A true pilots aeroplane
"But, flying Austers probably taught you a lot more about flying than flying B35!"
Dog
That remark made me grab the log book! I have <20 hrs in Austers, and in my opinion thats about 19.5 hrs too many.
Did my initial TW endorsement in the J5B (VH-CDS, now dead and gone). Towed a few gliders with it before it was replaced with a PA25-235. Did a couple of locals and one ferry flight in the J1B (VH-ASK, now also dead and gone). Did a couple of circuits in a J5F while in NZ (Seems it made such a big impression on me that I didn't bother to log the time - fate unknown).
What did I learn?
1) You can't do wheelers in an Auster. Don't know why but apparently better men than me have tried and failed.
2) How to deal with a partial engine failure (J5B)
3) How to deal with an in-flight engine fire (J1B)
I really learnt to fly tail wheels in a C180 and a couple of C185s.
I have about 400 hrs in the V35B. What have I learnt?
1) How to turn George on at 300' on climbout and turn him off at 300' on approach.
2) How to gobble up >60,000 nm all over Oz in all (almost) weather, without incident!
Dr
Dog
That remark made me grab the log book! I have <20 hrs in Austers, and in my opinion thats about 19.5 hrs too many.
Did my initial TW endorsement in the J5B (VH-CDS, now dead and gone). Towed a few gliders with it before it was replaced with a PA25-235. Did a couple of locals and one ferry flight in the J1B (VH-ASK, now also dead and gone). Did a couple of circuits in a J5F while in NZ (Seems it made such a big impression on me that I didn't bother to log the time - fate unknown).
What did I learn?
1) You can't do wheelers in an Auster. Don't know why but apparently better men than me have tried and failed.
2) How to deal with a partial engine failure (J5B)
3) How to deal with an in-flight engine fire (J1B)
I really learnt to fly tail wheels in a C180 and a couple of C185s.
I have about 400 hrs in the V35B. What have I learnt?
1) How to turn George on at 300' on climbout and turn him off at 300' on approach.
2) How to gobble up >60,000 nm all over Oz in all (almost) weather, without incident!
Dr
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 30th Sep 2007 at 03:14.
Grandpa Aerotart
Indeed...my vote would be Chipmunk closely followed by Bonanza, C180s/185s are also VERY near the top of my list piston singles wise. Piston twins...Barons were nicer to fly than most although an argument could be made that there were better twins in payload/range...C404 was a goody.
Turboprops...Twin Otter followed closely by C441...for entirely different reasons. Using a Twotter for what it was designed for..real bush flying, single pilot...is better than sex.
Jets...The F28 was a pilots aeroplane...as was my personal favorite the Falcon 200...as nice to fly but left the F28 in the dust performance wise. The 767 is a very nice machine and compared to anything Airbus make it is a 'pilots aeroplane' but it is really too big with too much inertia to compare to the F28/DA200 in handling terms.
Turboprops...Twin Otter followed closely by C441...for entirely different reasons. Using a Twotter for what it was designed for..real bush flying, single pilot...is better than sex.
Jets...The F28 was a pilots aeroplane...as was my personal favorite the Falcon 200...as nice to fly but left the F28 in the dust performance wise. The 767 is a very nice machine and compared to anything Airbus make it is a 'pilots aeroplane' but it is really too big with too much inertia to compare to the F28/DA200 in handling terms.
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Learning?
I remember one lesson I learned in an Auster. For my endorsement we did all the flying, and then my esteemed instructor told me to get ready for a full load check. So I had the get pax, and some one to swing the prop to start it. Then said instructor came out, got in the right seat and said"how do you know you are not overloaded" I replied that could not possibly be, as we only had four pax in a four seat aircraft. Nothing else. He insisted I get out the paperwork and work it out.
When I discovered that we were "a bit over" he said "OK lets go" and we flew that sluggish aircraft around the circuit once. I never forgot that lesson.
I used to fly that aircraft (correctly loaded) across Cook Straight, land at Wellington Airport (Rongatai?), jump over the fence and catch a tram into town.
A pilot's aeroplane???? No such thing. The banks own them all.
When I discovered that we were "a bit over" he said "OK lets go" and we flew that sluggish aircraft around the circuit once. I never forgot that lesson.
I used to fly that aircraft (correctly loaded) across Cook Straight, land at Wellington Airport (Rongatai?), jump over the fence and catch a tram into town.
A pilot's aeroplane???? No such thing. The banks own them all.
Last edited by bushy; 30th Sep 2007 at 03:09. Reason: Forgot something
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B55
For my money the B55 takes alot of beating. Nearly 10 years in the W Kimberley's, no a/p, and one pax thought that if he hurried he might get a sample of Geikie Gorge water off the RH wing tip!!!
C310 also nice - much more roomy.
C310 also nice - much more roomy.
I reckon for all round hands on flying the Grand Van was pretty hard to beat. Also had enough power to keep you interested and its STOL characteristics were quite impressive for a midsize GA aircraft.
..........ps boy they made you work though. No wonder the boss called them his flying cash registers......
..........ps boy they made you work though. No wonder the boss called them his flying cash registers......
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1) You can't do wheelers in an Auster. Don't know why but apparently better men than me have tried and failed.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
I loved flying the Aerocommander on Coastwatch taskings. Great fun and very manoeuvrable.
I haven't flown a Bonanza but I did fly the Beech Sierra and that was very enjoyable too.
The Twin Otter was great fun but I must say, I really enjoy flying the Hawker 800XPi. Great combination of tried and true airframe, engines and systems with the very flash Collins Proline 21 and flight bag. It's my first jet so I haven't got much to compare it to but it handles nicely and it's performance on short field ops is pretty impressive.
I haven't flown a Bonanza but I did fly the Beech Sierra and that was very enjoyable too.
The Twin Otter was great fun but I must say, I really enjoy flying the Hawker 800XPi. Great combination of tried and true airframe, engines and systems with the very flash Collins Proline 21 and flight bag. It's my first jet so I haven't got much to compare it to but it handles nicely and it's performance on short field ops is pretty impressive.
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What do we mean by a “pilots aeroplane” ?? I think that most of us would believe that it is handling qualities that make such an aeroplane enjoyable to fly.
Going back to the basics then I suggest that having an aircraft where the controls are well harmonised is a good step in having such a craft – that is where the amount of effort to move the ailerons is the same as to move the elevators etc. An aircraft that has “magic” roll control yet needs a weight lifter to move the elevators or visa versa is not usually a joy to fly!! From what one reads the Spitfire was such a machine, with power as well!!
The Chipmunk would have to have some of the nicest harmonised controls that I have experienced. The Beaver has great roll, but the pitch does not really match from memory. Something about the old de-hav’s. As someone said the Pitts is a great fun machine and the throttle is connected to the ASI. Of the American fleets, the Beech do the best I believe, not like the old Cessna’s where the cables run thru a dish of custard before they got to the controls…! Mushy is one word to describe that!
Having said all that, if it is enjoyable for YOU to fly, then it is a pilots aeroplane and we can all talk about that in the bar later on….
Going back to the basics then I suggest that having an aircraft where the controls are well harmonised is a good step in having such a craft – that is where the amount of effort to move the ailerons is the same as to move the elevators etc. An aircraft that has “magic” roll control yet needs a weight lifter to move the elevators or visa versa is not usually a joy to fly!! From what one reads the Spitfire was such a machine, with power as well!!
The Chipmunk would have to have some of the nicest harmonised controls that I have experienced. The Beaver has great roll, but the pitch does not really match from memory. Something about the old de-hav’s. As someone said the Pitts is a great fun machine and the throttle is connected to the ASI. Of the American fleets, the Beech do the best I believe, not like the old Cessna’s where the cables run thru a dish of custard before they got to the controls…! Mushy is one word to describe that!
Having said all that, if it is enjoyable for YOU to fly, then it is a pilots aeroplane and we can all talk about that in the bar later on….
"I think that most of us would believe that it is handling qualities that make such an aeroplane enjoyable to fly. Going back to the basics then I suggest that having an aircraft where the controls are well harmonised is a good step in having such a craft – that is where the amount of effort to move the ailerons is the same as to move the elevators etc."
Well I guess that decides it then!
Beechcraft Bonanza V35B wins - lay down mizarre!
Dr
Well I guess that decides it then!
Beechcraft Bonanza V35B wins - lay down mizarre!
Dr
From what one reads the Spitfire was such a machine
the Beech do the best I believe
not like the old Cessna’s where the cables run thru a dish of custard before they got to the controls…! Mushy is one word to describe that!
BA - Not me! It survived the engine fire it had with me in command.
When I flew it VH-ASK had just been rebuilt after the then owner had pranged it. I am only going on the fact that it is no longer on the register. I guess it is possible that it survives under a different name!
Dr
PS: I won't admit it in here, but I guess if you really had to fly an Auster, it was a "nice" one.
When I flew it VH-ASK had just been rebuilt after the then owner had pranged it. I am only going on the fact that it is no longer on the register. I guess it is possible that it survives under a different name!
Dr
PS: I won't admit it in here, but I guess if you really had to fly an Auster, it was a "nice" one.
You lot are all way off. The best pilot's plane is the one where you have to do the least work 
So in the spirit of that universal truth, the A380 must be the best. Let it do an auto-takeoff, fly itself to destination and do an autoland while all 4 pilots (it's boring to drink if you're too few) sit in first class with the cockpit door open and two strings. One for the flap lever and one for the gear lever. Now THAT'S flying! 
So in the spirit of that universal truth, the A380 must be the best. Let it do an auto-takeoff, fly itself to destination and do an autoland while all 4 pilots (it's boring to drink if you're too few) sit in first class with the cockpit door open and two strings. One for the flap lever and one for the gear lever. Now THAT'S flying!
