I think I can, I think I can, I think I can
So cool to have flyers I really respect and admire to help me plan my airplane and flying stuff. Flying has been a dream for the first 46 years of my life. At age 55 (in fall of 2013 & If this contract keeps going) I plan to semi retire in the USA and fly/play fulltime for a year.
My mission is cross country, learning/flying lite aerobatics, and Buzzing around the air patch. Yes a -4 is way more practicle
I could own a Rocket OR for the same money an: RV-4 and, Tri-Pacer and, Nieuport 28 replica. The specs, photos, and stories I've seen make me think a rocket is the fastest most beautiful airplane I might be able to afford during my life; even if the operating costs make it only for a short time... I will get to live my dream! personified!
perhaps -4 ownership will satisfy me. But I am not yer average yokle. I have a need for maximum speed and I like the wrenching as much as the flying. It has been written: "learning a new skill like building air planes or flying aerobatics keeps your mind young".
Smokey, you mentioned many cool experimentals but I am commited to my next bird being a -4 since I already bought and wear a VAF hat. When I buy my RV-4 you will be the consultant (if available). Probably be ready to buy mid 2011. One idea is to use the -4 as a rocket pilot trainer while I work full time building my rocket. Maybe I can hang on an additional year here with every dime earned going to buy the Rocket of my dreams.
So many choices in the price range of expensive Rockets. I like the: twin Beach?s, Nam? era Mohawk, and, O2 with certified bullet holes, rifle racks and faux rockets. suspect all these cost more to operate than single prop fixed gear.... was broke when I started this overeas gig. No wife or Kids and now I am used to living in tent and plastic out door bathroom.. sooo Tally Ho .... LOL
Ah but flying is not all money, I understand it takes mucho skill to ride the Rocket. Can a 400 hour mid 50s ?kid? run with the ?real pilots?? Hope the author does not mind me posting this, but it has been a huge inspiration and guide for me and I hope for others too ...
You will be completely capable of flying a Rocket if you take the time to do it right. You've taken the first step in admitting you need training and asking for help, now it's up to you to find it and follow through with it.
The Decathlon is a good choice for training, I did my TW endorsement in a Citabria. Live it, breathe it, be the tailwheel.............always be flying it until the wheels stop rolling.........stick back!...stick back!(flashbacks of my instructor yelling at me are still in my head)
Then go out and buy a -4 and get more training in it, log a good 100+ hours in it and then sell it, if you can. You'll want to keep it after owning it so I've been told by all owners.
Then go out and get some good training in a Rocket. Learn all the little tricks from the instructor, ie..forward cg, rubbery legs, somewhat blind landings, etc.....
If you really want it, you'll do it.
Just remember, the insurance will be your largest hurdle so don't skimp on the time involved.
I am based at Kandahar airfield a NATO base. My flying is as baggage in Chinocks and Blackhawks to the "outsites" installing Internet cafes for our front line soldiers. When here in garrison about 0800 every morning the fighters taking off is my serenade of the morning. I get to see many types of airplanes, F-16s the Belgians fly, French and their mirage, Harriers our marines pilot, Brits and thier Tornados, A-10s USAF, Ch-47s Canadians, Australians? and US army, UH-60s, a big group of privately owned old Russian MI-8s piloted by some of the same guys that fought here years ago, predators, reapers, every kind of ?trash hauler? you can imagine, 747s, C-5s, C-17, DC 8s, 727s, russian copies of c-5, c-141, c-130, the coolest was a DC-3 I saw twice in the same week during its climb out. I keep asking around to find the MWR flying club but there is always some excuse mentioning war zone.
Thank you all for helping me to get maximum enjoyment dreaming the dream!