What's your kind of flying?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 779
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From: Kent UK
What's your kind of flying?
Just a straw poll. I've been hooked on biplanes & open cockpits since a kid. Dreamed of puttering along over the English summer fields in a Tiger Moth. Since then I've done that (as a passenger) and flown open cockpit gliders in freezing rain!
And I'm hooked. Though I must say it must be Class A for me; but when I do my PPL it will be off to the Tiger Club, then Tigers & Turbs - here I come!
Now I know some people like hot ships, glass panels and all the gizmos - probably double glazing and aircon to boot.
So what does it for you?
Kev.
And I'm hooked. Though I must say it must be Class A for me; but when I do my PPL it will be off to the Tiger Club, then Tigers & Turbs - here I come!
Now I know some people like hot ships, glass panels and all the gizmos - probably double glazing and aircon to boot.
So what does it for you?Kev.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 235
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From: Missouri, USA
I used to enjoy flying once a week or so to a small town picked at random. Take the courtesy car to get a bite to eat, read the local paper before heading back to the airport. I ran out of small towns to visit last year and took up helicopters. I read something the other day about hovering being perfect for someone who loves to fly but has no place to go. That seems about right.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: South Norfolk, England
Very similar to yourself Kev,
I grew up in the age of the war film. BoB, 633 squadron ect, and have always loved older aircraft. I like the new stuff, but it's never really captured my imagination like the old, with the stories of the aviation trail blazers. Having flown gliders, I converted to power, flying Tigermoths at Cambridge and Cubs at Clacton. I've almost exclusively flown PFA types ever since ... single seat, open cockpit, almost always tailwheel.
I've just completed the conversion of a Slingsby T31m that has most of the ingredients required to keep me happy for a long time (see http://www.ivan.pfanet.co.uk
SS
Incidently, see my links page for alternative ab-initio Tigermoth training in the South East.
I grew up in the age of the war film. BoB, 633 squadron ect, and have always loved older aircraft. I like the new stuff, but it's never really captured my imagination like the old, with the stories of the aviation trail blazers. Having flown gliders, I converted to power, flying Tigermoths at Cambridge and Cubs at Clacton. I've almost exclusively flown PFA types ever since ... single seat, open cockpit, almost always tailwheel.
I've just completed the conversion of a Slingsby T31m that has most of the ingredients required to keep me happy for a long time (see http://www.ivan.pfanet.co.uk
SS
Incidently, see my links page for alternative ab-initio Tigermoth training in the South East.
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: EuroGA.org
Technically challenging 3hr to 6hr flights, with stunning views along the way from 5000-15000ft, to interesting places which would take days to drive to. Then, after a couple of days checking out the place and all the coffee bars and the food etc, do the same thing to another interesting place.
Preferably in the southerly direction. I rarely fly north; the temperature drops as you go and I don't like that
It makes for great though unusual holidays. You get to see a lot, you are not tied to dates on 737 tickets; in fact most of it would be very awkward using commercial travel.
You are tied to the weather charts a bit but not as much as if you had to fly VFR
Preferably in the southerly direction. I rarely fly north; the temperature drops as you go and I don't like that
It makes for great though unusual holidays. You get to see a lot, you are not tied to dates on 737 tickets; in fact most of it would be very awkward using commercial travel.
You are tied to the weather charts a bit but not as much as if you had to fly VFR
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 263
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From: Not around here
I too grew up in the age of the war film like Shortstripper, and have only recently got my licence, so I feel like a kid in a sweet shop, in that I fancy a bit of everything.
I also find the challenge of Nav quite enjoyable and satisfying, and even tho' I've got a GPS, I rather use the Mk1 eye-ball, but have the GPS there just in case.
I managed to escape work early this afternoon and went for a 30 min bimble around Tonbridge, Bough Beech area. Nothing much, just for the pure joy of flying on a lovely evening.
C23
I also find the challenge of Nav quite enjoyable and satisfying, and even tho' I've got a GPS, I rather use the Mk1 eye-ball, but have the GPS there just in case.
I managed to escape work early this afternoon and went for a 30 min bimble around Tonbridge, Bough Beech area. Nothing much, just for the pure joy of flying on a lovely evening.
C23
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 69
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From: Australia
Yup, old aircraft for me
Good idea for a thread. I was given an Airfix DH Heron for my 8th birthday, which started me down the skippery slope. After years of books, films, airshows, museums and joyflights (Tiger Moth, DC-3, Beech 18) I decided I wasn't getting any younger so it was time to see if I could do it myself.
I'm learning on Citabrias (tailwheel, high wing, tandem seats) so there's a definite retro feel. There's a young lad at the school who did his first solo on his 16th birthday in a Tiger Moth. Now that's the way to go.
Still one round of solo circuits to go (tomorrow) before stretching my wings in the training area, but when I get my PPL I'll be flying for the sheer joy of it (Citabrias are aerobatic
), and to get to places which normally take hours to drive to (I'm in Australia). After that, we'll see .
Iain
I'm learning on Citabrias (tailwheel, high wing, tandem seats) so there's a definite retro feel. There's a young lad at the school who did his first solo on his 16th birthday in a Tiger Moth. Now that's the way to go.
Still one round of solo circuits to go (tomorrow) before stretching my wings in the training area, but when I get my PPL I'll be flying for the sheer joy of it (Citabrias are aerobatic
), and to get to places which normally take hours to drive to (I'm in Australia). After that, we'll see .Iain
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From: UK
Originally Posted by kevmusic
Just a straw poll. I've been hooked on biplanes & open cockpits since a kid. Dreamed of puttering along over the English summer fields in a Tiger Moth. Since then I've done that (as a passenger) and flown open cockpit gliders in freezing rain!
And I'm hooked. Though I must say it must be Class A for me; but when I do my PPL it will be off to the Tiger Club, then Tigers & Turbs - here I come!
Now I know some people like hot ships, glass panels and all the gizmos - probably double glazing and aircon to boot. So what does it for you?
Kev.
And I'm hooked. Though I must say it must be Class A for me; but when I do my PPL it will be off to the Tiger Club, then Tigers & Turbs - here I come!
Now I know some people like hot ships, glass panels and all the gizmos - probably double glazing and aircon to boot.
So what does it for you?Kev.
G
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 303
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From: Almost Scotland
Originally Posted by IO540
Technically challenging 3hr to 6hr flights, with stunning views along the way from 5000-15000ft, to interesting places which would take days to drive to. Then, after a couple of days checking out the place and all the coffee bars and the food etc, do the same thing to another interesting place.
Preferably in the southerly direction. I rarely fly north; the temperature drops as you go and I don't like that
It makes for great though unusual holidays. You get to see a lot, you are not tied to dates on 737 tickets; in fact most of it would be very awkward using commercial travel.
You are tied to the weather charts a bit but not as much as if you had to fly VFR
Preferably in the southerly direction. I rarely fly north; the temperature drops as you go and I don't like that
It makes for great though unusual holidays. You get to see a lot, you are not tied to dates on 737 tickets; in fact most of it would be very awkward using commercial travel.
You are tied to the weather charts a bit but not as much as if you had to fly VFR
No interest in aerobatics as such, though I do recognise the benefit from increased motor skills.
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...I feel like a kid in a sweet shop, in that I fancy a bit of everything.
However, despite turbos, multis and all that jazz, the pinnacle of aviation contentment thus far has been a Summer's evening in somthing that produces 65hp for a £30/hr input.
Guest
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Quite so IO540. I suspect IR training should be a result in the feeling of accomplishment. So far all I have, is to dwell on the list of everything I got wrong 
A bit OT: I can see that it doesn't is involve anything particuarly difficult. It is just manufactured sillyness, stuff like spending a couple of miles in an airway before you're chucked out again, so now you need to descend, slow down, brief, ATIS and plan your new hold to perfection and all at the same time...grumble grumble
A bit OT: I can see that it doesn't is involve anything particuarly difficult. It is just manufactured sillyness, stuff like spending a couple of miles in an airway before you're chucked out again, so now you need to descend, slow down, brief, ATIS and plan your new hold to perfection and all at the same time...grumble grumble
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 3,077
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From: Oop North, UK
So what does it for you?
Aeros, Formation, vintage, instructing, then the rest. If you combine some of these these (i.e. instructing aeros in a Stampe on a sunny summers evening) then you can get a really top flight.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 216
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From: Here and there
As with Foxmoth, I just love flying, doesn't matter what in, fixed or rotary, old or new, sleek composite or tin can with wings, I love it! From my rather limited experience what I find really gets my heart racing is low flying, for me there is nothing that gives me a greater rush than executing a 'missed approach' at 30ft at 120kts! 
From my rather limited experience what I find really gets my heart racing is low flying, for me there is nothing that gives me a greater rush than executing a 'missed approach' at 30ft at 120kts!
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: I have no idea but the view's great.
Shortstripper
Thanks for the VP-1 video on your site. I grinned almost as much as you did.
That's my kind of flying, wind in what little hair I have and a bug splattered grin. I've nowhere that I particularly want to get to quickly, I'd rather enjoy the journey.
I enjoy flying in anything but low flying ain't for me, Ox - nobody ever died hitting the sky.
Thanks for the VP-1 video on your site. I grinned almost as much as you did.
That's my kind of flying, wind in what little hair I have and a bug splattered grin. I've nowhere that I particularly want to get to quickly, I'd rather enjoy the journey.
I enjoy flying in anything but low flying ain't for me, Ox - nobody ever died hitting the sky.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,198
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From: South Norfolk, England
Thanks for the VP-1 video on your site. I grinned almost as much as you did.
SS
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 397
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From: Sydney
type of flying ? , has to be tailwheel, challenging, some good coming-atcha aeros, and some grass strip stuff, no busy circuits and no radio (I wish ).
I love the 182's, 180's, pa235'ers go places perf aircraft, but they are a little dull to fly.
I love the 182's, 180's, pa235'ers go places perf aircraft, but they are a little dull to fly.