What have you learned in 2007?

[Pi1otguy]

Now that the year is over, lets all share what aviation related things we've learned 1st or second hand. I'll go first with a few.

1. SoCal really hates it when we fly just outside of c-space without talking.
2. Its really hard to find flyable imc (no ice, no embeded storms) out here.
3. Not all CFI's understand logging PIC & dual are not mutually exclusive.
4. The air at 5,000 ft can put children and adult asthmatics to sleep.

 

[rottydaddy]

This is another good one...
Let's see now... I learned:

1. A C172S should never be primed before even a warm start, let alone a hot start.

2. It's good to have pilot friends around when you need A] an APU boost or B] a tow from the pump to the ramp because you've killed the battery trying to start the 172S.

3. A little flying, even not as PIC, or even as just a passenger, is better than none at all, and makes you a better pilot. I'll never let a little rust discourage me ever again.

4.Flying coach in cigar-tubes really sucks.

5. Flying first-class is only marginally better.

6. There really are (occasionally)scenarios where I'd make better time door-to-door and avoid bad weather by flying myself instead of being at the mercy of a company airline-travel itinerary.

7. I cannot safely fly a 172 when sleep-deprived for almost 30 hrs (I was not PIC, the left-seater was a friend who is a CFI,and I surrendered control after a few minutes because I was not enjoying it... an interesting experiment, though).

8. Breezys are fun.

9. Meeting up with people you know (even only from the Web) at Airventure really is a lot more fun than just making new friends.

10. They sure got some big, soggy, bumpy air down there in Mississippi.

11. Beware of false horizons: "the leans" can be so subtle that you don't even realize you are disoriented, even when flying VFR.

12. If there's any chance at all that the mixture knob in an unfamiliar rental is where the carb heat knob usually is, look first before you pull it out on downwind.

13. A checkout in something completely different can turn rust into gold, and a BFR into a party.

14. I can hand-prop a C65 without losing any fingers or passing out.

15. Champs really like thermals and ridge lift (almost too much), but are not crazy about downdrafts.

16. A good Champ will fly hands-off as well as any 172 I've ever flown.

17. Baloney and American cheese on white bread tastes better at an EAA luncheon.

18. A BLT tastes better if you've flown from San Diego to Chino in a Champ to get it.

19. Feeling even a little true mastery of flying comes long after that PP checkride, despite what you might think at that point.

 

[EdFred]

#1) I really am the best pilot I know.

 

[kevin47881]

#1) I really am the best pilot I know.

You need to get to know more people

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

when to put the apostrophe on its/it's



Actually, mentor, here is one for you.
I was trying to say gps in plural the other day.
As in multiple gps units.

But if I follow the rule and no apostrophe I get "gpss" which means something completely different! Help!

 

[Pi1otguy]

This is another good one...
9. Meeting up with people you know (even only from the Web) at Airventure really is a lot more fun than just making new friends.

Meetings people on these boards that you originally assumed you'd never meet is fun. I really like saying "I'm going out to the (Mojave) desert to hang out with some guys I meet on the internet."

11. Beware of false horizons: "the leans" can be so subtle that you don't even realize you are disoriented, even when flying VFR.

To this day, even with my IR I'm still too scared to go too far over the Pacific Ocean on overcast or moonless nights. The water & sky are pitch black with no horizon or ground lighting.

 

[Teller1900]

To this day, even with my IR I'm still too scared to go too far over the Pacific Ocean on overcast or moonless nights. The water & sky are pitch black with no horizon or ground lighting.

It's like flying the left downwind to 31 in RKD. The threshold is only a few hundred feet from the water, so the pattern takes you well out to sea. At night, when you get passed abeam the numbers, you pretty much lose all reference to the airport or really anything lighted. The guy in the left seat can still see just fine, but from the right seat...it's right back on the gauges and just fly the instruments until halfway through the turn to final when you can see something other than blackness again. Talk about nerve wracking.

 

[gkainz]

when to put the apostrophe on its/it's



Actually, mentor, here is one for you.
I was trying to say gps in plural the other day.
As in multiple gps units.

But if I follow the rule and no apostrophe I get "gpss" which means something completely different! Help!

1 Garmin GPS + 1 Garmin GPS = 2 Garmin GPSs? or 2 Garmin GPS units...

 

[deafsound]

Never let the same chick break your heart twice.

 

[Shipoke]

Flying by yourself is no fun,add a kid and it's GREAT
but i knew this before,just wanted everyone else to know
Do Young Eagle Flights, you'll enjoy it and so will they.

Dave G

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Never let the same chick break your heart twice.

owwwch.
oh. wait. btdt.

 

[stingray]

Painting a plane is a lot of work!

Dan

 

[bkreager]

ASOS and ATIS lie...frequently. Just because they say its ovc at 700 or 1000 does not mean that I will break out at 700 or 1000, or 500 for that matter.

 

[SCCutler]

owwwch.
oh. wait. btdt.

Yabut... he who laughs last, laughs best!

 

[ScottM]

Lets see, my top 10:
1. even though the TSA is supposed to accept any government issued ID they really only will accept a drivers license or passport

2. Chi-App really could care less about serving anyone but the airlines

3. With the ability to fly whenever I want I find myself really longing for just perfect days and willingly not flying when things are not just right

4. PoA is the greatest group of people in aviation

5. Owning is a way better than renting

6. Flying is the coolest thing you can do with your clothes on

7. All hangars should be heated not like mine

8. fully paved hangars make life much nicer than ones with just a hard pad for the wheels and gravel everywhere else

9. Jesse can't land on grass

10. Midwest WX stinks!

 

[taters]

ASOS and ATIS lie...frequently. Just because they say its ovc at 700 or 1000 does not mean that I will break out at 700 or 1000, or 500 for that matter.

word...I was in Knoxville IA the other day hearing 800 4 miles..shot the appch and had to divert. the mins were 500 and 1..what a bunch of BS.

 

[jason]

2. Chi-App really could care less about serving anyone but the airlines

You just learned that in 2007?

 

[tonycondon]

Consulting the Logbook:

Jan: If the gear wont come up, dont keep trying. Meeting Chip in KC for Lunch is fun

Feb: Flying a Cessna 140 to Memphis for the SSA Convention can only mean FUN!

Mar: A 27 yr flight review is a fun challenge for student and CFI. I missed flying the Super Cub over the winter and my landings showed it.

Apr: Supper with the PoA bunch in Rockford was a blast. Flight Review with Jesse in 19G30 crosswinds is a fun challenge for both student and CFI.

May: Ercoupes still are magic. BBQ in Bentonville,AR was totally worth 5 hrs in a 150.

June: Gastons still rules, and flying there in a Cessna 140 is fun. Its nice when things break on their own during IPC's, much more realistic.

July: Ercoupe does not have ideal night lighting setup, but it looks cool. Kate teaching me to fly the Sky Arrow Sport was a fun challenge for student and instructor.

August: The Super Cub is just too big to tow the Super Floater. Flying Lance's Porterfield is like flying in slow motion.

Sept: Where the hell IS Sidnaw Michigan? Close encounters with lightning in a Schweizer 2-22 with your Great Uncle in front should be avoided.

Oct: Supper with Pete in Prarie du Chien was great! Soaring cross country with a friend is much more fun than going alone.

Nov: There is something primally satisfying with dropping a pumpkin out of an airplane.

Dec: Carb Ice is for real

 

[ScottM]

You just learned that in 2007?

It was a recurrent lesson

 

[Ted]

Time is a funny thing. Four years ago you wouldn't have caught me dead in an airplane. A year ago I would've told you I have no desire whatsoever to learn to fly. Today I'm wanting to buy an airplane.

 

[jkaduk]

10. Midwest WX stinks!

You just learned that in 2007?

 

[rottydaddy]

Time is a funny thing. Four years ago you wouldn't have caught me dead in an airplane. A year ago I would've told you I have no desire whatsoever to learn to fly. Today I'm wanting to buy an airplane.

That's one of the coolest things I've read on any aviation board so far.

I'll bet Cessna or somebody would give you an airplane if you let them use that quote and your image for an ad campaign...

 

[Missa]

Time is a funny thing. Four years ago you wouldn't have caught me dead in an airplane. A year ago I would've told you I have no desire whatsoever to learn to fly. Today I'm wanting to buy an airplane.

That's one of the coolest things I've read on any aviation board so far.

I'll bet Cessna or somebody would give you an airplane if you let them use that quote and your image for an ad campaign...

So Ted, think Cessna will give you and airplane????



Would you take one if they did???????

 

[stingray]

10. Midwest WX stinks!

The Midwest has the best weather. Where else can you get the variety of weather we have. You want bad weather head to AZ in the summer. That heat will kill you.

Dan

 

[jesse]

ASOS and ATIS lie...frequently. Just because they say its ovc at 700 or 1000 does not mean that I will break out at 700 or 1000, or 500 for that matter.

...and sometimes they lie the other way. I've departed a couple of times with an ASOS spitting out 700 OVC. Once was during the day and the other at night.

 

[mikea]

Flying by yourself is no fun,add a kid and it's GREAT
but i knew this before,just wanted everyone else to know
Do Young Eagle Flights, you'll enjoy it and so will they.

Dave G

Except when the little girl keeps quiet the whole flight and when it's all over tells Mom, "I was scared to death!"

 

[flyersfan31]

Backfire may = exhaust damage.

Ask me why it's good to buy a cheap plane as a starter plane....

 

[Pi1otguy]

Except when the little girl keeps quiet the whole flight and when it's all over tells Mom, "I was scared to death!"

Or you take your cousin to Sea World, overrun the runway and on the return trip he says, "We're not going to crash again, are we?"

 

[Ted]

That's one of the coolest things I've read on any aviation board so far.

Thanks!

I'll bet Cessna or somebody would give you an airplane if you let them use that quote and your image for an ad campaign...

I have less confidence in that than you do (besides, nobody wants to look at a picture some scrawny blonde white boy... just look in my profile). I'd think AOPA would be more interested in it for trying to promote people to learn to fly. Either way, I won't approach any marketing departments on this, but if they want to approach me, I'd be glad to talk to them.

So Ted, think Cessna will give you and airplane????

Would you take one if they did???????

Missa, I'd take a free airplane if it was a balsa wood model... you know, like that Cherokee 140 I'm building in my kitchen right now (coolest Christmas present of the year! ). If someone offered me an actual running airplane, you bet I'd take it... and then probably sell it in favor of that Aztec I want (unless they gave me an Aztec)!

Hey Missa, want to buy me an Aztec?

 

[Missa]

Missa, I'd take a free airplane if it was a balsa wood model... you know, like that Cherokee 140 I'm building in my kitchen right now (coolest Christmas present of the year! ). If someone offered me an actual running airplane, you bet I'd take it... and then probably sell it in favor of that Aztec I want (unless they gave me an Aztec)!

No, when I read that I was just picturing you in a particular Cessna...

 

[rottydaddy]

To this day, even with my IR I'm still too scared to go too far over the Pacific Ocean on overcast or moonless nights. The water & sky are pitch black with no horizon or ground lighting.

The incident I recall was similar, but had an added element that was new to me: it was down on the Gulf, flying SW with no horizon out over the water, with a string of narrow, oblong islands trying to convince me that they represented "level" even though they were not even close.
I noticed the telltale instrument signs; didn't want to beliebve it at first...and when I corrected, that's when I felt like I was turning... I banked a little to where I was before, and my eyes said "level", but I was of course turning...DG and wet compass agreed I was being silly.... I was outnumbered.

My passenger, meanwhile, wasn't sure, when I asked him "which seems level- this or this?" He was no help at all, but I'm glad he isn't the nervous type.

So I had to just fly by the AH and turn coordinator for a minute or so then force myself to hold that input and get back to my exterior scan... it was weird. I've had clouds over water tempt me in a similar fashion, but this took me by surprise.

 

[Ted]

I've had this as well. When I took off from Maine in the Aztec to fly back (my 3 hour night cross country in an Aztec ) it was pitch black, and I couldn't see the stars well enough to get a horizon reference. My ears tell me I'm doing one thing, but I looked at the attitude indicator to note that my climb and bank were a little more than I wanted shortly after takeoff.

My second lesson helped in this a lot. It was a run to PIT and back from IPT to pick up my ex when she flew up from Texas at the end of last summer. The catch was that it was an instrument flight, with actual instrument flying (how many students have 1 hour of actual instrument time as the second entry in their log book?). So, I got exposure early on to how to use, rely on, and trust your instruments. Even flying in CAVU, I still find myself checking them.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Even flying in CAVU, I still find myself checking them.

Careful with that. No reason to keep your head inside checking your AI, for instance, when there's that big AI outside! Altimeter, airspeed, and heading are the only primary flight instruments you really ever need to check when VFR (night being the occasional exception). If you're going to be looking inside, scan the engine gauges instead.

The reason I say this is, I got some actual when I was a student early on too, in a plane with an AI that leaned slightly to one side (5 degrees, so still legal) but since it wasn't really helping me too much, I used the other instruments as if I was partial panel - And to this day, with 527TT and 126 instrument time, I *still* don't look at the AI as much as I should when flying instruments. So watch out for bad habits like doing too much instrument checking when VFR early on, because they're REALLY hard to break.

Maybe make yourself do a thorough traffic check every time you let yourself look at the AI...

 

[Ted]

I suppose I look at my instruments in the same way that I look at the instruments on my car, where I glance at them fairly frequently. Obviously if I have a great real horizon outside I'm watching that more, but it provides me some extra information. I'm not saying that I'm relying on it instead of looking outside (although that was a problem early on), just still looking at it for information.

As part of my general flying, I also try to do a thorough traffic check (which I'm not very good at as my eyes aren't well trained at this point), but that would probably be a good idea.