What else do you fly?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

David a Robby is a real hand full. I admire anyone who has accumulated any real time in one and can fly it nicely. Of course the same can be said for nearly any recip. helicopter.

Glad I don't have to subject myself to the pain of $245 an hour then actually have to fly the thing that long.

George, many a helicopter pilot would disagree with your statement at payday but of course not many of us "revolutionist" have left the industry quietly.

[Pavewlc]

Dave,
Where/when did you fly H-3's? I know several former H-3 guys on the Air Force side who went on to fy H-53's and H-60's. Any thing you can land a go fishing out the back rules!!

Lee

[dacker]

Lee I flew the H-3 in the Navy, SAR, external loads, aerial drone recovery,and torpedo recovery etc.
Not the glamorous Top Gun Jet Guy stuff but it sure was fun. The H-3 is another one of those very old and well proven helicopters like the Huey with a million and one uses. I feel lucky that I got to do that even if for a short while.

I have always said that my mind works just right at 120 knots, anything faster and I just get confuselated. My brain seems to be able to keep up with the 170 and still allow me time to enjoy the scenery, and I can fly when and where I want.

Bruce you ems types earn you pay! Last year right before Christmas we had some fairly harsh weather. One night I heard a Bell 407 (us helo types can identify by sound) and immediately recognized it as the local PHI ems bird. I ran outside to watch this guy fly over, it couldn't have been more than a 300' ceiling (and they were well beneath that), black, cold, misty, below freezing with towers all over the place. These guys were obviously in the process of saving someones life, at great risk to there own. I realized for the first time in my life that I no longer wanted to do what these guys do. They were earning every penny of there pay by just the normally simple act of being airborne. I often wonder if this was some foolish new pilot caught up in the moment, or if he was some super low level, all weather, night flying immortal god. I suspect he was the fool.

I think there is something to say about just flying for fun!

David

[C170BDan]

I started out in the One Filthy (150) and then after I finished my ticket started flying with friends in Champs, Cubs and a Stinson. Was 19 yrs old when I bought my first airplane, '46 BC12D Taylorcraft. Flew that for 6 years and then bought the 170. Actually owned them both for two years before selling the T-craft to help fund a house.

So the 170 is what must of my flying is in. Have flown Stearman, Chief, Cub, Champ, 172, 175 with rides in all kinds of vintage aircraft. Hope to do Stearman and T6 check out in the next few years.

For work I maintain Learjet and Challenger simulators. I really dont count the hours I have flown those simulated hot air blowers.

[MeeksDigital]

1941 Interstate S-1A Cadet s/n 34 NC34939 its fun!!!