WOOT!: I am...

[DukeP]

Congratulations!

Its no easy thing to get that license.

Good luck with your flying!

~~DukeP~~

[Umfriend]

Well done VJ! You'll have to take a 6-seat to fly me and my familiy from and to our holidays! :d

Seems to me you did not take a long time to get it done, am I right?

[VJ]

Well done VJ! You'll have to take a 6-seat to fly me and my familiy from and to our holidays! :d

You'll have to wait a while: currently my license is only valid for the 2 seater Cessna 150's. I intend to learn Piper early next year (only 1 or 2 hours with an instructor needed to add it to the license). But those still only hold 4 people (pilot included!).

Seems to me you did not take a long time to get it done, am I right?

Well, I started the theory-course in October 2003, started the practical lessons in June 2004, passed the theory-exam in September 2004, and now the practical exam. So it would be just under 2 years (and after 55 hours of flight).

FWIW, I was the first one of our theory-class to pass the practical exam. Later that day the second one of our group also passed his exam. Still two guys in the running, and they are aiming at September/Oktober to do theirs.


Jörg

[Umfriend]

So can you fly any one-seater as well? Like say, uhm, a P-51 or an Go-229? Wait, the latter is a jet powered one, can you fly those as well or only prop planes?

[KvHagedorn]

Congrats, VJ!

[Technoid]

Congrats Jörg

[VJ]

So can you fly any one-seater as well? Like say, uhm, a P-51 or an Go-229? Wait, the latter is a jet powered one, can you fly those as well or only prop planes?

The license says "single engine, piston engine; land", without making any mention of the number of passengers. Currently, it is only valid for a C-150.

But with one or two hours lesson on a different type (still single engine piston engine), I can extend my license to other types as well. I do think the P-51 would require some more additional lessons, due to the fact that it has a different wheel configuration (tail-wheel): landing such a plane is different.

I intend to learn to fly the Piper's at the club as well (prob. somewhere early next year), and perhaps also the C-172 at the club.


Jörg

[Umfriend]

So how does it work? You get a license for a class and then attachments to it for individual planes?

[VJ]

Yes, you get a license for a class (in my case: single engine piston engine, land), and then what is called a 'bevoegdverklaring' (dunno how to translate) for individual planes.
The license requires an exam; the 'bevoegdverklaringen' require some lessons with an instructor (no exam).


Jörg

[KvHagedorn]

Flying a P-51 would be like driving a classic racecar methinks.. what's it's top speed? 450mph?

[Umfriend]

OTOH about 360 mph at 25k ft

Edit: Make that 437 mph at 25k ft

[Fat Tone]

Holy Thread Ressurection!

An experience I had recently reminded me that VJ is a pilot so I thought I would look this up. I had no idea it was 7 years ago!!!

Are you still flying regularly? Presumably you have to do a certain number of hours to keep your rating?

A friend of mine took me up in his Piper Warrior one weekend recently. I loved every second of it, and it took me two weeks to get my feet back on the ground!

We took off from East Midlands airport, using the commercial runway in between the 737s, flew south for a while then turned back and landed at Leicester Airfield for Tea and a Pee, then it was a short hop back to East Midlands. Whilst airborne I took the controls. I took a while to relax and spent more time staring at instruments than the view!

In case you are wondering, it was a bit of a squash (I do live up to my online name but this experience has prompted me to do something about it and it's going very well) but we did manage to sit side-by-side! I wouldn't fit in a Cessna yet but that is my eventual aim. I can seriously see me taking it up as a hobby, but it's not a poor-man's game.

My friend has a 1/5th share in the Warrior and takes it up every week. Hangar fees seem pretty steep, plus there's the fuel, maintenance, take off and landing fees, medicals, insurance etc.

[VJ]

It has been difficult for me to fly regularly, not only with work, but then also with living in Poland now. But I managed to do the minimum, and still have the license.

I've now inquired to fly here in Poland, and everything is almost set to go (just need to get an additional insurance). The interesting thing is that my girlfriend (yes!) also loves flying and even plans to learn it too. So that would make for a great combination. Consequently, I'm hoping to pick it up again...

But as some say: it is the best experience you can have with clothes on.

[Tjalfe]

just be careful about joining the mile high club, while you are the pilot

[Dr Mordrid]

EXCELLENT NEWS!!