How many hours did it take you to get your first twin ride.

[knox]

Personally I'm still slogging it out in the singles with 1300hrs (4 years) :mad: but :D to be flying.

Knox.

[AerocatS2A]

About 1200 hours and 8 years!

[fl610]

2000 hrs and 2.5 years (1970's)

[RatsoreA]

212.7 :ok:

[Aye Ess]

1900, 3.5 years also in the 1970s

[startingout]

First twin turbine command was logged at 496, took until about 780 before I touched a piston twin though.

[frigatebird]

Part-time, full time, and an 18 month break, about 6 years - after 2100 hrs on the singles in the '70's.

[Wally Mk2]

10 yrs & 600 hrs. Worked part time in aviation for many years, just couldn't give up the well paid job elsewhere, had the best of both world there for a while,flew & got good bucks, the latter not from aviation though:ok:.
Ah the good 'ole days when it was fun to fly:-)
Gee "AE" 70's hey? Did the dope covered wings give you headaches?:E

Wmk2

[Horatio Leafblower]

About 800 hours and 2 years. Was not ready for it or mature enough :=
but very lucky to be right place/right time.

[Arcturus]

3 years & 322 hrs total time. In mid '60s, my first twin was a DC3. Nearly cleaned up runway lights on both sides of the runway on first take-off ! :ooh:

[MACH082]

800 hours and 12 months.

2007 :D

[truthinbeer]

Loved your honesty Arcturus. It would only have got better from then I would hope.:)

[dhavillandpilot]

120 hours

Initial Twin, Initial Tail Wheel and initial radial all on a Lockheed 12A

Ever tried to do all this and look our of those small slate cockpit windows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arcturus I can emphasise with you, the bloody thing just wouldn't go where it was suppose to. I can understand people like my father that learnt on a DH82A, Wirraway and then launched on to Beaufighters with around 300 hours.

[Tankengine]

About 2000hrs single over about 4 years.
Another 2 1/2 years and 1300hrs combined multi piston and single and first jet endorsement. [747]:E

[Aye Ess]

Wally...I'm what is known as a 'mature' pilot. My first twin endorsement was with Frank Woodfall aviation at Archerfield. A Partenavia....WOW!!! I felt I was flying an airliner!!!

[YPJT]

Don't have my log book handy but definitely under 200hrs. Just right place, right time I guess.

Unfortunately haven't flown a twin in about 4 yrs and that was only for an IR renewal.

[717tech]

Abourt 2 years, flying on the weekends and around 1200 hours.

[framer]

3 years and 1300hrs.

[dreamjob]

It's not who you know, but who knows you. :)

[clear to land]

2000 hrs and 4 years-CPL in Jan 88.

[knox]

Cheers guys. Sounds like a real mixed bag there.
I'd agree it's "not what you know but who knows you".
Was just wanting to see if I'm on par with others… I'm not sure :p

Knox.

[greybeard]

3 years, 700 hours, DC-3 and left the runway as per #11.

Best fun when I got it sorted.

:ok:

[Pinky the pilot]

Around 800 hrs and 4.5 years after initial CPL. (Done in mid 80's in a Seneca 1:eek:)

And it was in Bongo vans in PNG.:uhoh:

[esreverlluf]

141.1 in the 80's. Very lucky I guess.

[minimum_wage]

280hrs, CPL 13 days, 2006 :ok:

[Pilotette]

1360 hrs
2 yrs
PA60

[AerobaticArcher]

~1300 hrs, about 3 yrs after CPL.

[PA31flyer]

180 hours, haven't looked back since :D

[Nose wheel first]

480 hours TT but flew 95% singles and 5% twins for the following 6 months. Then 95% twins and 5% singles. First twin (apart from the Duchie in training) was a Partial Aviatior .... had a lot of fun in it!

[Aussie]

394hrs
2yrs
EMB 145

Talk about good timing...

[Bullethead]

I had over 13,000 hours before I first flew a twin! My transition to multi engine ops was from an Iroquois helicopter to a C130H Hercules. One engine to four. I managed to clock up over 1,000 hours on the Herc, 3,000 hours on the B707 and about 8,300 hours B747 time before I did my twin endorsement which was onto the B767. I now have around 5,900 hours on the B767. A very different path to most of you and the result of having had a career in the military then another one in an airline.

Regards,
BH.

[Tankengine]

I remember doing a 747 endorsement with an ex airforce guy who had never flown any multi!
The instructor was taken aback when he had trouble doing assymetrics!:D
A quick basic lesson and he was right, ended up a SCC - his first twin was a A330!:E

[who_cares]

First job after gaining my CPL, so around 175 hrs. Only ended up with somewhere between 300-400 hrs single time.

[Anthill]

500 hrs. First ME job was an Aztec PA23.

[PercyWhino]

1600hrs all heavy single, 200 series and bonanzas. First twin was a BE55 and BE58, did about 120hours baron then onto 402B and 402C only did about 150hrs on them then 404, did 300hrs or so on them then into multi crew turbine.

[overhere]

850TT - PA31

[Aerodynamisist]

Get the occasional twin flight at 3000 hours, 15 years since cpl, threw in the towel at one point and came back to full time flying after 9 years in other industries.

[mrclumsy]

2100 hrs in 3 years . Then got hold of a BN 2 which ended up slower than most the singles I flew :-p

[eternity]

1090 hours and 18 months (baron and 402) in 2008 - all major carriers had stopped hiring but i rode in on the slightly delayed shortage in GA


Knox - just make sure you are with a company that has a good proportion of twins to singles.
Also a company (usually out in the bush) that has a young workforce, as this will mean that twin opportunities will come up more often...

[maxspeed]

Took 15 years and 8000hrs but got round to doing my MECIR last year....... full respect to guys & gals that tackel that when you only have 100hrs or less!

[Al Fentanyl]

I recall there were certainly many hours involved and lots of alcohol before I convinced the twins (19, blond & oh so hot) that coming home for a 'ride' with me was a good idea :E.... oh hang on, is the about aeroplanes..... oops, sorry....:O

[knox]

I recall there were certainly many hours involved and lots of alcohol before I convinced the twins (19, blond & oh so hot) that coming home for a 'ride' with me was a good idea :E.... oh hang on, is the about aeroplanes..... oops, sorry....:O

Al
I was wondering how long it was going to take. 3 pages… not too bad.

[Fantome]

Bumped into a retired ATPL recently. Got chatting about first encounters
with flight flying and fliers. He surprised me by saying -

"I can date my involvement from the 14th of August 1947."

"Howso?"

"That was the day my mum gave birth to me - in an RFDS Dragon Rapide
over Menindee Lakes."

[zac21]

Wally...I'm what is known as a 'mature' pilot. My first twin endorsement was with Frank Woodfall aviation at Archerfield. A Partenavia....WOW!!! I felt I was flying an airliner!!!

Frank Woodfall, now there's a crusty old bloke who is now long gone!

[Lapon]

<500TT although luck played a major part. As other will attest the multi engine part was easy... the single pilot IFR side less so (survived in no small part due to innocence I am sure).

[umop apisdn]

Aboit 2500 hours . My first time in a jet was also the first time in a twin. Still holding out to fill up the command column though .

[LeadSled]

3 years & 322 hrs total time. In mid '60s, my first twin was a DC3. Nearly cleaned up runway lights on both sides of the runway on first take-off ! :ooh:

Folks,
"Back in the day" when Qantas had two C-47 based in Tamworth, there was a wonderful array of very educational rubber marks on the runway, and lots of wheel tracks in the clay off the runway. Just as well the old girls were well neigh indestructible. The best were when "somebody" didn't engage the tailwheel lock properly.
The most fun to watch were the ex-RAF and RN recruits to QF, who had never flown a piston engine aeroplane, much less a taildragger. "Swing" was dance music until their rude awakening.
Suddenly finding another use for their feet. AaaaaahhhH, the good old days, and they were good.
First twin, about 52 hours, and a 150HP Piper Apache. Gave a whole new meaning to "a modest performer".
Tootle pip!!

[greybeard]

750 hours, DC-3, first twin and Tailwheel, lots of wriggle down the runways, would do it again tomorrow, bugger being this old.

[FL235]

<250 TT, 5yrs. On to Aztecs,mostly, 1450 hrs in next 4? yrs. Long time ago

[markfelt]

2800 hours to a C402

[topdrop]

Never endorsed on a twin, though I have got to fly a few under supervision. First (at about 30 hours) was 1 circuit in a PNGDF DC3 after maintenance at East West in Tamworth - President of aero club was EWA employee, Panel looked pretty ancient apart from the brand new digital DME.

[Derfred]

I remember doing a 747 endorsement with an ex airforce guy who had never flown any multi!
The instructor was taken aback when he had trouble doing assymetrics!:D
A quick basic lesson and he was right, ended up a SCC - his first twin was a A330!:E

That’s not a twin! That’s a PlayStation.

[poteroo]

After 500 on C185, for TT 730 - 1st twin endo on mighty PA23 Aztec C by Cec Randall in POM 1967. Now there's a name for anyone's logbook!

[SkysTheLimit1]

500 hrs and in PA-30 at MB

[megan]

Zero hours, age 16 and a bit, left seat F-27 in the cruise. Debrief, turns a bit steep. Legal twin, about 11 years and 3,000 hours.

[MALT68]

Twins are fun.

2 years after getting PPL and doing 200 hrs as SEA(P). Already had over 500 hours and 20 years in gliders (so I knew what to do when both donks quit ;-) ). Did conversion in BE76 at Parafield. Had long ground briefing about handling, speeds to fly, engine failures and how to handle them.

Comically, on my first orientation flight in the Duchess, there was a partial engine failure in the circuit (reduced power problem on climbout, we still had performance to complete a modified circuit to an unremarkable landing), so the training was cut short, and it was good to see how to handle engine failure.

I have done endorsement on: PA44 (Seminole, don't you love climbing across the co-pilot's seat), PA30/39 Twin commanche (fast with complicated fuel system), GA7 Gruman Cougar (big bubble cockpit, castor nose wheel), I now fly P68 Partenavia (my favourite to fly, although the passengers get to see your bum in the older models without a co-pilot's door, P68 drivers will know what I mean. It waddles as it taxis).

I certainly feel more comfortable going over tiger country or crossing water in one (yes, I am now waiting for the twins are more dangerous than singles bunfight, please refer to discussions elsewhere, they have been done many times over...).

For those who have ever flown out of YPPF to Murray Bridge would know about crossing tiger country (as a matter of fact, now most general aviation airports in Oz require you to cross tiger country to get anywhere...)

Fly safe and have fun

[FL235]

poteroo, What Aztec were you flying with Cec? If it was one of Crowley's we may have crossed paths. The only dual I did for Laurie was a check cct with the CP, name forgotten, in CSC, the 205. Followed by immediate departure for TLF, YLR, GRN, WK and home to LA. A suspiciously neat 8:00 hrs logged for my first day at work,

I never flew with Cec, but he was well known in the diving club Sad story

[ShyTorque]

111 hours. Westland Wessex Mark 5.
It was four years before I flew another single.

[Alice Kiwican]

1000 hours 2 years BE55

[Dora-9]

910 hours, then the mighty Beech 65 Queen Air.

[Oakape]

15 months & 75 hours TT. In a PA39

[ResumeOwnNav]

8 months after starting my first flying job in GA, 610TT. C310. 2008.

[First_Principal]

This turned out to be a more interesting thread than I initially thought because it caused me to look back at my logbook and see that my initial twin flight was 0.5 at around 60hrs (in a BE76) and then a C-47 at around 90 hrs (I already had time in tailwheel craft at that stage). Both much earlier than I recollected.

Unlike others on here I managed to keep the C-47 straight enough on takeoff but I DO recall bouncing it on my first landing :ugh: I was just not used to being so high up (when on the ground) and those wheels were hanging somewhat lower than I thought on the last few feet of the approach... oops. Of course everyone was watching, but they had the decency to go inside and not say too much, for a while at least :\.

After that I finished my multi training on a GA-7 and the C-47, and then flew a number of other twins. I particularly enjoy them and consider myself lucky to have had the experiences I've had.

FP.

[Runaway Gun]

I’ve heard a new Q-Link pilot got a Dash 8 gig only one year after CPL and about 320hrs total.

[Flyboy1987]

I’ve heard a new Q-Link pilot got a Dash 8 gig only one year after CPL and about 320hrs total.

Not unusual these days. Qlink can now either be a first job or where you go if you can’t get a piston twin gig.

i’m sure its a great job, but surely the standard would have to be dropping compared to the pilots they hired years ago?

[outnabout]

Runaway Gun - the pilot may have a Dash 8 gig with 320 hours total, but I would be surprised if the duties involve anything other than making the Captain's coffee, and keeping the RHS seat warm.

[dr dre]

Runaway Gun - the pilot may have a Dash 8 gig with 320 hours total, but I would be surprised if the duties involve anything other than making the Captain's coffee, and keeping the RHS seat warm.

Well in most of the world (and a fair proportion of Australia) the typical first job is RHS of a Dash or ATR or 737 or 320. And they are doing far more than just coffee making or seat warming.

[georgeeipi]

I had my private pilot’s license and was building up to 200 hours for my CPL. My girlfriend at the time organised a trip for me to fly some friends over Lake Peddar, which was just being flooded. I wasn’t keen on crossing Bass Strait in a single so I got my initial multi endorsement in a Partenavia as well as my multi NVFR rating. For the trip I kept the load down to 4 on board, more expensive than fully loading the plane but kept the plane light if I lost an engine and made it safer given my low experience level. It was a great trip. As someone wrote above compared to the Piper Arrows I had been flying the Partenavia felt like an airliner.