Like hopping into the wife's mini van

J

JasonM

Pattern Altitude
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JM
I've been flying so much that I feel way to at ease. It literally feels like I am walking out the front door and taking the wife's mini van to the store for milk. This cant be good. I am about 450 hours now and no longer get that feeling in my gut that I used to get. I'm kinda getting worried that I don't get worried any more. Maybe its time for some more lessons or something.
 
Do some formation flying (with proper training first of course)
 
Tailwheel, or glider? Maybe acro? I'm not much over 100 and thinking about adding something extra.
 
When I was flying a lot for my business...200 to 300 hours per year...I referred to the comfort level as "wearing the airplane." It was a great place to be.

These days, at 100 hours per year, I'm no longer wearing the airplane. I'm back to merely sitting in it.
 
Get a new endorsement. The tail wheel will help against complacency.
 
This is why I always say Murphey's Law is WRONG. I think things will often go right when it can go wrong just to get you in a place where something much worse can go wrong. Always be prepared, do the preflight and checklists and keep your head on a swivel.
 
wilkersk said:
Time for that tail-wheel endorsement. Or, some aerobatics!
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If I had access to a tailwheel, I would prob. do that. Aerobatics would be fun but not really something I want to pursue.

StinkBug said:
Do some formation flying (with proper training first of course)
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I have tried to get a group together, but nobody I know wants to fly anywhere. My pilot friends either fly for business or fly commercially as a career. I only know a few guys that just fly for fun, but they rarely ever fly.


SkyDog58 said:
Comfort is fine. Just don't let it turn into complacency.
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I don't think I am getting complacent, but feeling so comfortable flying has me concerned at times that I may be forgetting something.


woodchucker said:
Tailwheel, or glider? Maybe acro? I'm not much over 100 and thinking about adding something extra.
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I need to focus on my commercial rating.

timwinters said:
When I was flying a lot for my business...200 to 300 hours per year...I referred to the comfort level as "wearing the airplane." It was a great place to be.

These days, at 100 hours per year, I'm no longer wearing the airplane. I'm back to merely sitting in it.
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I am in that place.


eman1200 said:
Video/pics or it never happened!
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I have a lot of video, but since I always break the rules, there is no way I am posting it online. :nono:

frfly172 said:
Get a new endorsement. The tail wheel will help against complacency.
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refer to first reply. :)


cgrab said:
This is why I always say Murphey's Law is WRONG. I think things will often go right when it can go wrong just to get you in a place where something much worse can go wrong. Always be prepared, do the preflight and checklists and keep your head on a swivel.
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I always use my checklists and do thorough preflight checks. I don't want to be that guy.
 
BigBadLou said:
Wait, I am surprised that nobody has brought up the fact that you drive your wife's minivan to go get milk. :hairraise:

Please turn in your man-card right now ...
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I think he gets a waiver since he flies a plane. If he stops flying, then we will have no choice but to revoke the man-card. :goofy:
 
timwinters said:
When I was flying a lot for my business...200 to 300 hours per year...I referred to the comfort level as "wearing the airplane." It was a great place to be.

These days, at 100 hours per year, I'm no longer wearing the airplane. I'm back to merely sitting in it.
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I hear you. I got there in my old Mooney. I look forward to getting to the "wearing" stage eventually in the CRJ. The first 20 hours I felt like I was barely hanging onto the tail feathers by my fingertips trying to keep up. I think at 120 hours I now have a firm grasp on the wings! ;)
 
Since I fly for a living, getting in a plane is no different than getting in my car. The focus level is different and I probably get more enjoyment flying, but I never have any apprehension about flying. Unless I know I will be going through icing conditions. And thunderstorms.
 
JasonM said:
I need to focus on my commercial rating.
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Once you get that, look around at some TW training anyway, then tow gliders for almost no money. Or, ask around if there's banners for tow nearby. If you go to jump school, you can haul skydivers, but -- only if you are completely crazy. :yikes:

My first solo banner tow was like flying after drinking 20 cups of espresso. I heard every cylinder fire, watched every pass of the prop blade, could feel the grease in the wheel bearings, and was sure I was just microseconds away from stalling at 1100' with the banner on. My second or third glider tow was a tandem, and I was sure we would never climb higher than 30' after takeoff. I sweated out 5Lbs after just one day of towing.

If you can get comfy towing stuff around(I never did), then you go back to solo flying and may fall asleep. Which I almost did taking a Citabria from Tucson to Palm Springs one late afternoon, being lulled by the flicker.
 
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