AX-O
Well Known Member
As some of you that follow my RV-4 fastback thread may have noticed, I have not posted progress updates in a long time. Frankly I hit a wall. I did not want to admit it to myself but working on the plane is no longer fun. Just one job/problem after another. Add to that the fact that I have been promising my wife flights in our magic carpet for over 5 years and have not delivered yet.
What is the source of frustration you ask? The fire wall forward I will reply. I don’t have the skills (at this point) and have not been able to figure it out. I live in the middle of the dessert, not many people around that I can ask for help.
In order to get myself out of this “low” I have talked to my wife and we will be purchasing 50% of a flying RV-4. I know, I know, I can hear people telling me how bad of a decision that is and how it will negatively affect my fastback project. But it is what my wife and I want at this point in our life.
So I continue to chase my RV dream. I recognized that even though I have RV flight time, I have never been at the controls during take offs and landings. All my flight time has been straight and level cross country flying. I did not have to think twice about it. I knew I needed RV transition training. I called Alex and Mike and decided that I would travel down to Texas last weekend to see Alex and obtain my training. I also called my dad and asked him to show up at Eagles Nest Airpark so he could get qual’ed up. My mom found out about this plan and said there in no way my son will be in Texas and I don’t go to see him. It was a party now. Both my mom and dad met me at the airport in Dallas and we proceeded to Alex’s house.
We got lost on our way to Alex’s house (stupid iPhone, I was doing fine until my mom said the blue bubble and the red bubble were going away from each other). We finally arrived and met Alex. Not surprising, he was another of those nice RV guys. We put my dad immediately in the seat because the sun was setting and they went flying. They came back about an hour later and my dad was all grins. It was his first RV flight and he had a permanent RV grin for the rest of the night.
The following day was my turn. Alex put me on the right seat because the controls would resemble the RV-4 closest. I have not flown the right seat of an aircraft for about 10 years. That proved to be somewhat problematic for me. Alex was AWESOME. He would show me stuff or ask me to perform certain maneuvers. If he was satisfied with my performance, we would move on to something else. He was calm for the most parts but I did scare him a few times. Alex knew that my family was around and that I have not seen them in a while. He kept telling me we should knock the training out so I could spend time with my family plus the weather was moving in. We flew for a 2.4 and I was signed off.
After we left Alex’s house my mom, dad and I went to eat. It was great spending time with my parents and just catching up. I asked them if we could go to Best Buy to check out iPads. We did that and on our way out I saw the game guitar hero. Had to pick it up. Played a few songs while my parents laughed at me. I never got booed off the stage. My dad picked up the guitar and got booed in a few seconds then we convince my mom to do it as well. She also got booed. I finally had found something that I was better than my parents.
So why are RVs are more than just planes? Well, I saw my family, my dad got his first RV flight and got qual’ed, I got qual’ed and feel more confident about my skills, I got to meet another nice RV guy and I got rejuvenated. I came back and have been building again while we look for an RV-4 to buy.
Just a side note: I have flown a lot of cool planes during my career and at Test Pilot School. But the training I received from Alex was invaluable. Don’t let your ego keep you from attending transition training. If not for yourself do it for your family.
Mom looking at Alex and Dad on the way out.
Dad's first RV flight
What is the source of frustration you ask? The fire wall forward I will reply. I don’t have the skills (at this point) and have not been able to figure it out. I live in the middle of the dessert, not many people around that I can ask for help.
In order to get myself out of this “low” I have talked to my wife and we will be purchasing 50% of a flying RV-4. I know, I know, I can hear people telling me how bad of a decision that is and how it will negatively affect my fastback project. But it is what my wife and I want at this point in our life.
So I continue to chase my RV dream. I recognized that even though I have RV flight time, I have never been at the controls during take offs and landings. All my flight time has been straight and level cross country flying. I did not have to think twice about it. I knew I needed RV transition training. I called Alex and Mike and decided that I would travel down to Texas last weekend to see Alex and obtain my training. I also called my dad and asked him to show up at Eagles Nest Airpark so he could get qual’ed up. My mom found out about this plan and said there in no way my son will be in Texas and I don’t go to see him. It was a party now. Both my mom and dad met me at the airport in Dallas and we proceeded to Alex’s house.
We got lost on our way to Alex’s house (stupid iPhone, I was doing fine until my mom said the blue bubble and the red bubble were going away from each other). We finally arrived and met Alex. Not surprising, he was another of those nice RV guys. We put my dad immediately in the seat because the sun was setting and they went flying. They came back about an hour later and my dad was all grins. It was his first RV flight and he had a permanent RV grin for the rest of the night.
The following day was my turn. Alex put me on the right seat because the controls would resemble the RV-4 closest. I have not flown the right seat of an aircraft for about 10 years. That proved to be somewhat problematic for me. Alex was AWESOME. He would show me stuff or ask me to perform certain maneuvers. If he was satisfied with my performance, we would move on to something else. He was calm for the most parts but I did scare him a few times. Alex knew that my family was around and that I have not seen them in a while. He kept telling me we should knock the training out so I could spend time with my family plus the weather was moving in. We flew for a 2.4 and I was signed off.
After we left Alex’s house my mom, dad and I went to eat. It was great spending time with my parents and just catching up. I asked them if we could go to Best Buy to check out iPads. We did that and on our way out I saw the game guitar hero. Had to pick it up. Played a few songs while my parents laughed at me. I never got booed off the stage. My dad picked up the guitar and got booed in a few seconds then we convince my mom to do it as well. She also got booed. I finally had found something that I was better than my parents.
So why are RVs are more than just planes? Well, I saw my family, my dad got his first RV flight and got qual’ed, I got qual’ed and feel more confident about my skills, I got to meet another nice RV guy and I got rejuvenated. I came back and have been building again while we look for an RV-4 to buy.
Just a side note: I have flown a lot of cool planes during my career and at Test Pilot School. But the training I received from Alex was invaluable. Don’t let your ego keep you from attending transition training. If not for yourself do it for your family.
Mom looking at Alex and Dad on the way out.
Dad's first RV flight
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