I learned to fly in the mid 80's in an Alon A2 Aircoupe. *I got my PPL then couldn't afford to fly much until the late 90's when my kids were older and I finally had a little more income. *
The last flying I did was in 2002. That year, i picked up almost 60 hours in a Turbo Centurian in which I had a 50% interest. *I never was totally comfortable in that airplane. It was pretty squawky and frankly it was more plane than I had any business being involved in, given my experience level. I had less than 100 hours when I got involved in the Centurian.*
Finally, After several worrisome and expensive mechanical headaches, I experienced an *electrical failure on a night-time marginal VFR trip from Alabama to Texas. I managed to get the *plane down in one piece thanks to a a handheld radio and a god-send of a pilot who was able to relay my plight to Houston Center which vectored me to a nearby field. But afterward, I felt like Fate was telling me to stay on the ground.*
Of course I have missed flying. I have missed the speed and convenience. I have missed the adventure and the fun. Though I have missed flying terribly, the thought of re-learning everything I have forgotten always kept me out of the sky.
Until recently...
*A few weeks ago I happened to see a video on YouTube of an RV4 doing light aerobatics and*I've *been absolutely obsessing over RVs ever since. I don't know how I have remained ignorant of the RV world until now, but I am quickly getting educated. *(I'll bet I spend three hours a day on lurking right here alone!)
So after nine years, I began again the process of searching for a CFI and a base to fly out of.*
I interviewed three training operations before I found someone who knew anything about RVs. *Once I did find someone who seemed to understand my attraction to the RV scene I signed up with them (Stinson Flight Training Service) and started my re-education process. *
Wow! A lot has changed since 2002! I am flying spam cans equipped with G1000 glass panels. (mastering the G1000 has been the most difficult part of getting current so far)*
After 9 years of inactivity, I am reenergized about flying again. Since seeing that RV4 video, I have logged about 18 hours of dual time trying to get my proficiency back to where I will feel comfortable hauling my loved ones around. * I am starting to feel competent in my landings and my stick and rudder work is feeling almost natural again. *
My goal is to own/build/fly an RV. I am thinking that it would make sense to buy a 6 to build time in while building a 7 or 8.*
I understand that all the spam can training in the world is not preparation for flying the RV, so I have scheduled transition training with Alex Di Dominicus over Labor Day Weekend.*Alex will be holding class in his RV7.
Well it occurred to me after booking my training with him, that in order to get the most out of my training with Alex, it would be a good idea to try to get a little tailwheel time beforehand.*
The great folks I am flying with out of Stinson (KSSF) have no tailwheel aircraft and no instructors who have tailwheel experience. *So I started looking for a CFI for tailwheel. Finally, I found texastailwheel.com and scheduled time with them last week to get my first tailwheel time in their Cub. Unfortunately, the day I was scheduled, the Cub was pulled off the line for a maintenance issue which turned into a top-end engine rebuild. So the plane was out of commission till today.
So today, I added tailwheel landings to the long list of things I do really poorly! *What a humbling experience! 4 out of the 5 landings were "pig on ice" coordination, but the fifth was only marginally ugly. I never dreamed it would be so difficult. ( or so fun)
Anyway, I didn't intend to write a novela for my first post. I am just excited and wanted to finally say thanks to everyone for reigniting the flame within. *I am loving being back in the air and really excited to join the RV family!
All the wonderful trip reports and the first flight stories are truly inspirational. *My lovely wife and I met and married after I had stopped flying so she has never known me as a pilot. * This is a little scary for her. *This forum has been a real blessing in winning her over. She and I love traveling to Wyoming but hate the travel time involved so she has been following Tom and Bonnie's trip closely. Last weekend she went with me on a road trip to Waco to look at an RV6 for sale there. *She was a little shaken by how snug the cockpit was, but she is excited too. *She surprised me yesterday *by signing up here at VAF with her own log in!
Thanks again to everyone. I am looking forward to getting to know you all!
Jim
The last flying I did was in 2002. That year, i picked up almost 60 hours in a Turbo Centurian in which I had a 50% interest. *I never was totally comfortable in that airplane. It was pretty squawky and frankly it was more plane than I had any business being involved in, given my experience level. I had less than 100 hours when I got involved in the Centurian.*
Finally, After several worrisome and expensive mechanical headaches, I experienced an *electrical failure on a night-time marginal VFR trip from Alabama to Texas. I managed to get the *plane down in one piece thanks to a a handheld radio and a god-send of a pilot who was able to relay my plight to Houston Center which vectored me to a nearby field. But afterward, I felt like Fate was telling me to stay on the ground.*
Of course I have missed flying. I have missed the speed and convenience. I have missed the adventure and the fun. Though I have missed flying terribly, the thought of re-learning everything I have forgotten always kept me out of the sky.
Until recently...
*A few weeks ago I happened to see a video on YouTube of an RV4 doing light aerobatics and*I've *been absolutely obsessing over RVs ever since. I don't know how I have remained ignorant of the RV world until now, but I am quickly getting educated. *(I'll bet I spend three hours a day on lurking right here alone!)
So after nine years, I began again the process of searching for a CFI and a base to fly out of.*
I interviewed three training operations before I found someone who knew anything about RVs. *Once I did find someone who seemed to understand my attraction to the RV scene I signed up with them (Stinson Flight Training Service) and started my re-education process. *
Wow! A lot has changed since 2002! I am flying spam cans equipped with G1000 glass panels. (mastering the G1000 has been the most difficult part of getting current so far)*
After 9 years of inactivity, I am reenergized about flying again. Since seeing that RV4 video, I have logged about 18 hours of dual time trying to get my proficiency back to where I will feel comfortable hauling my loved ones around. * I am starting to feel competent in my landings and my stick and rudder work is feeling almost natural again. *
My goal is to own/build/fly an RV. I am thinking that it would make sense to buy a 6 to build time in while building a 7 or 8.*
I understand that all the spam can training in the world is not preparation for flying the RV, so I have scheduled transition training with Alex Di Dominicus over Labor Day Weekend.*Alex will be holding class in his RV7.
Well it occurred to me after booking my training with him, that in order to get the most out of my training with Alex, it would be a good idea to try to get a little tailwheel time beforehand.*
The great folks I am flying with out of Stinson (KSSF) have no tailwheel aircraft and no instructors who have tailwheel experience. *So I started looking for a CFI for tailwheel. Finally, I found texastailwheel.com and scheduled time with them last week to get my first tailwheel time in their Cub. Unfortunately, the day I was scheduled, the Cub was pulled off the line for a maintenance issue which turned into a top-end engine rebuild. So the plane was out of commission till today.
So today, I added tailwheel landings to the long list of things I do really poorly! *What a humbling experience! 4 out of the 5 landings were "pig on ice" coordination, but the fifth was only marginally ugly. I never dreamed it would be so difficult. ( or so fun)
Anyway, I didn't intend to write a novela for my first post. I am just excited and wanted to finally say thanks to everyone for reigniting the flame within. *I am loving being back in the air and really excited to join the RV family!
All the wonderful trip reports and the first flight stories are truly inspirational. *My lovely wife and I met and married after I had stopped flying so she has never known me as a pilot. * This is a little scary for her. *This forum has been a real blessing in winning her over. She and I love traveling to Wyoming but hate the travel time involved so she has been following Tom and Bonnie's trip closely. Last weekend she went with me on a road trip to Waco to look at an RV6 for sale there. *She was a little shaken by how snug the cockpit was, but she is excited too. *She surprised me yesterday *by signing up here at VAF with her own log in!
Thanks again to everyone. I am looking forward to getting to know you all!
Jim