What else I flew
To the original question, I do have one flight, some years ago, in this:
My flight (short, ballistic) ended in an off-airport landing that was better
than many of my others: nose-up attitude, without sideways drift
or pilot-induced oscillations, and I did not forget to retract my flaps
afterwards.
It was equipped for day and night VFR with two exceptions: a manifold
pressure gauge and a magnetic direction indicator (this was pre-GPS,
never did get a compass compensated for outside influences in
that installation.)
More than 10,000 hours of operations (although only the one flight)
set me up well for the maintenance-to-operations
ratio of aviation.
I also learned how to plot a course on a map, and fold it for use while
in motion... although I didn't unfold it too often.
Other advantages:
Never needed chocks, tiedowns, or control surface locks.
Wake turbulence, crosswinds, and tailwinds never caused a delay
or divert; I never left fuel, passengers, or baggage behind due
to density altitude.
Did not have to recalculate CG when changing, adding, or
removing components.
Didn't need an A&P or an IA; actually, didn't need
anyone to approve maintenance operations.
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