessons (like 50% off) at NAS Jax.

No, I'm not military and its not really the price of the classes I'm worried about. My concern is the plane rental of $180/hour following actually getting the license and the unaffordable life insurance with a policy that reads something like, "We expect this person to die in a plane accident. Just a guess."

With the mandatory hours your have to fly each year to keep the license, I think it gets a bit steep after class is long over with.

A HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DOLLARS AN HOUR?!?!?:eek:

holy hell! i can rent a piper tomahawk or a cessna 150 and/or 152 for $51/hr wet!! for $189/hr wet i can rent a beech bonanza! shop around dude, you can find them much cheaper.

edit: piper cherokee warrior $69/hr, cherokee archer $79/hr piper cherokee arrow $105/hr (i think, haven't flown the arrow since before my divorce, lack of funds) all prices are "wet" aka fuel included

Gag! You must rent from a mighty expensive flight school

I pay $47 for a 152 wet, and used to pay $59 wet for the PA-28 until someone augered in with it. The old military trainer (T-34B) goes for $79 wet and it's rated for simple aerobatics!

Like plthijinx said...shop around!

Brian

My Red Ryder decoder ring won't tell me what "wet" is. Does that mean with fuel included?:)

put your glasses on bruce i just answered that:p just pickin' on ya! yeah, it means fuel included.......

kitsune, an idea just crossed my mind. see if the civil air patrol or CAP has an outfit near you. they're prices are usually pretty reasonable and the people are extremely helpful....

I've heard of CAP before, but isn't that something you have to be pretty young to do? I don't fully understand Civil Air Patrol, but I think its kind of military-like. Do they offer their services to people who aren't interested in joining?

Yeah, I'll have to shop around. This area is great for aviation and there are a dozen schools around. I have a lot of checking to do.

CAP doesn't have an age limit. they're fees are less than $50 a year. the planes are cheap albeit they rent dry so you have to top the plane off when your done flying. something else to consider is the recreational pilots license. you're pretty limited. i did a little research for you:

pardon the gummit jargon:

[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 14, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 14CFR61.101]

[Page 64-66]

TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
(CONTINUED)

PART 61_CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS--Table of Contents

Subpart D_Recreational Pilots

Sec. 61.101 Recreational pilot privileges and limitations.

(a) A person who holds a recreational pilot certificate may:
(1) Carry no more than one passenger; and
(2) Not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses
of a flight with a passenger, provided the expenses involve only fuel,
oil, airport expenses, or aircraft rental fees.
(b) A person who holds a recreational pilot certificate may act as
pilot in command of an aircraft on a flight that is within 50 nautical
miles from the departure airport, provided that person has:
(1) Received ground and flight training for takeoff, departure,
arrival, and landing procedures at the departure airport;
(2) Received ground and flight training for the area, terrain, and
aids to navigation that are in the vicinity of the departure airport;
(3) Been found proficient to operate the aircraft at the departure
airport and the area within 50 nautical miles from that airport; and
(4) Received from an authorized instructor a logbook endorsement,
which is carried in the person's possession in the aircraft, that
permits flight within 50 nautical miles from the departure airport.

[[Page 65]]

(c) A person who holds a recreational pilot certificate may act as
pilot in command of an aircraft on a flight that exceeds 50 nautical
miles from the departure airport, provided that person has:
(1) Received ground and flight training from an authorized
instructor on the cross-country training requirements of subpart E of
this part that apply to the aircraft rating held;
(2) Been found proficient in cross-country flying; and
(3) Received from an authorized instructor a logbook endorsement,
which is carried on the person's possession in the aircraft, that
certifies the person has received and been found proficient in the
cross-country training requirements of subpart E of this part that apply
to the aircraft rating held.
(d) Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this section, a
recreational pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft:
(1) That is certificated for more than four occupants, with more
than one powerplant, with a powerplant of more than 180 horsepower, or
with retractable landing gear.
(2) That is classified as a multiengine airplane, powered-lift,
glider, airship, or balloon;
(3) That is carrying a passenger or property for compensation or
hire;
(4) For compensation or hire;
(5) In furtherance of a business;
(6) Between sunset and sunrise;
(7) In airspace in which communication with air traffic control is
required;
(8) At an altitude of more than 10,000 feet MSL or 2,000 feet AGL,
whichever is higher;
(9) When the flight or surface visibility is less than 3 statute
miles;
(10) Without visual reference to the surface;
(11) On a flight outside the United States;
(12) To demonstrate that aircraft in flight to a prospective buyer;
(13) That is used in a passenger-carrying airlift and sponsored by a
charitable organization; and
(14) That is towing any object.
(e) A recreational pilot may not act as a pilot flight crewmember on
any aircraft for which more than one pilot is required by the type
certificate of the aircraft or the regulations under which the flight is
conducted, except when:
(1) Receiving flight training from a person authorized to provide
flight training on board an airship; and
(2) No person other than a required flight crewmember is carried on
the aircraft.
(f) A person who holds a recreational pilot certificate, has logged
fewer than 400 flight hours, and has not logged pilot-in-command time in
an aircraft within the 180 days preceding the flight shall not act as
pilot in command of an aircraft until the pilot receives flight training
and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor, and the
instructor certifies that the person is proficient to act as pilot in
command of the aircraft. This requirement can be met in combination with
the requirements of Sec. Sec. 61.56 and 61.57 of this part, at the
discretion of the authorized instructor.
(g) A recreational pilot certificate issued under this subpart
carries the notation, ``Holder does not meet ICAO requirements.''
(h) For the purpose of obtaining additional certificates or ratings
while under the supervision of an authorized instructor, a recreational
pilot may fly as the sole occupant of an aircraft:
(1) For which the pilot does not hold an appropriate category or
class rating;
(2) Within airspace that requires communication with air traffic
control; or
(3) Between sunset and sunrise, provided the flight or surface
visibility is at least 5 statute miles.
(i) In order to fly solo as provided in paragraph (h) of this
section, the recreational pilot must meet the appropriate aeronautical
knowledge and flight training requirements of Sec. 61.87 for that
aircraft. When operating an aircraft under the conditions specified in
paragraph (h) of this section, the recreational pilot shall carry the
logbook that has been endorsed for each flight by an authorized
instructor who:
(1) Has given the recreational pilot training in the make and model
of aircraft in which the solo flight is to be made;

[[Page 66]]

(2) Has found that the recreational pilot has met the applicable
requirements of Sec. 61.87; and
(3) Has found that the recreational pilot is competent to make solo
flights in accordance with the logbook endorsement.

forgot to mention that the recreational license is about half the cost of a private and you can always upgrade to it....

I just signed up the youngest for CAP tonight. Had to sign a flight waiver (presumably so we won't sue if something bad happens).

Somehow, I hope to snarf a flight or two out of all this before it is over. The first night we went, it was strongly hinted that they'd be happy to have me join as an adult member, and in truth, it would be kind of fun, but I'm too damn busy doing too many other things.

els, if you've thought about it this much then do it, trust me, you'll find time once you start.:)

I actually wouldn't mind joining CAP myself, but I don't fully understand what they do besides search and rescue. It seems to almost be a branch of the military, but not quite. I don't know how many hours a week they expect people to put in.

your best bet is to locate a squadron near you. you can find that here

Think of them as the Air Scouts.:)

couldn't have said it better myself!

Yup, that's pretty much what I'm observing. I'm pretty excited for the kid. I hope he stays enthusiastic about it.

how old is your youngest els? and as far as the enthusiasm, my boy is 2-1/2 and LOVES to see/be around airplanes. haven't gotten him up yet but he is interested....

I did a little research on CAP and it looks interesting, but perhaps a little too para-military for me. I'm still not sure, yet, and I need to make sure I have the time to devote long before I even think of joining.

For now, I'm going to pursue my private pilot's license sometime in the next year. Maybe. If it works out. Hopefully. Perhaps.

He will be 14 in July...

I had that fear as well, but the Squadron my kid is signed up for seems pretty laid back. Actually, I see a real good balance between discipline and "normal kids" there. I was actually impressed by how they carry that off.

all that and it keeps them out of trouble too!:D

That's just a ruse until they get their hands on a plane. Then it's loose girlfriends and the tropics, when you aren't looking.;)