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I don’t think there is anything particulary sad about having a Stearman in your logbook 😀

I can fully agree, that having flown more than one type only goes to expand your horizons. I’ve got 30+ types at the moment in my logbook, and every single one has tought me a little something about flying.

Absolutely, I also agree with what Propstrike said about flying by the picture rather than the numbers. The case of 172/Stearman is exactly that. You cannot compare the numbers or even the view but the ‘picture’ should remain the same.

There are others that I have blagged and forgotten, I have also flown a Minicab (cramped), I once thermalled a T21, have a couple of gliders dual including some string time, Stinson Station Wagon and there are a few more that I have flown in. I have not flown a Stearman yet but I have take a lot of pictures from one!

I don’t think there is anything particulary sad about having a Stearman in your logbook 😀

I can fully agree, that having flown more than one type only goes to expand your horizons. I’ve got 30+ types at the moment in my logbook, and every single one has tought me a little something about flying.

Sadly I just have C172 and Stearman in my log book.

I was forgetting the non-powered types:

Kirby Cadet Mk.III (First Solo Flights) and the Slingsby Sedberg T.21 (Stalls in turns, spiral dive recovery and some gentle aerobatics).

I know it’s a long shot but has anyone out there got any piccies of Kirby Cadets, in particular XA288 which I flew from RAF Kenley in the late 70’s?

Off the top of my head,

Chipmunk(delightful) Aircamper (Cramper) Cessna 150,152,206 172,185 (Ho hum) Tiger Moth (spiffing) Rapide (sublime) Stampe (beautiful) Jungmann (outstanding) Pitts (frantic) Extra 300 (outrageous) Auster (unlovely) Harvard (huge) Beech 18 (huger) Luton Minor (silly fun) Yak52 (brilliant) Turner Wot (wot?) Gardan Minicab (cosy) Gardan Horizon (not bad) Zlin (rewarding) Rallye ( relaxed) Nanchang CJ6 (wheeee!) Motor Falke (yawn) Grob 109 (flying sofa) Yak11 (scary) Beech Baron ( quick) Partenavia P68 ( OK), Fuji 200 (dull) Cherokee ( no view) Morane 317 (magnifique),
Aeronca 7 (adequate) Citabria ( fun) AA.5 (capable) T21 Sedburgh (hilarious) R22 (impossible), Cub (legendary), Condor (educational) Tomahawk (wobbly) Antonov AN2 (Heeeave!) Tripacer ( economical).

They all have a place in my heart. If its got a stick, its probably OK (not the Auster)

Melvyn, It’s no good – I can’t make my list of types flown sound as good as yours but I did make it seem longer by adding every last sub-type!

AA-5A, Aeronca 11AC, Auster J5, DH82A, DHC-1, C150E, F150M, FRA150M, C152, F172H, C172L, C172M, F/C172N, C172P, C172R, C172RG, CT/4E, Express 310, Harvard IIA, HR200/120B, J-3C-65, J-3C-90S, N.A. T-6G, NDN-1T, PA-18-95, PA-18-150, PA-28-140, PA-28-151, PA-28-161, PA-28-180C, PA-28-181, PA-28RT-201, PA-38-112, Stampe SV4C, T67B & T67M.

Putting showing off aside for a moment, I have to agee that flying a variety of types definitely improves one’s ability to fly by first principles. Bad habits slipped into on one type suddenly become very obvious when at the controls of something a little different. Flying by ‘picture’ rather than ‘numbers’ is one area that improves markedly, as is consideration of surface wind direction/strength when taxiing in tailwheel types. the latter are also very good for reminding you that you have feet and that they should be used for something other than making your legs look tidy…

my logbook now has:

C150*, Condor*, Robin DR400*, T67A*, PA20*, Cherokee 180*, Terrahawk*, Warrior 160*, J3 seaplane*, Cessna Hawk XP, Wassamer Super 4*, AA5*, Chipmunk, Auster 3, Super Cub*, Saab Safir, Piston Provost, Grob motor glider, Extra 300, Pitts S2T, Beagle Pup*, Citabria*, Stampe, C172*, Bulldog*, AN2, T67B*, J3 cub*, Bell Huey, Ryan SCW, T67M*, Globe Swift, Grumman Albatross, Tri Pacer, Staggerwing, Stinson Reliant, Auster J1N, Vimy, C42 Ikarus*, Ooh yeah, there is a bit of time in a Rearwin Cloudster too.

Of the above, those that are asterisked were take off and landings too, All the others are hands-on time, in some cases quite a lot. 2 hours in the Albatross, five hours in the Extra, a couple in the Pitts and 45 minutes on the Vimy. Most of this has been down to being in the right place at the right time and to some very generous people. The above does not include the things I have just blagged rides in.

The point is they all handle like aeroplanes. They are all slightly different but the same rules apply. I found the Auster 3 incredibly cramped and uncomfortable, the Vimy was just a tad heavy, The Albatross needed constant attention on the rudder, the AN2 was heavy, The Provost is like a beefy Chipmunk and the Huey didn’t seem right without James Brown blasting out in the background!

M

Just try to beg steal or borrow some flying time as often as you can. Even sitting in the right hand seat when someone else flies will help as you can keep the mental picture of the circuit in your head.

I can vouch for that.

Parked up the Traumahawk after an hours worth of circuits on Saturday. As Graham, my instructor, and I walked back to the clubroom, we looked in the hangar to see the 172 with its droopy eyes sitting there begging to stretch its wings. We looked at each other, smiled, then I pulled her out while Graham ran up to book out. Result was an extra 20 minutes, and I got CI in my logbook at last. 🙂 (and Graham paid a share! 😮 )

It doesn’t matter what you learn on as long as you learn. C152s and PA28s both have good points and bad points, the imporant thing is to apply the lessons you learn to anything you may fly in the future.

Since I got my licence I have been lucky to fly some interesting things and I am glad I did not get stuck into a rut flying just one type when I learned (I was C150, Condor, DR400 and T67), and the benefit of multi-typing when learning was that I learned to fly aeroplanes not just an aeroplane.

However, if money is a problem get the licence on whatever you can and then blag as much time in anything as you can after that.

That sounds like some very good advice

Flying with Leading Edge at Cumbernauld, 9 quid per landing. We have a way round it though for the moment: do a go-around at about 50ft every second approach!

Try my patent flare at 10 feet method. It guarantees at least three touchdowns per approach!

That’ll be better. If it is cheap then stay there as you could well spend more going somewhere else. Just try to beg steal or borrow some flying time as often as you can. Even sitting in the right hand seat when someone else flies will help as you can keep the mental picture of the circuit in your head.

Try to get another lesson in before then if you can. Offer to marry the instructor’s ugly daughter or something!

Why so long? Is it just availability? If so you should seriously consider going somewhere else. You will spend half of your time revising.

Ouch!

Moggy

Moggy I moved there due to GLA’s fee being £22 per landing, oh and it’s rising 🙁

a/c is also £15 per hour cheaper!!

Thanks to all – It’s going to be hard work financially, but it will make the process more rewarding I feel!

As for after (if!) I get the licence, I’m sure that the situation will have evolved by then and there will be the resources to fly somehow 🙂

JC

That’s fantastic John! No matter what, that’s garranteed fun (and some work, yes) for a few good months and many more I hope.

I came back from a flight last Monday and I happen to land just before a guy doing his first solo. We met afterwards and the thrill and joy on this guy’s face was superb, hands shaking and everything. Always a refreshing sight!

All the best then,
Steph

whatever else,just make sure of one thing…..
have many,MANY
happy landings
good luck to ya
Colin

It doesn’t matter what you learn on as long as you learn. C152s and PA28s both have good points and bad points, the imporant thing is to apply the lessons you learn to anything you may fly in the future.

Since I got my licence I have been lucky to fly some interesting things and I am glad I did not get stuck into a rut flying just one type when I learned (I was C150, Condor, DR400 and T67), and the benefit of multi-typing when learning was that I learned to fly aeroplanes not just an aeroplane.

However, if money is a problem get the licence on whatever you can and then blag as much time in anything as you can after that.

It might appear more expensive, but if you are counting the few pounds, you can’t afford to Fly!

I am learning on a 152. Now I’m not mega rich and I’m on a budget, I can just afford to fly but I wouldn’t be able to afford it if learning on a PA-28.

What I save by learning on the 152 is the money that I then use for equipment, books, exams etc.

Here’s the 152 I prefer to fly.
Neal

Flying with Leading Edge at Cumbernauld, 9 quid per landing.

Ouch!

Moggy

Ok Macky, so I phrased that very badly 😮