I'm most happy when I jump in the plane on a nice summer's eve without any electronics, or even a headset (I do use earplugs), with a sectional open on my lap and just fly for the joy of flying. I can loop, roll and spin the Luscombe if I like and I don't go on $100 hamburger runs. I fly for the joy of flying and to get me from here to there when it fits my mission.
Well to answer the question, flying the plane is generally considered a better practice than taxiing it down the interstate.
1) Expensive 2) Poor Safety Record of amateur pilots 3) Expensive 4) Constant training and currency required for true utility 5) Expensive 6) Limited utility without spending a ton of money 7) Expensive
Why ride a motorcycle? Why bowl? Why golf? Why is a tree good? How is a rainbow made? How does the positraction on the rear end of a Pontiac work? It just does. I fly because it turns a 9 hour trip into a 1.75 hour trip.
Yup - I love to fly. Drill a long hole in the sky. I don't need the loops, rolls, etc. I'm quite content with straight-and-level flight. No desire for any adrenaline rush.
I must confess I am impressed your airplane is made of metal. After reading this I was half expecting Sitka spruce and linen with a Gnome/Le Rhône up front.
I don't know how to do loops, rolls, etc. I'm quite content with straight-and-level flight. After all these years, it still relaxes me just staring out the windshield... I would love to fly aerobatics, but I am too old to start now. But, in my dreams, I was a Blue Angels 1, who beat Sean Tucker at competitions, then autographed wet t-shirts after the airshows.
You are the one who asked why not. I was just answering your question. Most things in life involve trade-offs. I choose to trade money for flying.
"Gentleman's aerobatics" can be quite relaxing, they aren't an adrenaline thing. Do it, it's a fun place. You can fly in if you're comfortable with a 2200' grass strip with trees at both ends, and call for permission first. Why fly:
Buy a gmc diesel pickup, and a boat. That makes flying seem pretty cheap. Make sure that you get a marina slip to leave the boat at, so you can just ride back and forth on your motorcycle, because the gmc will spend most of its life in the shop, and rarely be available to tow the boat!
Agreed. Flying for any reason at all is great. But when you can do a few acrobatics along the way it is even better. You are very blessed!
Not much. It has snowed several times, once earlier this week, but very little has stuck and even that was very short lived. I don't care for the colder days and am looking forward to the leaves coming back on the trees. I guess what I really want is San Diego weather without living in California.
That is actually a raging question among Sonex owners! I don't believe there is a definitive answer. That photo was from the 2013 American Sonex Association Gathering in Crossville TN. There were 41 Sonex aircraft that attended (along with other aircraft that flew in). To my knowledge that is still the largest single gathering of Sonex planes in one place!
Well that got me thinking. How to autograph a wet T shirt. Only thing I can come up with is to put your hand in some paint and then leave a hand print on the cloth.
Some years back, while still in my 50s a neighbor at a party put her hands on my chest and squeezed and said "hey you might be in the best shape of anyone here." I'm certain I wasn't. But, I was so tempted to return the gesture and say "hey are these real?" But alas, being a gentleman and not taking advantage of drunk women is one of my many curses.
It is expensive, and like most things in life worth doing, it is challenging and involves risk - so worth it.
