Fun Flight (what's that?)

[Ted]

Most of my flying is very mission oriented. I like it that way as I'm a mission-oriented sort of person, but it's also fun to just go up and bore holes in the sky because it's fun to do so. That I do virtually none of.

Today I went by the airport to pick up some stuff out of the Aztec, and after conversing with some of my friends there (and checking out the 430 that the other Aztec owner had installed in his plane after the LORANs got shut down), I walked over to my hangar. My next door neighbor (a local pilot who just upgraded from an SR20 to an SR22 Turbo) was getting ready to pull his plane out, so we caught up for a bit. Turned out he was going to a nearby airport (Mifflintown - P34) to get some cheap fuel and check it out since he'd never landed there before, and asked if I wanted to come along. Gorgeous day, and I wanted to see what this SR22 turbo was like, so it sounded like a good idea to me.

Hopped in and we flew over the short hop (15-20 minutes), just enjoying the scenery and looking around. I fly that same route all the time, but never really look at the scenery much beyond potential landing spots if I have a problem. P34 is a really neat little private airport in a valley, that the owner is working on increasing the popularity of. It's been recently repaved but has several ups and downs (makes for interesting landings and takeoffs). The fuel isn't in the best spot yet, but they're working on getting it moved. We chatted with the owner, and it turned out he knew another friend of mine from work. Small world!

Gassed up, hopped back in, flew home. Just a general nice time and some good conversation with a friend. I should do this more often.

 

[dmccormack]

Sounds like you need some putt-putt time!!

 

[Anthony]

Flying is what you make it.

 

[Ted]

That I do. I've got the 172 and Archer as club planes, but those just aren't "fun". Some little taildragger, aerobat, or Lancair would be perfect for such missions. Now if only I could find enough others to buy into one to make it worthwhile.

 

[AdamZ]

Fun is in the eye of the beholder:smile:

Sounds like a nice flight!

 

[wabower]

Yep. At some point airplanes are just too damn big to have any fun.

That I do. I've got the 172 and Archer as club planes, but those just aren't "fun". Some little taildragger, aerobat, or Lancair would be perfect for such missions. Now if only I could find enough others to buy into one to make it worthwhile.

 

[Ted]

Yep. At some point airplanes are just too damn big to have any fun.

Yep. Almost all flying I've done is fun in its own way, shape, or form (with a few exceptions when I've thought to myself "Well this was a brilliant idea..."). It's hard to go out and buzz around for the sake of boring holes in the sky in anything that bores too large a hole, though.

 

[Diana]

Flying is what you make it.

There are so many ways to have fun in an airplane...the list is endless.

Ted, here is how I summed up my intentions for my grass strip tour. Flying low and slow (the only way to go very fast in a Citabria is pointed straight down ) is what I love. Meeting the people at small airports, especially grass airports is part of the fun. I really enjoyed flying the Shenandoah Valley, low and slow, taking in the beauty. It's great to have the freedom to do this kind of flying. I'll be leaving on my next trip in a few weeks and plan to make it leisurely. If I want to stay at a fun grass strip for a day or two longer, then that's what I'll do.

I hope you'll find a way to get access to a low and slow airplane and have even more opportunities to enjoy that kind of pleasurable flying.

 

[steingar]

There's definitely a difference between "fun" and "mission" flights, even for a lowly airman like myself. I get lots of fun flights because I am acutely uncomfortable doing mission flights VFR for a good sized part of the year. But I would not want the balance to shift that much. I am not an airline, nor do I wish to be one.

 

[Ted]

Diana, you certainly do have a lot of fun with your little plane! I know your last trip was a blast, and I hope this trip is equally fun.

I've been trying to get some people for a while to get together on a Lancair 360 partnership, but no bites yet. As people point out (and the reason why I haven't done it), I can buy a lot of AvGas for the cost of another plane that I won't use a ton. It only makes sense if there are enough partners to split the costs.

 

[Missa]

That I do. I've got the 172 and Archer as club planes, but those just aren't "fun". Some little taildragger, aerobat, or Lancair would be perfect for such missions. Now if only I could find enough others to buy into one to make it worthwhile.

Uhm... how many more do WE need for a Citabera?

 

[Ted]

There's definitely a difference between "fun" and "mission" flights, even for a lowly airman like myself. I get lots of fun flights because I am acutely uncomfortable doing mission flights VFR for a good sized part of the year. But I would not want the balance to shift that much. I am not an airline, nor do I wish to be one.

I enjoy my mission flights a lot, but that's the sort of person who I am. For most of what I do, aviation is a tool that allows me to get it done faster and on my schedule. That's why the Aztec is so useful for me. Good capabilities for IFR, weather, etc. Having a fun plane that doesn't have all that capability would allow me more fun flights. I probably wouldn't fly it much on ugly weather days, since the purpose would be to buzz around and have fun, not to be on a mission.

So, who lives around Williamsport and wants to buy into a Lancair 360?

 

[Missa]

Ted stop focusing on the lancair.

 

[brcase]

I enjoy mission flights as well, at least when weather isn't a significant factor.
but my 1st choice would be to spend the afternoon flying in my glider.
For me it is a lot more fun when the $ meter isn't running, I can just enjoy the flight and the longer I fly the cheaper the flight is. 3.6 hrs last week.
May be that is why I enjoy the mission flights, in part, because some else is usually paying for them.

Brian

 

[Diana]

Uhm... how many more do WE need for a Citabera?

Missa misses a Citabria. The nice thing about a Citabria is that you can have different versions of fun in it. Fun traveling plus fun aerobatics.

 

[Everskyward]

Most of my flying is very mission oriented.

I would say that 99.9% of my flying has been mission related or work related. Even when I flew small airplanes it was virtually all work related. That was my choice and I'm happy I made it, but being around airports and airplanes is normal to me, and in some ways that takes the "special", which a lot of people seem to feel, away.

So last weekend I took a fun flight in Clark's airplane with Clark and Murphey. It was great being the certified passenger, gazing out the window, taking pictures, etc. Flying low over the mountains always reminds me of the mapping days. Even though I left that behind and don't necessarily want to go back I can still be nostalgic. I can tell that I'm behind the time with small airplanes, though. I've never flown in one with as many gadgets as Clark's airplane. It took me almost the whole flight to Steamboat to figure out there was a traffic alerter and how to interpret it, but I never did see any more than a glimpse of that tablet on the yoke which was hard to see from my angle. I had also never flown in a small airplane with any glass and he has an Aspen setup. I think the most sophisticated small airplane I ever flew only had an old-style GPS with no moving map and all the others had no GPS or area navigation capability at all. Even at the current company most of my flying was in airplanes at the trailing edge of technology until about two years ago.

 

[Kaye]

Diana, you certainly do have a lot of fun with your little plane! I know your last trip was a blast, and I hope this trip is equally fun.

I've been trying to get some people for a while to get together on a Lancair 360 partnership, but no bites yet. As people point out (and the reason why I haven't done it), I can buy a lot of AvGas for the cost of another plane that I won't use a ton. It only makes sense if there are enough partners to split the costs.

So come to VA and be my partner in a Husky!

 

[dmccormack]

"How" I enjoyed flying shifted a bit when I bought the Chief.

I enjoy -- really enjoy -- cross country flights. I think being someplace far away from where I started in a very short amount of time is awesome. I enjoy planning for long flights, and comparing what I expected to what actually happened.

Long IFR flights are a good mental exercise, but don't do much for stick and rudder.

The Chief reduced flying to its bare essence -- hand prop, look around, take off, avoid hills and towers, fly around.

Each time I fly now I push myself in ways I wouldn't with bigger, more expensive airplanes -- last flight I did steep spirals, Chandelles, Lazy 8s, slow flight, stalls, and a few spot landings in the grass -- all for about 4 gallons of gas.

I also am no longer ground shy. So much of our training and practice stresses altitude as a safety buffer -- as it certainly is.

But when you're flying along at 70 MPH, or even 60, it takes awhile to go anywhere -- even down. Landing options have also opened up -- most every field is a potential emergency landing strip. Ground loop it and even the tiniest field is an option in a jam.

I don't worry about fuel costs because it's simply not a factor at 3.5 GPH. Maintenance is also minimal -- heck, even oil changes are just 1 gallon and some safety wire.

Of course I won't fly it in high or gusty winds (simply not fun), rain, snow, or fog. I don't plan on using it for transportation except to work now and then, and don't plan on taking a passenger over 150 lbs when the ambient temp is over 60 F.

But I have access to some nice big singles that I can use if I want to go someplace or fly IFR.

So my logbook is now filling up with 1.1 and 1.6 and 0.9 entries, and that's just fine with me!

 

[CJones]

That I do. I've got the 172 and Archer as club planes, but those just aren't "fun". Some little taildragger, aerobat, or Lancair would be perfect for such missions. Now if only I could find enough others to buy into one to make it worthwhile.

*cough* RV *cough*

 

[Ted]

Ted stop focusing on the lancair.

I've not flown a Citabria, but a Pitts is just much sexier in my opinion (nothing against your plane, Diana! ).

Besides, since a lot of what I like to do (including fun) is actually going to places far away, a Lancair makes sense. Stuff like "Hey, I want to go have lunch with some friends in [insert other state]." You get the idea. I love flying, but what I love the most about it is that it allows me to see more people more often and spend less time traveling to see them than I otherwise would.

I would say that 99.9% of my flying has been mission related or work related. Even when I flew small airplanes it was virtually all work related. That was my choice and I'm happy I made it, but being around airports and airplanes is normal to me, and in some ways that takes the "special", which a lot of people seem to feel, away.

Not too unlike my flying. It's a weekend job, but every weekend (virtually) it's hop in and go somewhere. Last Friday when I got in the Aztec it had been 2 weeks since I flew the thing, and that felt odd. I don't mean to sound complaining - I love the flying I do. It would, however, be nice to do some more of these "fun flights" just because. I'll admit that I probably have forgotten how. This Cirrus owner is not only a serious traveler, but he does a lot of flights for the fun of it, like this one.

At Tony's wedding, Tristan and I flew the Aztec up to Minnesota to see Jay (Tron Guy). It was a short flight, something like 25 nm, but was a really nice fun flight. We stayed low to the ground (cruising altitude was pattern altitude) and just enjoyed the trip. That's what I'd like to do more of.

So come to VA and be my partner in a Husky!

Come to PA and I might go for it.

 

[Missa]

I've not flown a Citabria, but a Pitts is just much sexier in my opinion (nothing against your plane, Diana! ).

Diana, please take Ted Flying and make him do some loops and rolls.

 

[steingar]

A Lanceair is a mission plane. They're built for traveling at high speeds high up. Ted's already got an aircraft doing that. A fun aircraft is for toodiling around the patch, or doing the occasional soft aerobatics.

 

[vontresc]

I think Ted needs Kent's dream plane.

An amphibious, taildragging, complex, high performance twin, that can land in 1500', and cruise at 250KIAS at 25,000' at less than 10GPH a side all while hauling as much as a 182

Oh yeah it needs to be aerobatic as well....

 

[skidoo]

Missa misses a Citabria. The nice thing about a Citabria is that you can have different versions of fun in it. Fun traveling plus fun aerobatics.

I have to agree. I received several hours in one when I was in my teen years. It left a great impression for decades. Once while doing loops, my instructor yelled at me when at the top of the loop I pushed forward for a negative g. He didn't like all the dirt from the floor falling into our faces and getting in his eyes... That lasted only a couple seconds and then we continued. It was great fun. Only thing I didn't like was when the AirSpeed indicator approached red-line at 160 and the wings were creaking...

 

[Ted]

A Lanceair is a mission plane. They're built for traveling at high speeds high up. Ted's already got an aircraft doing that. A fun aircraft is for toodiling around the patch, or doing the occasional soft aerobatics.

You've never flown a Lancair 360. It's like a motorcycle.

 

[Missa]

That I do. I've got the 172 and Archer as club planes, but those just aren't "fun". Some little taildragger, aerobat, or Lancair would be perfect for such missions. Now if only I could find enough others to buy into one to make it worthwhile.

There fixed it for you.... because if you weren't hung up on the lancair you would be able to get a little taildragger or aerobat.

 

[Ted]

There fixed it for you.... because if you weren't hung up on the lancair you would be able to get a little taildragger or aerobat.

You have a good habit of confusing what you want with what I want. Seeing as you are not me, you should be able to rectify this problem by doing what you want.

 

[Missa]

You have a good habit of confusing what you want with what I want. Seeing as you are not me, you should be able to rectify this problem by doing what you want.

No, I know what I want and I thought for a moment when you made that post that you were serious about the "little tailwheel or aerobat" because if you were then my wants would conincide with your wants and we would have an airplane. However you still seem stuck on the lancair so...

 

[EdFred]

No, I know what I want and I thought for a moment when you made that post that you were serious about the "little tailwheel or aerobat" because if you were then my wants would conincide with your wants and we would have an airplane. However you still seem stuck on the lancair so...

You are operating under the assumption that Ted would want to be partners with you in an airplane venture.

 

[bigred177]

You've never flown a Lancair 360. It's like a motorcycle.

A gyro!! Motorcycles of the sky

 

[vontresc]

A gyro!! Motorcycles of the sky

More like deathtraps of the sky

 

[Missa]

You are operating under the assumption that Ted would want to be partners with you in an airplane venture.

Well, if he doesn't that's just fine. But then I don't want to hear him ***** about not being able to find a partner for little tail dragger or Aerobat.

 

[Everskyward]

Well, if he doesn't that's just fine. But then I don't want to hear him ***** about not being able to find a partner for little tail dragger or Aerobat.

Missa, you don't want to be partners with Ted in a little taildragger. The next thing you know he will be wanting to put an aftermarket turbocharger on it.

 

[Missa]

Missa, you don't want to be partners with Ted in a little taildragger. The next thing you know he will be wanting to put an aftermarket turbocharger on it.

That would be fun....

The greater fear would be that he would want to put 4 dogs and 2 cats in it...

 

[Diana]

Diana, please take Ted Flying

I was hoping to go flying with Ted at Gaston's last year, but he was pretty busy and I was busy. I hope I get to fly with Ted someday.

and make him do some loops and rolls.

I don't know if a person could *make* Ted do anything. If he hasn't already done aerobatics, I hope he gets the chance to do some before he buys another airplane. When someone is in the market for a different/second/fun airplane, getting a sampling of all different kinds first is part of the fun.

 

[Everskyward]

That would be fun....

Until you look at the bill.

 

[Ted]

Well, if he doesn't that's just fine. But then I don't want to hear him ***** about not being able to find a partner for little tail dragger or Aerobat.

A Pitts is both! And I wasn't bitching, but you have been about me doing what I want with my stuff.

I was hoping to go flying with Ted at Gaston's last year, but he was pretty busy and I was busy. I hope I get to fly with Ted someday.

Hopefully this year!

I don't know if a person could *make* Ted do anything. If he hasn't already done aerobatics, I hope he gets the chance to do some before he buys another airplane. When someone is in the market for a different/second/fun airplane, getting a sampling of all different kinds first is part of the fun.

Many have tried, few have succeeded. But I definitely want to go up and try it at some point.

The Lancair is not an aerobatic plane, but I did get to see that a 360 is plenty capable of doing what the owner called "Gentleman's aerobatics." The sort of stuff Bob Hoover did with an Aero Commander (Hmm... Aero Commander is kinda like an Aztec... ). That's where a lot of the appeal comes from. Fast, low fuel burn, handles great, etc.

Until you look at the bill.

One word: Experimental.

"Hmm... Yeah, I can get 400 hp out of that engine."

 

[vontresc]

"Hmm... Yeah, I can get 400 hp out of that engine."

But don't ask for how long

 

[Missa]

A Pitts is both! And I wasn't bitching, but you have been about me doing what I want with my stuff.

I've not bitched about you doing what you want with you stuff, I bitched about you changing you mind about what you were doing with your stuff that directly impacted my plans at a late enough time that I could not make other convient arangments.

The Lancair is not an aerobatic plane, but I did get to see that a 360 is plenty capable of doing what the owner called "Gentleman's aerobatics."

The problem is that most planes can stand "gentleman's aerobatics" but few can stand if they are done poorly so you better know what you are doing already if you are going to try it.

 

[EdFred]

I've found the best way to not ***** about other people changing plans, is to buy your own plane. Not a partnership. Not a club. Sole ownership. Until then, "Wah!"