Mike S
Senior Curmudgeon
Aftermath-------no, it is not when you are finished with the W/B figures.
It has now been a little over 24 hours since I made my first flight on the RV10 that has been a major focus of my life for a few years. I just need to express a few of the many emotions that have been running (trampling?) through my brain.
The "RV Grin" Yep, it was there, even though there was no one there to see it when I landed, didnt even have a mirror to see it myself. But, it was there that is for sure.
Apprehension?? In spades. Tons of it in fact. I have not been solo in an aircraft for over 3 years, and not even done a lot of flying in that time-----maybe 10-15 hours in a buddies 10, strictly as a passenger. And another 5.3 hours of transition training with Mike Seager in the factory 10, 92 days prior.
I have been a pilot for close to 2/3 of my 62 trips around the sun, and the last 20 years of flying were in the same aircraft-----a Stinson 108-3, that was the same age as I am, and like me, was a bit heavy and draggy, with not a lot of power. Kinda like in the old Howlin Wolf classic, "built for comfort not built for speed". I knew the Stinson like the back of my hand, and flying it was almost boring at times.
When I took the transition training, the difference between the Stinson and the RV 10 was like night and day, squared. I did not get to the point that I felt "comfortable" with the 10, but I did achieve a feeling of "competency"-----after Mike told me not to worry, you will do fine.
Terror??----not quite, but something close. Reflecting on things, I dont think I had enough time to achieve terror, just push in the throttle and hang on/adrenaline rush. The take off was a piece of cake, and the landing was not a big deal either. After the fact, that is. While I was sitting there in the run up area I was seriously terrified/exhilarated/curious all at the same time.
There are folks who do this test pilot thing for a living-----
You guys and gals have my deepest and most profound admiration. There is absolutely no way I could survive the ebb and flow of adrenaline that you seem to think is normal. Thirty seven years of fighting fire, and I thought I knew what work stress/adrenaline hangover was------100' wall of flame aint nothin to me-------but half an hour in an extremely wonderful and docile aircraft, well, I still feel totally drained, and wrung out.
Was it worth it??????
Absoultly unqualified YES.
Would I do it again?????
Yes. No hesitation.
Was there any problems with the first flight?? Yes, a very few minor issues, and a rather big one somewhere between my own ears.
In the end, all I can say is that Mike Seager was correct.
I did fine.
It has now been a little over 24 hours since I made my first flight on the RV10 that has been a major focus of my life for a few years. I just need to express a few of the many emotions that have been running (trampling?) through my brain.
The "RV Grin" Yep, it was there, even though there was no one there to see it when I landed, didnt even have a mirror to see it myself. But, it was there that is for sure.
Apprehension?? In spades. Tons of it in fact. I have not been solo in an aircraft for over 3 years, and not even done a lot of flying in that time-----maybe 10-15 hours in a buddies 10, strictly as a passenger. And another 5.3 hours of transition training with Mike Seager in the factory 10, 92 days prior.
I have been a pilot for close to 2/3 of my 62 trips around the sun, and the last 20 years of flying were in the same aircraft-----a Stinson 108-3, that was the same age as I am, and like me, was a bit heavy and draggy, with not a lot of power. Kinda like in the old Howlin Wolf classic, "built for comfort not built for speed". I knew the Stinson like the back of my hand, and flying it was almost boring at times.
When I took the transition training, the difference between the Stinson and the RV 10 was like night and day, squared. I did not get to the point that I felt "comfortable" with the 10, but I did achieve a feeling of "competency"-----after Mike told me not to worry, you will do fine.
Terror??----not quite, but something close. Reflecting on things, I dont think I had enough time to achieve terror, just push in the throttle and hang on/adrenaline rush. The take off was a piece of cake, and the landing was not a big deal either. After the fact, that is. While I was sitting there in the run up area I was seriously terrified/exhilarated/curious all at the same time.
There are folks who do this test pilot thing for a living-----
You guys and gals have my deepest and most profound admiration. There is absolutely no way I could survive the ebb and flow of adrenaline that you seem to think is normal. Thirty seven years of fighting fire, and I thought I knew what work stress/adrenaline hangover was------100' wall of flame aint nothin to me-------but half an hour in an extremely wonderful and docile aircraft, well, I still feel totally drained, and wrung out.
Was it worth it??????
Absoultly unqualified YES.
Would I do it again?????
Yes. No hesitation.
Was there any problems with the first flight?? Yes, a very few minor issues, and a rather big one somewhere between my own ears.
In the end, all I can say is that Mike Seager was correct.
I did fine.
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