My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

All my gliding (4000 flights!) were on the civilian side rather than the military. I haven’t flown a glider for a few years now but sometimes I miss the camaraderie.

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

Showing my ignorance there a bit I’m afraid…didnt know you had a web site !. I’ll look at it tonight.

I know the Sedberg (Barge…as apposed to the Kirby Kadet which we called the Brick) very well. started gliding on the barge then converted.

Cheers

Gary

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

Gary – did you see the picture of me instructing in a T31 on my web site? The T31 was the civilian name for the Cadet Mark III. There is also a picture of me instructing in a T21 (the civilian name for a Sedbergh).

www.iwhite.co.uk

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

ha ha, getting in and out of the Luton was always the most difficult bit! I did my 300 nautical mile cross country (required for the issue of a CPL) in one of my Lutons. It took me from dawn to dusk!

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

Cracking plane the Minor. Used to be one based at Old Sarum in wiltshire (where I did my gliding) back in 1976. It was powered by a long in the tooth JAP twin that was earmarked for a museum once it had become time expired. It was painted all silver and sounded much like a Doodlebug when flying.

The day I soloed in the Glider I was talking to the owner of the Minor and he let me try it out for size. the hardest thing was actually the getting in and out withgought treading on something you shouldnt or putting your foot throught fuselage or grabbing a support that you shouldn’t !. Once sat in I was amazed at the almost friction free aileron circuit but surprised at the weight of the elevator. I was told that with the slipstream running over, it almost dissapeared.

I kept hoping he would let me take it for a spin around the field but (cos I could fly…I’d just soloed in a glider for goodness sake !!!) he didnt. However I thanked for his time and still remember that little plane floating ’round Wiltshire (used to hear it two minutes before you actually saw it !!!)

Cheers

Gary

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-01-03 AT 03:14 AM (GMT)]Great work Phantom. WYSIWYG is right ( and I know I passed this advice on before ) be religious in your flight planning and always have a calulator and always know what the aircraft weight is. Some people that crack up their plane failed to do that. They fly all the time in a lightly loaded ( 172 is a good example ) then one time load up their buddies and all their gear and go flying and as you can guess the aircraft will handle different ( all your speeds and attitude you are used to are different) You are good at remembering things so I am sure you can memorize all the important passages from the 152 and 172. Here are some other things I learned growing up around small aircraft.

* Always make sure the gas caps are on tight/ see to it yourself. You stop at an airport on a trip, a kid comes out and fuels your crate and you get back in and a few minutes away from the airport see your fuel gauges go down fast because the gas caps were not put on tight 🙂

* Become an expert on the weather

* Really get into being an expert at doing cross wind takeoffs and landings with confidence

* Always keep your head moving. ( too many private pilots don’t do this ) I saw a cool feature on a ex Harrier pilot flying a small twin. He never stopped moving his head and was looking outside the cockpit a lot. The example to follow.

* If you get some time someday, get some hands on, spin training from a good instructor.

Anyway great stuff Phantom. I am always partial to the days when my dad had a 150hp 1973 Citabria. It was so fun to ride in.

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-01-03 AT 10:17 AM (GMT)]Gary, in the past I have owned 2 Luton Minors and used to fly them alongside a friend of mine in his FRED. Here’s a picture of me in my second Luton Minor. It’s a bit like a FRED, just more aerodynamic!
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RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

Soloed allready, way to go !

I remember my first solo…10.10.76 (blimey thats given my age away aint it ?) but that was in a Kirby Cadet MK111 at Old Sarum in wiltishire england, and not a powered jobbie. I’ve got around 60 hours so far but only able to book four cos most of my flying has been withguys who aint instructors so I cant legitimatley use the hours (and umpteen hundred on MS flight sims dont count either !).

I’m thinking of doing my PPL this year out here. cost me around CY£1800 as opposed to nearer 5K in the UK, then its a question of taking the two extra exams which they dont do out here and a further GFT and that should be me.

Untill I moved out here two years ago, I was actually building my own plane, A Clutton FRED (Flying Runabout Experimental Design) but sold it when I got this job. I think I’ve still got a 3 view of the plane if you are interested ?, I’ll hook it out and get my scanner working over the next few days.

whatever happens keep it up !. I stopped and regretted it it ever since.

I will get my PPL one day !

Cheers

Gary

RE: My Short Pilot Career Thus Far

Always great to talk aviation on this site Cooper. You’ll find the 172 a great follow on from the 152. If anything it’s actually easier to fly as it doesn’t get blown around quite so much. When you qualify be careful not to overload it with too many passengers combined with too much fuel though.