Aircraft Owners and Pilots

[Monk]

I sure hope sir.. been far too long since I got any air time...

[J.C.N.]

You enjoy your time in Pittsburgh and when you get done you will hopefully have time to get back in the air and get some flight time.

[Monk]

WX sucked today or I would have made some time to get up in the air... looks like I will have to wait till I get back from Pittsburgh now...

[Monk]

True... she's tucked away nicely....

[Plugger301]

Bummer, but the hangar won't hurt her.

[Monk]

I'm just too slammed between now and Thursday when I leave for Portland...just don't think I will be able to fit it in...

[Plugger301]

Morning is good, afternoon gonna be iffy.

[Monk]

I really need to get some flying time in....

[Monk]

I am very pleased with it... I would love to attend.. but, will be out of town at the time....

[Paradigm]

I've got around 800 hours with the Avidyne Integra 5000 and think that it is somewhere between tremendous and spectacular especially since it is available in General Aviation. It does take time to learn and keeping yourself current is something that is done on every flight. Glad that you are pleased with the system. Are you going to attend the upcoming COPA Migration 8?

[Monk]

Very nice.. I have the Avidyne Entegra 5000 myself in a Cirrus SR22... I have been very pleased with it...

[Paradigm]

PIREP Avidyne R9

I had the opportunity to fly a SR22 fitted with the Avidyne R9 this weekend. If you fly serious IFR and have an extra $100K then you should consider the R9.

This system is rock solid in keeping the pilot informed about what is happening while permitting easy, intuitive, and comfortable changes in your approach execution.

It would take a day or two with a CFI to really work through the changes with the R9. However, after an hour or two you would feel comfortable with the basic transition.

The system has a keyboard and an intelligent interface. R9 eliminates a lot of button pushing by bringing some foundation computer intelligence to the decision making. R9 integrates the panel and has enough logic to reduce pilot workload and improve situational awareness, especially in IFR conditions.

Here is link to their website for details. http://www.avidyne.com/products/release-9/index.asp

[$pmlg]

yes the 2010 are 400 500K and up...add extras

[Monk]

Those are not brand names.. those are facilities... mine was purchased from the Lone Mountain dealer...

[$pmlg]

g3GTS, or g3 turboGTS, lone mountain,troutdale,leading edge...?

[Monk]

Mine is an '03... The parachute is standard... I have a few hours in a helicopter.. I like those too...

[$pmlg]

09? with the parachute?? is it standard, or option... Ihave always wanted to fly a heli...as a kid, even as an adult...live just stone throw from local QB airport!

[Monk]

I have Cirrus SR22 with the Avidyne Entegra 5000 glass cockpit...

She had 2138 hours on her when I bought her.. and I have added 80 more...

[$pmlg]

http://www.cirrusaircraft.com/turbo/

which one? congrats....last nov purchase right? got er named cdiv I read...how many hours?

[Monk]

I just put a few more hours on my Cirrus... took her down to KPBI from KGON... was a just under 15 hours round trip....

[4Godnwv]

The price would probably skyrocket if they were allowed in the LSA catagory. I could have bought my 415C $10-12k cheaper 5 years ago.

You're right about aviation not being a 'budget' sport. By the time I get a hanger built and add a few avionic upgrades to my plane, I'll have 50k invested to go after the "$100 hamburger" in a 1946 model aircraft.

Those electing to purchase new planes better have a fat wallet.

Nothing quite like it though. What's the saying? "Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man. The first is landing!"

[Paradigm]

You are really on target about gross weight, price and adding Cessna 150-152's. The 150-152's are probably the least expensive birds and continued expenses to keep airworthy are minimal. If the FAA really-really wanted to help out the pilot then moving the category up, as you have defined, would change the total "landscape" on the topic.

Aviation has never been a budget sport for most people. I do remember, as a graduate student 30+ years ago, paying $12 per hour WET to rent our flying clubs Grumman AA1. Great Memories!

[4Godnwv]

Oh yeah. It's a great thing. I really wish they would raise the gross weight limit to include the Cessna 150. Most of the qualifying aircraft are either old tail draggers or new $100k+ models. The addition of the 150-152 series would be safer (or cheaper) than most of the alternatives.

Of course the FAA has never been known for getting anything remotely close to right. I think most of them grew up playing with trains. lol

They did somehow (probably accidentally) allow the Ercoupe. A very safe and simple to fly aircraft. Love mine.

[Monk]

good point....

[Paradigm]

Precisely! -- This is very significant for all pilots, especially aging or physically challenged, who qualify.

[4Godnwv]

Sport Pilot rules require either a 3rd class FAA medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. driver’s license as evidence of medical eligibility...
...provided the individual's most recent application for an FAA medical certificate was not denied, revoked, suspended or withdrawn.

This site has a great Q&A section.
http://www.sportpilot.org/index.html

[4Godnwv]

Hmmm...reminds me of a query posed by an older pilot when I first began flying and the subject of ATC 'authority' came up.

"How many controllers have been killed in crashes?"

[Paradigm]

Mariner, as I understand it, if you have a Valid Medical Certificate and permanently transition to Light Sport you are "good to go" with Light Sport as long as you have a valid Driver's License. You never have to take another FAA Medical Examination. If you are Rejected during a routine medical examination, then you are Not Eligible to transition to Light Sport. To get to Light Sport you would need to get that FAA Medical back.

Therefore, if a pilot has any concern about Light Sport Eligibility and passing the standard FAA Medical check then they need to think long and hard about the consequences.

Closer to home, I do not have all the answers but have followed this topic by reading various materials and talking to other pilots also considering this aviation option. Personally speaking, I am in physical and mental shape to pass the medical. However, all facets of issues associated with Medical Certificates, FAA general & specific flight regulations, and Light Sport are significant topics. Bottom line, is that if the FAA takes the Medical Certificate then the pilot becomes a Kiwi. Aviation Legend Bob Hoover has had his medical revoked and then reinstated, thoroughly reported in the press, and it took the FAA Administrator to over-rule the FAA Bureaucracy for Bob to get that medical back.

As for the fellow without a 1) medical, 2) license, and 3) instrument rating [which he was likely not current] he should not be flying. This pilot going into Class B O'Hare with an emergency fuel situation sounds like a situation where high-octane fuel is put onto the FAA fire. This is definitely not in the same category as the May 2005 event with the Cessna 150 over Washington, DC but this situation draws unnecessary attention to the pilot and General Aviation.

Most Class B airspace and airports are a place that Private Pilots would like to avoid if possible. Such things as procedures, high costs, and big iron are not necessarily friendly. Just speaking for myself, if I had to go into and out of a Class B airport it would definitely be on an IFR Flight Plan. I'm a VFR pilot only in places that I'm comfortable with. Operating IFR, even in CAVU conditions, reduces your probability of having to deal with FAA Interaction and paperwork that no pilot wants to deal with.

Fly Safe

[Plugger301]

Another raffle for those who feel lucky.

160HP LIGHT WEIGHT SUPERCUB IS BUILT BY DAN'S AIRCRAFT REPAIR,
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA!

Powered by a "0" time Lycoming 0320, this airplane will have a gross
weight of 2000lbs, with a wing span of 35.5 ft, length of 22.5 ft and
height of 7ft. It will also have a fuel capacity of 35 gallons and a
panel that includes your basic flight instruments, an ICOM A210,
Intercom, Transponder, a Garmin 496 GPS, and an ME 406ELT. The
airplane will sport 4 HID Landing/Taxi Lights, Navigation Light and 3
position strobes. A Light weight starter, alternator, underseat
battery and breakers and switches in the panel complete the electrical
features of this airplane. Alaskan Bushwheel once again has donated
35" Alaskan Bushwheels and an Alaskan Bushwheel tailwheel for your
airplane. Safety features include front and rear inertia reel
shoulder harness and seatbelt. All windows will be UV protective
glass.
And yes! This year your airplane is on custom painted Aerocet Floats
and Landes 2500 skis and for that extra gear, a cargo pod.

In addition, all parts are power coated or painted to include the
interior of the airplane and feature other "Alaskan Mods" unique to an
Alaskan built aircraft.

Tickets are $50 each or five (5) for $225.00. 7500 Tickets will be sold.
The drawing will be held on May 2, 2010 at the Alaska State Aviation
Trade Show, FedEx Maintenance Hangar, Anchorage International Airport.


To order call the Airmen's Office at 907-245-1251 or 1-800-464-7030
Or purchase tickets from these businesses:

[Mariner*]

Paradigm, the medical was a major sticking point to my neighbor who had an airstrip running right along his driveway going off the cliff right next to his house on Lake Michigan.
They didn't approve his medical check up and denied him his single engine with instruments I think.
He had his own personal hanger,landing strip and plane so he just flew without a ticket right up to his last days without incident.

I remember the story of him flying over the lake to Chicago,Ill and running low on fuel unable to make his destination because of headwinds, requested to land a single engine Cessna at Ohare international airport. http://www.ohare.com/
They told him no way over the radio and he said I'm landing anyway and he did.
They gave him a lot of flack for doing it, but refueled his plane and sent him on his way...lol

[Paradigm]

Mariner,

The thing I really like about this tecnolgy is that it should be very reliable. Being an "older pilot" but by no means anywhere close to the "real old pilot" group, the idea of light sport means that keeping a current FAA Medical is not required. Speed is certainly not as great as Monk's SR22 but it is still pretty good all things considered.

Guess that if this thing were produced in a consumer product version it would probably cost far more than many-many times cost of fuel required for any of the aircraft and powered devices we have discussed on the Forum.

Bob

[Mariner*]

Yw Paradigm, the implications are pretty far reaching especially for unmanned drones that could stay aloft for extended periods of time.
You could drag it up to altitude like a glider and just leave it on it's own to patrol a specific area for months at a time without refueling.
In essence it would act just like a low orbit static satellite.

[Mariner*]

Thank you sir for the definition / differentiation

[4Godnwv]

Ultralights and LSA's are different animals - LSA's require a sport pilot license, ultralights do not.

Ultralights must weight less than 254 lbs, carry 5 gal of fuel, have a max speed of 55kts, and do not require license, medical, or even a registration.

LSA's can weight as much as 1320 gross, clip along at 138mph, and require a sport pilot license.

[Paradigm]

In a Light Sport version this really has some major market implications. Thanks for the post.

[Mariner*]

Solar plane makes a successful first flight

The Solar Impulse, a plane powered entirely by solar energy, has made a successful test flight in Switzerland.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2010/apr/08/solar-impulse-plane-first-flight

[Monk]

Too bad you weren't able to grab pics.. no worries... maybe next time...

[Mariner*]

The sport pilot license, is that what these ultralight guys need to have to get up in the air?
Every summer a group of them fly over, sounds like a flying lawnmower moving really slow, but they have a lot of fun.
I think they carry about 5 gallons of gas, some of them have enclosed cockpits.
http://sites.google.com/site/ultralightaircraft/

[4Godnwv]

Since the advent of the sport pilot license five years ago, there has been a resurgence of interest in these old planes. While prices have doubled due to demand, you can still get a nice LSA for less than $30k.

With a gross weight of 1550, the CallAir would not be LSA eligible, but it is definitely a beautiful plane.

[Mariner*]

At first glance I thought that was a Mooney.
I used to work at the local airport {non-controlled} saw a lot of different planes come and go.

One of the guys there has a restored fabric over aluminum tuber, I think it was a registered home built.
This Callair is pretty close to what it looked like.

Story by Ron Kilber
Photography by Bob Shane

Reprinted from the August 1999 issue of CUSTOM PLANES magazine (page 28).

When I climb into the cockpit of Dick Price's newly restored 1945 CallAir at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona, I'm honored to be only the third person ever to fly in this classic airplane since 1957. It's not that Mr. Price hasn't allowed anyone the privilege, but rather because N34841 until November of 1998 had been dismantled for 41 years -- six years of which were used to restore the beautiful plane from spinner to tail.

http://ronkilber.tripod.com/callair/callair.htm

[J.C.N.]

Thank you.

[4Godnwv]

Here ya go.

http://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/

http://www.sportpilot.org/index.html

[4Godnwv]

You should at least go for a ride. They offer all kinds of deals for 1st time potentials. If you decide to go for it, one of us here on the board can point you to a discount.

[J.C.N.]

Yes it is good to see you as well. You and Monk have me wanting to take flying lessons now. Good to hear your enjoying yourself with it.

[4Godnwv]

I am having a great time with it. I am use to 172's. They are like a pick-up truck compared to this little two seat roadster.

Good to see you too.

[4Godnwv]

Didn't get the chance to take any. It was a newer model than mine, an ALON.

Ercoupes were built by several different companies and had several changes over the years. Mooney even built some of them.

[J.C.N.]

Pretty nice new toy. Glad your enjoying it. Good to see you friend.

[Monk]

Post some pics of the other one as well... would love to see it...

[4Godnwv]

Taking 611GC to Chillicothe OH tomorrow to check out another Ercoupe with a panel redo - I'm guessing this will end up being expensive, :^)

[Monk]

Completely understand...