I got to fly a Mirage!

SixPapaCharlie

SixPapaCharlie

May the force be with you
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Aug 8, 2013
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On the DFW forum, there is this pilot, Mark that flies a Mirage. I have met him twice before. Today he was at breakfast at Beacon cafe with Troy and his wife and another Pilot (matt) and his girlfriend. MArk's brother and a co worker of his were there as well. Always a great Breakfast at T69!

I asked Mark "What are the odds of getting a trip around the pattern?"

He says he has to run an errand but texts me and says meet him at his field. We scramble to get someone to keep an eye on the kids and make a B line (or is it bee line? I never know) to KADS

He lets me take off, fly up to 17.5 and put it through its paces.
What a trip this thing is. It is the heaviest thing I have flown and at 4k+ pounds it is so damned solid.

We "dove" from that alt w/ the airbrakes on and gear out into the pattern at a local field. My base was way too wide.

Right 360 for another attempt, This time it was right on the money and I greased it on.

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Mrs 6PC was pretty excited as well

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When we wrapped up, he pulled this McLaren out of his hangar.
I had never heard of one before and it is as amazing as his plane.


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Anyway, I am really fortunate to have found my way into the flying community and been able to do so many things I would never be able to do without the kindness of other pilots that are eager to share their adventures.

Mark says he wants a ride in the Cirrus.
I told him he is going to be so disappointed :)

I flew a freaking Mirage today! Just wow!
 

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AND THEN.....

As if that wasn't enough, I get invited over to JCranford's house for dinner.
Man his wife can cook! They entertained my family, and fed us and let my kids terrorize their dogs and cats while we talked planes and the wives talked about um.. whatever women talk about.

What a great day!
 
That's awesom! Did you get a ride in the car too?

Yeah the aviation community is just awesome and the experiences are phenomenal! Recently I got to fly right seat in a Socata TBM 700. Amazing and what a blast! And dang can that thing move. Great planes!
 
To hell with the Mirage, I'll take a ride in the McLaren !!!!
 
simtech said:
That's awesom! Did you get a ride in the car too?

Yeah the aviation community is just awesome and the experiences are phenomenal! Recently I got to fly right seat in a Socata TBM 700. Amazing and what a blast! And dang can that thing move. Great planes!
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He fired the car up and had me get in.
I was afraid to touch anything so I got out pretty quick.
 
There's so many good folk in aviation, it's hard to explain to outsiders sometimes.

Can't think of many other hobbies where folks with million dollar toys will happily say "let's go!" when asked if one can ride along in the right seat.

Some car guys and gals of course, which it appears you also hit the jackpot on...

But it so rare in other hobbies.
 
That's it....I'm convinced 6pc is a manwhore
 
Mclaren and mirage? You guys must be under 6 ft tall!

I'd love to have a meridian but at 6'6" I can not fit in the front seats. I've also tried driving a friends MP4 and couldn't get into it. Sometimes it sucks being tall as a car and plane guy.

Sounds like a fun day for you guys!
 
6PC, are you anti-Cirrus now? Hmmm...

You seem so interested in other airplanes.
 
flhrci said:
6PC, are you anti-Cirrus now? Hmmm...

You seem so interested in other airplanes.
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Not anti Cirrus at all. They are fantastic planes!
I wish I could afford one.

This is the year I buy something I can afford.
Sadly I had to knock the Mirage off my list.
Turns out it is several hundred grand over my budget.

missed it by that much.
 
Sounds like a great day!!! Thanks for the post.
 
After a couple of beers I almost had him talked into going in halfsies on a Commander.

And THEN he wanted to see my skydiving rig. Given his 'prior training' with parachutes I couldnt allow my handle to get that close to him...
 
Dude, it's a Mirage. That means you only thought you flew it, it wasn't really there.
 
When I read the title, I was imagining 6PC strapped in a G suit sitting in front of some screaming French man.
 
Very cool - both the plane and the car look very sweet.
 
Congrats, Bryan.

That seems like an awesome experience! I am a big fan of the PA46 airframe and spent a lot of hours in one.

I am curious about what your wife thought about the airplane. My wife really loved the cabin of the PA46. When coupled with benefits of pressurization, it was pretty easy to get her to buy into the airplane.

Of course, the downside is that I will never get her into anything smaller or unpressurized now!

Keep checking out everything and you will find the perfect airplane for you and your family!

Abram Finkelstein
N48KY
 
denverpilot said:
There's so many good folk in aviation, it's hard to explain to outsiders sometimes.

Can't think of many other hobbies where folks with million dollar toys will happily say "let's go!" when asked if one can ride along in the right seat.

Some car guys and gals of course, which it appears you also hit the jackpot on...

But it so rare in other hobbies.
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True dat. One time I pulled up to the FBO to rent the CTLS and there is another fellow waiting outside with his pretty Ducati. Never met him before but I complimented him on the bike. "You ride?", he said. "Sure." "Want to take this for a spin?" Hell, yes.
 
Sounds like a great day.congrats
 
RudyP said:
Mclaren and mirage? You guys must be under 6 ft tall!

I'd love to have a meridian but at 6'6" I can not fit in the front seats. I've also tried driving a friends MP4 and couldn't get into it. Sometimes it sucks being tall as a car and plane guy.

Sounds like a fun day for you guys!
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+1 I'm 6'7" and a skinny 200 lbs and can't fit into any of those old designes (airplane, not car ;)...

Waiting for that Powerball to get a EPIC or Kestrel, which ever comes first. Now those I can fit in...
 
Somedudeintn said:
I think he flies his dad's cirrus.
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I had some equity in the last plane.
The cirrus reduced what I could put a dent in significantly.

Now I pay my share of the fixed costs while saving up for something in my budget.
He is happy with this arrangement and I am quite humbled by it.
 
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SixPapaCharlie said:
I had some equity in the last plane.
The cirrus reduced what I could put a dent in significantly.

Now I pay my share of the fixed costs while saving up for something in my budget.
He is happy with this arrangement and I am quite humbled by it.
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I hope my kids want to fly and I could fly with them after they also become pilots. That would be a cool thing to be able to share.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I have identified a couple Cheeta's locally.
I just need to get it setup. I can't seem to find a Tiger anywhere.
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FletchAir is in your neck of the woods. They're supposed to be the Grumman guru nationwide.
 
DJTorrente said:
FletchAir is in your neck of the woods. They're supposed to be the Grumman guru nationwide.
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Think they got out of the training/rental business a number of years ago.....but they may know of Tigers for sale in DFW area.
 
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