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R. B. Bailey (Rover50987)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 11:47 am: | 
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OK, so after dragging myself away from the Lev-O-Gauge conversation - no matter how funny it became - I am officially starting an Airplane/Rover driver post. If you're a pilot, sign on here, especially if you fly in the NW.
And for those of you who don't know; a V-22 IS a flying Land Rover if there evr was one - I just wish SOME ONE would start buying them because they are one of the coolest aircraft out there. Hey V22, why don't they put jet engines in them instead of the props?
As for me, I started flying in high school, got my CFI, and love flying twins in the clouds - nothing better. Never wanted to fly airlines, didn't go military - still can't explain why - the largest plane I ever fly was a C-310, although I did fly right seat in a DC-3 and a Howard 500, and a Cessna Citation once each. I bought a C-150 taildragger with climb prop, 150hp; STOL wings with new leading edge, drooped tips, vortex generators, and flap gaps, it also had tundra tires. I towed banners with it in Portland, Oregon, but didn't make any money so I went back to school (and I know this sounds cheesy) to actually "do something" with my life - so I became a high school history teacher. Glad I made the change, now I get to fly during the summer.
Land Rovers and Airplanes are a great combo.
http://flying.mrbaileyshistory.net
http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net |
Dana Giles (Dana_G)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:03 pm: |
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The Flying Land Rover Club  I like it.
The V-22 could be a possible candidate for flying Rover, but let us not forget the venerable C-130!
My flying history...started flying in high school, added on all the fun ratings in college. Started flying a Piper Najaheap Chieftain charter, wasn't making enough $$ to even dream of financial solvency. Currently find myself between aircraft in the Air Force, finished up training in the mighty tweety bird (T-37) was supposed to be heading to T-44s to eventually fly C-130s but currently find myself grounded with a medical bit they're trying to sort out before I can resume training. |
R. B. Bailey (Rover50987)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:19 pm: |
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All my life I was for sure going to go into the air force, but when it came down to it, I just stopped thinking about it, I still don't really know why I decided not to! If I was not married with a new born baby, I would go into the reserves right now. |
adtoolco
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:21 pm: |
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Well I was thinking of getting my license with the hope of changing careers. Based on your posts I'm guessing there is no money in flying. A big letdown. I guess I will have to continue machining, for how long I don't know. I might be forced to switch careers anyway.
-Chris |
Rans (Rans)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:27 pm: |
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hehe I can't believe Paul Morgan hasn't found this thread yet....v22guy! LOL |
Paul D. Morgan (V22guy)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:33 pm: |
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There is an off-shoot of the Yahoo Disco2 Owners group called Rover Flyers or something like that. Just do a search in Yahoo Groups and it will come up.
As far as the V-22 not using jets: not efficient or economical enough. I don't want to get into details on the www. The first flight in the thing was a bit scary. I have 2000 hours + as a crewchief in Military Helos and have never experienced that whole "transition to airplane mode" stuff. Remember the "transformers" cartoons? Same concept. Here's a www accessible link that shows it working. http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/v22/conversion.htm Be patient while it loads. |
M. K. Watson (Lrover94)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:34 pm: |
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i too thought about attempting a Pilot's license, but having crashed everything i have held a license for, my wife said NO..... |
Michael Noe (Noee)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 12:55 pm: |
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There's a group on yahoo for us rover pilots:
Yahoo Rover Pilots Group |
R. B. Bailey (Rover50987)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 01:36 pm: |
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I thought all that tourque and the complications of having two large turbo props working together was one of the problems the V-22 has been coping with. I'm no engineer, but it just seems like pure jet engines with thrust vectoring would be "easier". But those huge rotors look very cool.
http://flying.mrbaileyshistory.net |
Dana Giles (Dana_G)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 01:41 pm: |
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Chris,
If you're looking to get into flying for a living, it is possible but it will take you quite some time to make any money at it. If you don't have any experience, plan on it taking 2 or more years (and about $20k) to get your CFI. At that point you can keep your real job and instruct in your free time, build hours, make (very little) money If you ever want to do it as your primary source of income you will be looking at a few years trying to live on $10k unless you get lucky and pull off a military flying slot. Current odds.....1 seat per 2000 applicants. There is huge money to be made flying. Major airline guys haul in in some cases over $200k per year, and are limited by law to working 80 hours per month.
If you have an interest in flying, go get your license regardless of whether you intend to do it for a living....$5k is about what a private license will cost you, and you'll have the time of your life. |
Paul D. Morgan (V22guy)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 01:41 pm: |
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Well Dude,
The next time I fly out west to see my Family, I'll meet you for a beer and tell you all about. My Parents live in Chehalis, Washington. |
R. B. Bailey (Rover50987)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 01:55 pm: |
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Giles is exactly right, unless you go into airlines or get into a military flight career be prepared to fly and work another job, and sell your Rover!!
On the other hand, I fly 1 - 2 times a month now and once you have your license all you have to do is get regular medicals, and a flight review every two years - it really doesn't cost that much to rent a plane for that little bit of recreation. |
Tommy Dougherty (Skydiver)
| | Posted on Monday, November 18, 2002 - 07:43 pm: |
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You want to build hours fast?? Once you get commercial rated, go and fly skydivers on the weekends for 12hrs / day.
I've been jumping for about 9 yrs. I completed about 70% of my private pilots license requirements about 5 yrs ago... but it was getting too expensive. It was cutting into my skydiving budget.
One good thing (for me) is that many of our jump pilots are also CFI's, and if I ever decide to fly again, I can trade lessons for beer. haha Plane rental was the most expensive part - in my neck of the woods a wet c152 was about $70/hr. c172/c182's were close to $100/hr. OUCH!
-tommy |
R. B. Bailey (Rover50987)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 01:09 am: |
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I tried that, but like flying banners, it is pretty seasonal around here. However, I do only pay $55.00 and $65.00 for a C-150 and C-172 respectively. Owning the plane myself was a lot of responsibility, a lot of fun, and much cheaper on the hourly basis, but it added up with the annuals, 50 hours, etc... That is one reason I really jumped into Rovers after selling the plane - Don't have to pay double shop rates for a mechanic and an inspector, and I can do a lot of the work and fun modifications myself!
Still, nothing beats flying.
http://flying.mrbaileyshistory.net |
Camille (Gwagenbabe)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 08:47 am: |
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Wow---and i thot $35 / hr for a C150 was bad (in new london, VA), but i do pay $70 / hr for the C172 i fly in LA.... I havent flown that much since my checkride, but i do need to continue...
*C |
R. B. Bailey (Rover50987)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 11:33 am: |
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When I lived in La Mirada, I tried to get a rental agreement going at Fullerton. They wanted $82 per hour on a 150 and - I'm not kidding - an FBI background check, as well as to have me fill out a 31 page questionaire about my physical, mental, and flying health etc... I skipped flying for a year or two while living there. This was in 1994!
http://flying.mrbaileyshistory.net |
Dana Giles (Dana_G)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 11:48 am: |
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$82/hr for a 150 in 94? I'm not familiar with the area, but from that info I can draw 2 possible conclusions. 1...Fullerton is a major airport in an upscale suburb of a large city. or most likely 2...Said FBO has long since gone out of business! |
Michael Noe (Noee)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 03:16 pm: |
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Ownership vs. non-ownership: I did the AOPA "cost" sheet a few months ago on my Cherokee. When burning auto-fuel (yes, I'm STC'd), including overhaul, hangar, etc. assuming over 100 hrs a year, it came out to $44/hr.
Of course, the old PA28 is not the most exciting airframe and this didn't include initial purchase cost, but it's pretty cheap flying in the end.
Final 24 |
Dana Giles (Dana_G)
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 04:54 pm: |
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If you actually plan to fly on a weekly basis, it's probably hard to beat ownership. I'll never knock the mighty PA28, it's a nice bird. If you move up the chain a bit I'll take a Piper over a Cessna any day. Ever flown a 172RG....pig, yuck, blah etc...give me an Arrow anytime If you want to talk jets tho...I'm rather partial to the T-37 and yup, it's a Cessna. Not the most glamorous jet in the Air Force, but it will load G's faster than anything else...17G/Sec. You can fly it like a rental car and it'll keep coming back for more, and all this for only 200 gallons of fuel per hour. |
BW
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 05:44 pm: |
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If your not a pilot yet and are thinking about it . . . determination is the most important thing you need. Whether your dream is to land a flying career or enjoy the freedom of recreational aviation, you need to decide what you REALLY want out of flying.
No matter how expensive you might think it is or how long it'll take you, just remember to listen only to those that will help you and ignore those who don't.
I have both civil and military ratings in helicopters and airplanes. Currently, I am attending a course at Flight Safety International down in S. Alabama.
If your serious about pursuing a career in aviation or just want to rent a plane once a month for fun and you'd like to learn more, let me know. I will do the best I can to guide you in the right direction. Feel free to email me at bwallace35@earthlink.net
BW |
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