Who Is A Pilot?

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
It’s official. After a few fits and starts, after not flying for 18 years, I’m now working to get current on my Private certificate. I hope to be able to rent once or twice a month on the nice mornings and evenings, just for the fun of it again, and to do some real overlanding.

It’s been a long time, but I’m surprised at how much of it is coming back like second nature.

I’m wanting to spend at least another hour in the air practicing landings and emergency procedures before I’ll feel like the instructor should sign me off. But I’m really looking forward to regaining the thing that I was always going to do with my life before having to quit

Also, I’m sharing this stick time with my son! He may actually want to continue with lessons on his own, but at least we will get to fly together for the next few years before he moves out on his own.

Share your pics and stories.
 

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nas90tdi

Well-known member
Good for you Ben.
I have been thinking more and more about getting current. I am in a similar situation. Money and time have kept me from staying current for the last 7 years. I didn't need to fly so things always where more important.
 

LRNAD90

Well-known member
Rotary Wing Pilot, but like you been out of the seat for 20+ years. As much as I'd love to get back to it, life is too busy, and it costs way to much to stay current just to fly as a hobby.. :(
 

Bostondave

Well-known member
I’m considering taking some lessons. I live quite close to a regional airport that offers lessons. I’ve never ridden in one of those small planes though.
 

jymmiejamz

Founding Member
Callsign: KN4JHI
My dad used to have his pilots license in the late 70s/early 80s. My parents were living in Leaf Rapids in Canada. One time when my dad was out flying he got lost. He ended up landing on the road and going into town to ask for directions.
 

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
Awesome. Love stories like that.

There was one time when I was going about 400 miles in one direction, and for one reason or another I ended up really needing to empty the bladder. Usually, I am pretty good about just dealing with it, but this time.... we were over 10k feet, and about half way through the flight in the middle of some of the emptiest parts of Oregon. After about half an hour of kind of evaluating, then trying to shift my position, then having the guy with me climb into the back of the plane (Piper Warrior) to see if he could find even an empty oil bottle I could pee into, we decided to start searching for a place to land. By this time I'm really in a bad spot. There really was nothing around, not even a real two lane road to land on. So we called Seattle Center and told them the situation. I was ready to just let go in my bag and hope most of it would soak up, or just stay on the floor in one spot. Center came back a few minutes later and told me that there was actually a Forest Service emergency strip about 10 miles away, it wasn't on our sectional, but he gave us vectors till we saw it. It was a dirt runway, and obviously had not been used for some time. My companion did some quick calculations to make sure there would be no problem taking off again, but as we got closer we could see that there were trees and what looked like ruts in the middle of the runway. It was sloped pretty well, and we thought maybe it had eroded. I couldn't go around though, I had to land. It turned out OK, dodged a few small fir trees, and some elk, and realized that the ruts were actually just a big line of elk tracks.

The guy I was with had the door open on touch down and I'm thankful that he actually jumped out and off the wing before I even had the thing fully stopped.

I still feel that in my gut. I really, really had to go!
 

Angus

Well-known member
I'm always happy to see more people get into sport flying. I started when I was 18. I spent 24 years flying in the Air Force, and now own a company that builds and modifies both fixed wing and rotorcraft. It has been a great, lifelong hobby that also paid the bills. Welcome to the fun, now lets talk about your bank account...
 

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
What is your company?

BTW, here's me flying my '69 150 back in the day.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bhcmbailey/4883866241/in/photolist-aCwAUe-8Kvhb6-9jwcvC-5b5Gja-b7LjRM-ad9CNU-aCzhqJ-aCzhth-aCwB1i-8sGUsm-aCAEaj-97us43-aCxYVD-byXU51-967VWw-aCADY5-964V7k-aCxYYr-aCxZ14-8htr1y-gX8QhR-byB5gb-byXU8y-aDpx5D-byB5hW-cNPtw5-7ZGrQE-8rz6hn-7ZGrQ5-7ZDgji-5Bgckd-8mn6JJ-WFM1qC" title="My Old Ride"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4075/4883866241_a1b1baf189_z.jpg" width="640" height="428" alt="My Old Ride"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was a "Texas Taildragger" with 150hp, climb prop, modified leading edges, stall gates, and STOL tips. I used it for banner towing.... shoulda just kept it, even if I had to wrap it in plastic and not touch it for years.
 

RBBailey

NAS-ROW Addict
Callsign: KF7KFZ
Actually! I'm planning on making short trips like that whenever I can. I was thinking that running parts for club members might be a fun gig when I can make it happen. It would be a great excuse for "needing" to go flying.

Also, getting into the Seattle area would be an epic experience for my son as he is looking to train for his private certificate.
 
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