Real pilots?

[tchap]

I was just wondering how many people on this forum are real pilots?

[Pheonix]

Re: Real pilots?

Is this necessary to participate on the forum?

[Flygirl]

Re: Real pilots?

I used to but that was about 35 years ago now....

[Rocketeer]

Re: Real pilots?

Greetings,

I always wanted to be a real pilot.... Can that count???
And I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once........

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[wayne hall]

Re: Real pilots?

We have a family owned grass air strip and when avgas hit 6 bucks four of the pilots started flying them, I have about 20 hrs flying time.

[Rocketeer]

Re: Real pilots?

Greetings Wayne,

That's pretty cool....... before you know it 20 hrs will be 200hrs.

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[tchap]

Re: Real pilots?

I am not a pilot either however it seems that quite a few of the guys in my area are. I live in western MA and we have a few small public airports but we also have two air force bases about 15 miles from each other. One of them is a C-5 base and the other is home to F-15s. The F-15 base was recently in the news for loosing one of its heroes in a crash down south. Getting back to my question, I guess I was just wondering how many people took this hobby to the next level. Some day if my wallet will allow it I would love to give the real deal a try. Thanks for all of your inputs.

[Pheonix]

Re: Real pilots?

LOL! I am a real pilot and not sure it makes much differences now at my age. I retired a long time ago <smiley image="anim_jump.gif"/>

[Rocketeer]

Re: Real pilots?

Greetings,

I think that in some way, shape or form, everyone involved in our hobby whether as a current, or aspiring "real" pilot, or virtual pilot, has dreamed of flight and/or of things that fly most if not all of their lives.

As kiddo's we dreamed of being astronauts or fighter pilots...... then when life sends us down another path, we buy telescopes and model airplanes because in some small way, and as we get older, it keeps that dream alive.

For many of us, flying RC Airplanes keeps us connected to that "little guy" within that still feels a momentary rush of excitement whenever we find ourselves in close proximity to an airport, or glued to the TV during a rocket launch.

Some have said that if man was meant to fly, he would have wings.

I say bull-duty to that.....
Man was meant to fly <i>because</i> he doesn't have wings, and we will not be denied!!!

So we continue to live the dream, one gallon of fuel and one LiPo battery at a time!!!!

Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[CT]

Re: Real pilots?

35 years ago, then came marriage and kids, haha. I was at the point where flying 1 hr a week just couldnt build the competancy needed for progressing into commercial and instrument certs. It did give me some of the best memories though, somewhere here I told the story about my run in with the mighty blue angles. I was renting a Cessna 172 for about $50/$60 hr. wet, now they are in the $130 range. Flying actual birds is 10 times easier than flying RC, and got into RC as a cheaper alternative, although beginning to question that observation!!!
It is an addiction, but a really, really fun one!!!
CT

[I74]

Re: Real pilots?

CT, ''That is the coolest post that I have ever seen''<smiley image="smiley_good.gif"/>. I'am not an actual full scale pilot, but can pretty much fly a lot of stuff ''for real'' successfully on a sim ... I think I get what you are saying at the end also.. I think it means that you are experimenting with more advanced airframes now, because your R/C skills are getting better.. Ian

[Grossman56]

Re: Real pilots?

Like many of us, I dreamed of flying, I wanted to be an airforce pilot since as long as I can remember, but with a bum ear and 20/80 in one eye, F15s were just not going to happen.
Didn't stop me from being involved with airplanes though, I've flown in some pretty neat ships, like the original C-47 that Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Company owned. Had a ten year stint helping rebuild a DC 3 for static display for the Langley Aviation Museum in BC.
Got to the point where I had a few bucks to spare and seriously thought about getting my private pilots license. Trouble is, that's all you have. The cost of renting an airplane to flip around in would mean I'd be lucky to fly once or twice a year.
Then I started thinking about R/C flying. Hey, I could own and fly my own favorite airplanes and get to hang out with guys as crazy and addicted as I am, right guys??
Best move I made (Well, second best, the wife is looking!)


Grossman56

[Rocketeer]

Re: Real pilots?

Greetings G56,

Indeed, we are living the dream.....

Bill L.
in Okla.

[boomer108]

Re: Real pilots?

I may not be a pilot but I had the next best job in the Air Force. I'm a retired Chief Master Sergeant with 23 yrs. and 5000 hours flying on the KC-135 A&E models. I retired after 30 yrs. and still miss the flying. I was bit by r/c flying back in the 70's but had to give it up due to job and family and no extra time. Now that I am retired I got back into r/c and I'm flying again! I am 64 and love flying scale electrics. Thanks to Motion R/C I can feed my passion. Good flying!

Roy B.

[The Huff]

Re: Real pilots?

I earned my Private Pilot license back in 1989. Was 1/8 owner of a Piper Archer back in the late 90's early 00's. Currently half ownership of a Grumman AA-5B Tiger. Renting 172's was getting outrageously expensive so finding a good partnership is the way to go to reduce ownership costs.
We fly "Toni" for about $85 an hour wet. That's about half the cost of renting a C172 from the local FBO. It does kind of bite though when you get those unexpected maintenance costs. Our Garmin GPS just took a dump and we just laid out $1400 for a Garmin 796 to replace it (ouch). That's going to cut into my Motion RC purchases for a little while LOL.
I'm also big into RC planes and helicopters. Just can't seem to keep the aviation bug satiated !

Happy aviating whatever your venue gents ;)

[Silentrun]

Re: Real pilots?

General Aviation took me to RC flying. One day, about 17 years ago, both my wife and my business partner called me, on the same day mind you, to express their concern for me being a pilot. Interestingly, my wife despised my partner and they never spoke to one another unless they were in the same room during a business function or such like a Christmas dinner.

Anyhow, their separate calls to me on the same day sent of the flare that ended my flying. Then and there I decided that it wasn't meant to be. In my short flying experience I have time in a 172M, Mooney 252 and an Arrow Turbo. I do miss it and to make matters worse my office is next to Addison Airport KADS.

Ah, enough complaining and back to building the Mosquito!!

[doctormike]

RE: Real pilots?

35 years ago, then came marriage and kids, haha. I was at the point where flying  1 hr a week just couldnt build the competancy needed for progressing into commercial and instrument certs. It did give me some of the best memories though, somewhere here I told the story about my run in with the mighty blue angles. I was renting a Cessna 172 for about $50/$60 hr. wet, now they are in the $130 range. Flying actual birds is 10 times easier than flying RC, and got into RC as a cheaper alternative, although beginning to question that observation!!!  
It is an addiction, but a really, really fun one!!!
CT

[Rocketeer]

RE: Real pilots?

Greetings,

Indeed, this can truly and quickly turn into an addiction.

And like most addictions, it can easily run deeper than our abilities to keep up... $$$$$$


Clear Skies

Bill L.
in Okla.

[inverted]

RE: Real pilots?

Sold my old stinson a couple years ago still have a lsa but I must say that I find more challenge putting my dynam 262 or the mrc f-86 down on my 200x20 ft runway at the farm. Little different setting in the seat watching airspeed slipping down to the runway to touchdown than it is watching a model judging airspeed,sink rate, rotor's' distance, altitude. Lot more involved. Flying r/c made me a better ga pilot.
[hr]
Sold my old stinson a couple years ago still have a lsa but I must say that I find more challenge putting my dynam 262 or the mrc f-86 down on my 200x20 ft runway at the farm. Little different setting in the seat watching airspeed slipping down to the runway to touchdown than it is watching a model judging airspeed,sink rate, rotor's, distance, altitude. Lot more involved since you only get to see and not feel. Flying r/c made me a better ga pilot.

[STOOPIDMONKEY]

RE: Real pilots?

I may not be a pilot but I had the next best job in the Air Force. I'm a retired Chief Master Sergeant with 23 yrs. and 5000 hours flying on the KC-135 A&E models. I retired after 30 yrs. and still miss the flying. I was bit by r/c flying back in the 70's but had to give it up due to job and family and no extra time. Now that I am retired I got back into r/c and I'm flying again! I am 64 and love flying scale electrics. Thanks to Motion R/C I can feed my passion. Good flying!

                                                                        Roy B.

boomer.. Did you happen to know or run across SMSGT. Bruce C. Byington in your travels?