I'm with Walt and Paul.

*sigh*
 

Well, after wading through all pages of both quoted threads, I came to some conclusions that I would like to share:

1) I am surprised at the degree of acrimony expressed toward RVs and RV builders/pilots on both threads

2) I am very surprised that the AOPA board is apparently not very well monitored

3) I am saddened to accept some of the derogatory comments directed toward our community as accurate reflections of the actions and attitudes of a few (although I have yet to meet any or witness their brazen actions)

4) I am VERY thankful for Doug's pit bull-esque editorial discipline on VAF, although I always resent it whenever he edits MY posts :D

5) I now know that, because I have a military paint scheme on Smokey AND have continued that theme to the cockpit, there are other pilots out there who are not only NOT impressed, but have already condemned me as being a wannabe and therefore part of the problem

6) I accept the challenge to elevate my aviating skills and go the extra yard to avoid being part of the perceived problem among the GA population

I could probably come up with more, but I'm always a bit verbose anyway, so I will spare my friends from my ramblings. However, the threads took me aback a bit.

Yeah, Smokey is my little fighter. I love the speed, the agility and the responsiveness, but I don't do low passes or buzz jobs, I fly normal pattern entries and think of myself as a courteous, conscientious pilot. I like doing what little aerobatics I do and would like to do more. I used to enjoy flying simple formations in my Yankee, and thought I might like doing RV formations. If I screw up when flying, I hope somebody takes the time to pull me aside and have a little chat with me about it.

At our little airport, there are only 3 RVs. Low passes and hangar buzz jobs are few and far between, and never by the RVs (that I've ever witnessed). Hanging around this forum, I see nothing but concern for safety and a general commitment to improvement of flying skills, thus it is very disappointing for me to read such condemnation from fellow aircraft owners and pilots.

I'll let others join those forums and defend our community. I think I'll just work on being the safest RV driver I can be while still enjoying the art of flying.

Thanks for posting those links.

Absolutely spot on. The coolest guys in the room, to me, were always the ones that flew to the rules, and conservatively... but I knew could ride an airplane like the owned it when need be. I had a commanding officer that was the quietest most laid back guy in the bar. You'd never have known he was a fighter pilot unless someone pointed it out, but you stick him in the jet and he was absolutely lethal. Going out to fight him just wasn't fun.

First off, no one should cut anyone off. Done properly, an overhead will sequence right into the traffic flow just like a standard 45 degree will. After all, it's "our" pattern, right?

Second, while you commented on your entry speed, do you fly an unusually large pattern like the flight schools use, resulting in a 3 mile final at 70% power? That's the "747" or "bomber" patern that makes the rest of us cringe. If so, then you illustrate my point: We are not going to make everyone happy, no matter what.

based on my observations, while renting other aircraft and flying patterns, etc, unfortunately the RV guys do tend to earn this reputation

I've never been enraged enough to track down tail numbers or post on a forum about my encounters, but I've witnessed quite a few careless antics and it made me cringe each time the call sign revealed they were indeed an RV

Don...........you the MAN!

Yep!
 

+1

Carry on!
Mark

Agree. "Hate" was used in the urban street sense of the word. Yes, it's a generational thing. :)

I didn't mean to imply the airport was mine when I am in the pattern. I fly a pattern that will let me make the runway if I lose power from the downwind leg so I guess I don't fly a 747 pattern but some might think so. It's all in the other pilot's perception. I always made a point of staying clear of the pattern when other faster planes are close out of courtesy when I was flying a 172 and I guess I still do even though I can come in much faster if I choose. It's all good, but bad manners are just that. IMHO.

Jim - I'm sure you didn't mean to imply it was YOUR pattern but I asked because many people who complain about one procedure or another, particularly the OH entry feel as if somehow they are being imposed upon even if the maneuver provided plenty of interval and was perfectly safe. I was yelled at once by a C152 CFI for "cutting him off" in the pattern. He was on crosswind (about 2 miles from the departure end practicing to fly the 777 I think) and I broke just beyond the approach numbers so considering a 6000 ft runway we had 3 miles of separation - OMG!. I was on final before he was even really on a downwind. Laws of physics prevented any sorta conflict he was so far away. His comfort zone was huge (the entire pattern). I ignored him and couldn't care less if he doesn't like me or RVs. I was safe, courteous and communicated my intentions starting 10 miles out. Not everyone is going to be happy with us, nor do I care. I follow the regs and fly safely but in a way which is fun too - if the other guy doesn't like it he should learn to knit.

Is this a bad attitude? Ooops :)