Tail dragging then aeros
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: oxfordshire
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Tail dragging then aeros
I currently do not have any taildragging experience and would ultimately like to buy shares in a pitts with competing in mind therefore I am looking for a school or individual who can teach tail dragging in a cub or similar and then conversion to a pitts and then aeros in a pitts. I live in the Oxford area but am willing to travel.
I am currently thinking of going to florida to do the training unless I can find an organisation that can do both in the UK.
Any suggestions
Thanks
I am currently thinking of going to florida to do the training unless I can find an organisation that can do both in the UK.
Any suggestions
Thanks
I can't help with the UK I'm afraid but if you're looking for this kind of training in the US then you could do a lot worse than Attitude Aviation in Livermore, CA (near San Francisco). As long as you do it between May and September you can be sure of good flying conditions. And you can always do what I did, and reward yourself for getting checked out on the Pitts by taking the L-39 for an outing. Beware though that getting to the point of landing the Pitts safely takes a LOT of practice - not something you can do in a weekend or even imo in a week. (No doubt this will attract lots of people saying, "Pah, call yourself a pilot, I got checked out in the Pitts in 3 flights", but that isn't most people's experience).
(I have no business connection with Attitude, although I am a satisfied customer, with 75+ hours on their S2C).
n5296s
(I have no business connection with Attitude, although I am a satisfied customer, with 75+ hours on their S2C).
n5296s
Northampton School of Flying at Sibson do tailwheel conversions on a Super Cub:
Cub Thread
and have a Pitts that they instruct on too.
Which all sounds ideal for your needs, and they're very good.
Cub Thread
and have a Pitts that they instruct on too.
Which all sounds ideal for your needs, and they're very good.
Last edited by J.A.F.O.; 10th Feb 2007 at 19:54. Reason: Edited to say - I have no connection with NSoF
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
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I can only comment from my own experience, but if a Pitts is your goal, then don't bother with the Cub - just crack on and get some instruction in a Pitts S2. I did my tailwheel conversion with Alan Cassidy at White Waltham in the Pitts S2, and highly recommend the experience.
For the first couple of hours, you will wonder what the hell you've done, and feel completely out of your depth. Actually, this sensation goes on, intermittently, for hundreds of hours, I understand, long after you've been signed off to fly your own Pitts. But then, that's why you fly a Pitts....pure, unadulterated joy most of the time, and a few seconds of the exact opposite on occasions when you land it. But if you have the opportunity, do it....
For the first couple of hours, you will wonder what the hell you've done, and feel completely out of your depth. Actually, this sensation goes on, intermittently, for hundreds of hours, I understand, long after you've been signed off to fly your own Pitts. But then, that's why you fly a Pitts....pure, unadulterated joy most of the time, and a few seconds of the exact opposite on occasions when you land it. But if you have the opportunity, do it....
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age thing
What's wrong with crinklies anyway ? 
Once a bush flying service operator was asked what he looked for in his pilot employees.
"Grey hair" was the reply.
So that's alright.
Once a bush flying service operator was asked what he looked for in his pilot employees.
"Grey hair" was the reply.
So that's alright.
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Many years ago we used to have farm crop spraying done by a Pawnee and I asked the pilot about dangers etc.
He said
"The pilots are either young or old,the one's in between are dead!"
Lister
He said
"The pilots are either young or old,the one's in between are dead!"
Lister
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A little less conversation,
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Well, I make the distance between Oxford and Arizona to be about 5000 miles - and if you *really* want to get checked out on a Cub before the Pitts, then the Supercub and the S2 at Waltham are hangared about 50 feet apart. However, as I said, if you want to fly a Pitts, then just go for it.
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A little less conversation,
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"I am currently thinking of going to florida to do the training unless I can find an organisation that can do both in the UK."
As, I said, WLAC can do both; it's also one of the best places in the country to hang around if you want to get into competition aeros, the food is fantastic, and it's less than an hour's drive from Oxford. The only down side is that between us, The Gorilla and I may have eaten all the food before you get there
As, I said, WLAC can do both; it's also one of the best places in the country to hang around if you want to get into competition aeros, the food is fantastic, and it's less than an hour's drive from Oxford. The only down side is that between us, The Gorilla and I may have eaten all the food before you get there
"Apologies for the thread drift here, but eharding, is that your real age? There are some really old current pilots........."
"The only down side is that between us, The Gorilla and I may have eaten all the food before you get there "
Kevmusic.
As you can now see, he's really MUCH older than that !!! This comp. aeros thing is just an act. He actually just wears a very posh slim-line flying suit. ............and devours WLAC breakfasts like there's no tomorrow !!!
Luv, Sleeve.
"The only down side is that between us, The Gorilla and I may have eaten all the food before you get there "
Kevmusic.
As you can now see, he's really MUCH older than that !!! This comp. aeros thing is just an act. He actually just wears a very posh slim-line flying suit. ............and devours WLAC breakfasts like there's no tomorrow !!!
Luv, Sleeve.
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Well, no chance of seeing posh flying suits at the places I mentioned. Shorts and T-shirts standard attire but you need shoes that will not slip off rudder pedals so no birks .
Once properly checked out in the supercub they will let you take it up over the grand canyon and plenty of other great places to fly too.
.Once properly checked out in the supercub they will let you take it up over the grand canyon and plenty of other great places to fly too.
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I think 89 yrs old is a typo. It should of course be 8-9 years old!!!
I do agree with his comments about White Waltham, although the US is also good and I can recomend www.sunriseaviation.com who have a clipped wing cub, Citabrias as $150/hr, Pitts at $330/hr and an Extra300 at $340/hr
Aerobatic instruction is $50/hr
ZA
I do agree with his comments about White Waltham, although the US is also good and I can recomend www.sunriseaviation.com who have a clipped wing cub, Citabrias as $150/hr, Pitts at $330/hr and an Extra300 at $340/hr
Aerobatic instruction is $50/hr
ZA
Last edited by Zulu Alpha; 11th Feb 2007 at 12:44.
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I'd recommend calling Sunrise first and see what their policy is for charging for time, as John Wayne can be busy and you might often have to wait with the engine running on the ground. These busy airports with jets are fine the first few times but they quickly become a bit tedious.
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Last time I flew there we got held up by a jet or two but Sunrise credited me with the time wasted so I didn't pay while the Hobbs was running on the ground.
Maybe you do need to ask though. I suggested shutting down while we wait to taxi back and the instructor said he would only charge for the reading on the Hobbs up to that point.
Worth checking though whether WW charge for brakes off to on, Tach time or Hobbs as this can make quite a difference.
ZA
Maybe you do need to ask though. I suggested shutting down while we wait to taxi back and the instructor said he would only charge for the reading on the Hobbs up to that point.
Worth checking though whether WW charge for brakes off to on, Tach time or Hobbs as this can make quite a difference.
ZA