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.

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."

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

<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).

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 .

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!!

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

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

2800 hours to a C402

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.

500 hrs and in PA-30 at MB

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.

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

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

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

910 hours, then the mighty Beech 65 Queen Air.

15 months & 75 hours TT. In a PA39

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

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 - 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.