OkieFlyer
En-Route
I have no interest in IFR.
I flew a lot of single engine early on, much of it over the mountains, some low level. Then I switched overnight to turbine twins and jets. I had a number of my co-workers tell me they would never fly over the mountains in a single. I got used to being required to be at a weight that the airplane would take off and meet all performance numbers on one engine. A number of years later I was offered a ride over the mountains in a single. I wondered if I would feel any differently about it having not done that in a long time. I didn't. It seemed as normal as it had in the past... even though his airplane didn't have quite the same climb rate as the one I had flown years ago.
What, you didn't ride along?
Other -
(Banner Towing), Here in the Tampa FL area you have to catch the banner in the air by making a "U" maneuver with a low horsepower airplane. So far two people have died in different airplanes here.
I'm not afraid of water or nighttime flying but I am afraid of an engine fire....that is scary stuff.
you catch the banner in mid air?
Sort of. They spread the banner out on the ground, snake out some of the rope for some initial slack. The loop at the end of the rope is suspended between two poles about 6' high and maybe 10-15' apart. The pilot ties the grappling hook to the tail and puts the hook in the cockpit through the window. After taking off, he throws the hook out the window and flies a low approach in an effort to catch the tow rope between the poles. Then it's full throttle, steep climb to trade airspeed for altitude. By the time the pilot pushes the nose over and goes to more or less level flight, all the slack in the rope should be taken up and the banner should start to fly. I've never towed banners, but I've helped with setup and retrieval a few times. Let me see if I can find a video.
Edit: Here ya go
Sort of. They spread the banner out on the ground, snake out some of the rope for some initial slack. The loop at the end of the rope is suspended between two poles about 6' high and maybe 10-15' apart. The pilot ties the grappling hook to the tail and puts the hook in the cockpit through the window. After taking off, he throws the hook out the window and flies a low approach in an effort to catch the tow rope between the poles. Then it's full throttle, steep climb to trade airspeed for altitude. By the time the pilot pushes the nose over and goes to more or less level flight, all the slack in the rope should be taken up and the banner should start to fly. I've never towed banners, but I've helped with setup and retrieval a few times. Let me see if I can find a video.
Edit: Here ya go
Sort of. They spread the banner out on the ground, snake out some of the rope for some initial slack. The loop at the end of the rope is suspended between two poles about 6' high and maybe 10-15' apart. The pilot ties the grappling hook to the tail and puts the hook in the cockpit through the window. After taking off, he throws the hook out the window and flies a low approach in an effort to catch the tow rope between the poles. Then it's full throttle, steep climb to trade airspeed for altitude. By the time the pilot pushes the nose over and goes to more or less level flight, all the slack in the rope should be taken up and the banner should start to fly. I've never towed banners, but I've helped with setup and retrieval a few times. Let me see if I can find a video.
Edit: Here ya go
No more NOE, Nap Of the Earth flying at night using NVG's.
Sort of. They spread the banner out on the ground, snake out some of the rope for some initial slack. The loop at the end of the rope is suspended between two poles about 6' high and maybe 10-15' apart. The pilot ties the grappling hook to the tail and puts the hook in the cockpit through the window. After taking off, he throws the hook out the window and flies a low approach in an effort to catch the tow rope between the poles. Then it's full throttle, steep climb to trade airspeed for altitude. By the time the pilot pushes the nose over and goes to more or less level flight, all the slack in the rope should be taken up and the banner should start to fly. I've never towed banners, but I've helped with setup and retrieval a few times. Let me see if I can find a video.
Edit: Here ya go
Not sure why some would say "fly 121" ??
I understand why some may choose not to fly 121 ops, but the way I understood the question (much because of the choices) was due to safety concerns. Part 121 is the safest way to fly, but perhaps the OP wasn't referring to safety.
Neither was I. If you have only gotten as far as reading the title of the thread you could come up with almost anything.Wasn't referring to safety.
You didnt have Twins, I am not interested in flying a Twin.
Or Denzel!
One of the worst aviation movies ever.
If you intend to be a professional (not necessarily airline) pilot you will do all of these things.
Bob Gardner
Three of the poll items I have heard from professional pilots - no recips, no single engine, and no recreational flying.
Yep, that's a standard banner pick up. How else would it be done?
Ok, seriously, I have no desire to do acrobatics in a plane. I spent the first half of my life racing cars. I have friends that still won't get in a car when I am driving. But airplanes are different for me. I like being smooth and steady.
Not saying I haven't done the basic acrobatics, just straight and level, stabilized approaches, and hearing, not feeling the wheels touch the ground while landing appeals to me.
Never have seen it, never will.
You are wiser than me. It was idiotic. Bad acting and a pathetic plot.
Seeing the theater preview of Sully convinced me not to see it, but it seems to be getting good reviews from folks here. Still not convinced.Well yeah, seeing previews on TV were enough warning for me. Sound like I didn't miss out either.
I wouldn't mind if I were independently wealthy and could fly enough to stay really sharp. I can't, so I'm not interested.wow, really. I would love to fly twins, I just can't afford it.
You are wiser than me. It was idiotic. Bad acting and a pathetic plot.
Okay... Looks like most posts took it that way, but perhaps I misunderstood.Wasn't referring to safety.