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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 3, 2015 - 12:22pm PT
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Time to put the pilot/airmen discussion in one place. Not sure why Reilly and I are having the discussion in the president thread.
Who's a pilot? What are you flying? Own a plane (doesn't exist w/o pics)? I know Reilly knows a thing or two (but don't know details).
Mike the Vet attended Indian Creek SushiFest a few years ago by flying up from Flagstaff in his Cessna. There's apparently an air strip near Bridger Jacks - at least the map says so. I always wondered how he made taking off out of the cow field look so easy. Shorts and Softs!
I'm on the base leg of my PPL training. This morning I took my first flight away from KBDU. The weather was stellar. I'll be back at it tonight doing ground school for x-country and then if the weather holds we'll be off to Fort Morgan, CO around daybreak.
The goals is to be doing my final checkout flight in the next three weeks. It's all cross-country training from here on out.
Sort of hard to complain with a morning like this:
Good view of the Rockies and Longs Peak this morning.
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snakefoot
climber
Nor Cal
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looks like your at the erie airport. nice day out here on the front range. I just glide/fall off stuff, carry on.
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Rollover
climber
Gross Vegas
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Severe Clear!!
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Gary
Social climber
Hell is empty and all the devils are here
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I had a lesson in a Cessna 150, a freebie from Flying magazine. It was a hoot flying around. The guy had me do everything but actually land. I remember getting a little nervous wondering when he was going to take control.
Unfortunately, zero depth perception is a deal killer.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nat, I already told you the most important thing - keep the shiny side up!
And ALWAYS look at the winds aloft along the Front Range. I've been in rotors
and it's little scary. OK, a lot scary. My final advice - ditch the Cessna
and learn to fly a sailplane. You'll really learn what flying is about.
Plus you get to commune with the hawks.
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 3, 2015 - 01:24pm PT
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Rotors?!?!?! what is this strange phenom of which you speak?
That was Sunday. Oddly they wouldn't let me take the plane to Longmont.
We're just now getting me up to speed on winds aloft.
Shiny side up. CHECK!
Shots taken from KBDU - Boulder (which is five minutes out my front door. I watch the boys and girls coming in on final).
The nutty thing is that the reason I'm doing this is so that I can be a PIC operating sUA under the FAA 333 Exemption that should show up any day. Did you hear that FAA? Any day!
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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I learned to fly in a Stearman my Dad restored, he loved grass strips because they are much easier to land on. Got my ticket in Fullerton and racked up about 400 hours mostly Cessna 150 and 172ss. I flirt with the idea of flying again, but it is a serious committment
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Great.... you can pack a plane with Sushi and fly out to California. (to a secret location)
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Prod
Trad climber
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I've been thinking about this for a long time. Christa and I need to get our licenses. Are you interested in partnering in a 172 with retractable gear? Could be pretty cheap if we have 5 partners....
Prod.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Don't get a 172 retract- spindly little legs those and really only a two place.
Get a 182= it'll haul anything you can cram in it.
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Prod
Trad climber
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I have a pal who traded his 182 for a 172 retract. He says that it uses way less fuel ans is just as fast?
Lots and lots to think about.
Prod.
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nature
climber
Boulder, CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 3, 2015 - 04:51pm PT
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That's worth thinking about.
Once I start racking in the cash operating sUA this might be a possibility.
The good times roll however with the FAA. They just kicked back my registration for my big Hex. They just act like they don't want us to do this.
Only problem is The Reverend Pagan Monkeyboy (our CEO) wants a seaplane.
and yeah, gotta make sure there's enough room for the sushi cooler.
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Prod
Trad climber
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Nature,
From what I am reading it looks like it'll cost 11-15K to get instrument rated with a mountain flying certification. Sound about right to you?
Sea plane, I really want a Beaver, but you gotta start somewhere....
Lets get together for a beer or 7 before the holidays kick in. Hitting the Spot with Eyonkee tomorrow at 5 if you want to join us.
Prod.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Yeah, the RG moves along but doesn't carry squat. I'm high maintenance
and I don't travel lightly. Plus I just don't trust those RG legs.
A Beaver? Ho, you win the lottey?
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Prod
Trad climber
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A Beaver? Ho, you win the lottey?
Want... Won't get... Unless I win the Lottery.
Prod.
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pvalchev
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Flying is amazing, almost as fun as climbing! ;-)
BTW you don't want a retractable gear at least in the beginning, the insurance cost will kill you. Generally insuring a retract will probably be double, even for high-hour pilots, but for a newbie it is probably 5x. Getting partners / into a partnership is the most affordable way to go (so the big / fixed costs are split among several people)
Here is a photo at Lee Vining airport at sunrise earlier this summer. Flew into it on Saturday around lunch time, walked over to the Whoa Nellie for lunch. Met my friend there, and we climbed SW face of Conness on Sunday. Monday morning after a good rest, had breakfast at the Whoa Nellie, flew and biked to the office, was showered and working before 10am... beats the drive across the Sierra, 1 hour instead of 5... when the weather is good!!! The only problem is that there are no rental cars at most of the cool airports (like Lee Vining)
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JustinS
Trad climber
Ocedanside, California
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I've been looking to get my PPL when I get out of the military and using my G.I. Bill to get my CPL. Is there any chance there's an old timer in the Big Bear Lake area that's willing to show me the ropes. I own a house literally on the other side of the fence of the airport.
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Karen
Trad climber
Casper, Wyoming
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Learned to fly in a tail dragger, specially a Cessna 140 and yes, I am certified.
Also an airplane snob who only really admires and likes taildraggers. My son owns a Cessna 185 and that's a nice plane, rolling it is quite fun.
The ex, who actually taught me turned me into the taildragger snob, we had a Cessna 195, a couple of 170's, two 140's and a Beech 18.
If you love airplanes a trip to Oshkosh and the Reno Air races is in order.
I love radio engines, the sound is pure pleasure....
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Ney Grant
Trad climber
Pollock Pines
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I've tried pretty hard to combine an active outdoor lifestyle with a flying one. I published a blog and then finally last year published a book, "Fifty Classic Destinations for Pilots: Epic Adventures and Romance in the Western USA". The book definitely isn't a "$100 hamburger" or where-to-golf book, there are some pretty cool adventures in there.
http://www.westcoastflyingadventures.com
Book: http://www.fiftyclassics.com
If anyone wants the book, use code blog20 for 20% off.
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pvalchev
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Thanks Ney for the link and writing that book, it sounds fantastic, just ordered it and I look forward to reading it and going some of these places :) I'm sure it was a lot of work to put together! Your post here years ago of a trip report to the Third Pillar (I think) after flying into Lee Vining was one of my inspirations for getting my pilot license so thanks for your flying-related posts here. Last summer I flew to Lone Pine, hitch hiked to the portal to climb Keeler Needle.. for me, flying is as adventurous as climbing, if not more so (because I'm not as experienced at flying as climbing yet!) - you seem to have lots of flying behind you and have certainly sought adventure, post more trip reports :)
One thing I've found interesting is that flying is a lot like climbing in terms of the risk management as well as the feeling of exposure, somewhat similar to committing climbing in an alpine environment, where both the skill of a pilot is tested, but much more importantly the mental aspect/decision making.
Just this morning I cancelled a flight due to weather and it made me feel similar to walking away from an ice climb after having hiked to get to it, and deciding the ice quality or avalanche danger seemed too iffy, for instance. It's very disappointing at that particular moment and it takes a lot to choose not to fly (or climb) when the conditions are such that 99% of the time you'd be OK taking the risk (and a part of you is thinking "just do it"), but it's hard to ignore the inherent risk with both activities... I've walked away from climbs that have fallen off the next day, but much more frequently you never get that affirmation that you made the right decision. Similarly why very few avalanche fatalities happen when the danger is High/Extreme, but the majority are when the danger is "Considerable". In the middle of the storm, no fool will choose to go flying, just like no skier will choose to ski an exposed line when the danger is High, the marginal conditions are the most challenging to manage. Anyway... getting carried off here but I'm curious if this audience has had similar thoughts, I'm just fascinated by risk management!
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