Just need 2000' between my bum & the ground

[riverduk]

Hi to all, my name is Ross and @ nearly 50years of age I think I must be the original frustrated flyer, I've had a couple of goes @ starting to learn, once before I was married, got 2 or 3 hrs up in a Cessna 150, fiance cracked em so I gave up, then tried again early 07 got another 5 hrs in a Tecnam P92 Echo Super, great aircraft, just forgot to tell the wife I had started, got the guilts and stopped. Any how lots of talking and frustration later she now wants me to learn, but the question is what?????

 

Rec license seems the way to go but the wife will not commit to flying with me when I do get my wings, I checked out gliding recently, great fun, but I do not want to rely on others to get me in the air and I don't have a spare 100k + to buy a self launch glider.

 

I did a paragliding intro for my 40th, loved that and could look at powered as an option, the other option is powered trikes, they look like fun and am planning to go to Yarrawonga next week to have a TIF @ Nav-Ex, a bit nervy though, although I know that hang gliding, trikes and aviation in general has come a long way in 35 yrs, I still have visions of a leading edge on a hang glider folding in half after I had just been for a short flight with it @ Barwon Heads back in the mid 70's, really put me off anything that looked like a HG.

 

Anyhow that's my little tale of woe, the up side is I can now get to do something, when I decide what, I just need to get a couple of thousand feet between my bum and the ground, I know my wife will never understand why that is, but anyone who's passion is flying will understand completely, cheers to all and happy flyin'

 

 

[farri]

Ross,

 

If you truely wish to fly recreational aircraft the sooner you start the better for you and the more flying you will achieve,you need to make your own mind up though because it`s what you want from it and what aircraft you wish to fly,that counts, not what someone else thinks you should be doing,you need to do some serious research on aircraft and schools,then choose which suits your needs best.

 

Your dilema is one that only you can solve,I had to solve it 25 years ago and I`ve done a hell of a lot of recreational flying since and through my aircraft,I created pilots, had a lot of envoyment and given enjoyment to many many people and still do.

 

All the best to you.

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

 

[BigPete]

Geez Riverduk, wives :heart: can be funny things at times. When I announced to my other half that I was going to learn to fly an "Ultralight" :big_grin: (doesn't Recreational or Light Sport Aircraft sound so much safer?), she said, "No you're not".

 

So I dragged her out to the airport and pointed out the Jabiru. "Oh, that's OK, that's a real aeroplane" ;) she remarked, and we were both happy. Now B4 you R&T flyers arc up about this, a few observations:

 

Most of the girls are not mechanically minded. :confused: They see tubing and dacron and things fluttering in the breeze and then hear what to them sounds like a Victa mower on steriods, :black_eye: they get a bit concerned about our safety. (especially if you have to pull start it and it doesn't have doors). :ah_oh:

 

We (seasoned aviators) know how safe your aeroplanes are :thumb_up: but, the girls just don't get it.

 

Echuca is a stones throw from you Ross, we have RAA training Fridays and Saturdays every second weekend. PM me if you would like more details. :big_grin:

 

regards

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

 

[farri]

Most of the girls are not mechanically minded. :confused: They see tubing and dacron and things fluttering in the breeze and then hear what to them sounds like a Victa mower on steriods, :black_eye: they get a bit concerned about our safety. (especially if you have to pull start it and it doesn't have doors). :ah_oh:

We (seasoned aviators) know how safe your aeroplanes are :thumb_up: but, the girls just don't get it. :big_grin::big_grin:

BOY,Havn`t I been there

 

Frank.

 

 

[riverduk]

Hi Frank, yep trying to solve the dilema, hence the gliding and now the trike tif, just want to check out all the options b4 I commit, I do already have a few things on the must have list: self launch capable, must be able to do some cross country, ie couple of hrs return from base, easy to set up / pack up ( I live within 1 klm from local private airstrip, so trailering is an option, also good for home based storage).

 

The other thing that is still bugging me is that for nearly 30 yrs the wife has been so anti the whole thing and now she has come around I find it difficult to actually allow myself the freedom to get into it, weird or what? Anyways I will get it sorted, this is going to be my 50th Bday present to me this year, cheers, Ross

 

 

[farri]

Hi Ross,

 

I think I understand because I went through a lot of what you are saying except that, my wife,Frances, wasn`t opposed to the idea, the difference for me was that when I made the decission to start flying, I was 35 yo and had 3 growing children and a cane farm to run and pay off, twin seat Ultralight aircraft and twinseat instruction were illegal and there were no instructors around anyway,I had very little money and couldn`t afford, nor did I want to fly General Aviation, so I built a Chinook WT2 from scratch, made a runway on my property and learnt to fly it then worked my way up from there,it`s a long story but I`ll tell it to you if you like.

 

I don`t think what you are feeling is weird at all as I felt teribly selfish and had to try hard to justify it when I started.

 

Ovre the years, I met guys who blamed their wives for stopping them from flying and this may have been the case for them,however, be honest with yourself and don`t use someone else as an excuse and this will help you to make your decission.

 

Regards and all the best.

 

Frank.

 

Ps,Check out my blog on this forum.

 

 

[Guest Brett Campany]

Gotta live life to the full!! I told the wife what I'm doing. She wasn't happy about it due to the cost of getting everything underway. I told her the opportunities and she read a few of the trip reports in the last 3 RAA magazines and began to understand why i want to do this. Also the fact that I'd been involved in flying since being knee high to a grasshopper.

 

I also went ahead and booked her a TIF so she can see what it's like to go flying.

 

I'll put that report up on Tuesday!

 

I believe don't let anyone hold you back. I'm 33 and feel like I've already missed out on so many years of flying but now is my time. Do the same and just go for it, trust me you'll be rewarded at the end of it!

 

 

[Guest Neilm1955]

Hi Rossco,

 

Good to see your gonna have a go. You probably realise who this is, and just want to say hi, and all the best .

 

We have an airstrip at TC now and have my own Savannah parked out here as well as my sons GT 500. Id be happy to take you for a fly in the Savvy if you like.

 

As you know there are a few of them around Ky now. Got a real good GT 500 for sale if you want a look. Anyway mate, lifes too short to dilly dally around. This is not a dressed rehearsal, its the only one you get, so travel with as little baggage as possible.

 

It also makes take off quicker.

 

Cya around

 

Neil

 

 

[markendee]

Good for you Rossco,

 

Get stuck in.

 

Mark

 

 

[riverduk]

Thanks Mark, I intend too, just so long as its not nose first, cheers, Ross

 

 

[riverduk]

First lesson in a while

 

Hi to all, well had a lesson yesterday, first in 18 months, as I discovered when I dusted off the log book the other night, anyway I made contact with Cliff Banks from Sun Center Ultralights in Swanhill, Vic. Turns out he was teaching in Echuca this past Fri / Sat so I booked for a lesson Sat morn.

 

I turned up all excited, finally got in the air to have a go at a few turns, well, new plane to me (Jab 170c, prev lessons in a Tecnam), different feel, different setup, not been up for 18 months (except 3 very short, read no lift, flights in a glider late last year) and a bit bumpy, you guessed it, that coffee I had just b4 the flight was determined to join us in the cabin, yep Mr "I never get airsick :yuk:" got to the stage where I really didn't care if the ball wasn't centered, I just wanted down and out, the Jab was just to nice and clean to be sick in.

 

When I finally got home and told my wife we both had a real good laugh about it, even now as I write this I still can't help but smile, after all that we have been through to get to this point, all I wanted was to get out.

 

So is this the end? no way, next time, no coffee b4 flight, more sleep and the ball will remain centered in all turns and I can't wait!

 

Cheers to all, Rosco

 

 

[Guest Brett Campany]

Good work getting back in the air mate! Bet you'll never forget that lesson!

 

Look forward to hearing more about your flying days in the next few months!

 

 

[markendee]

Ross,

 

I imagine the excitement at knowing this was it and all the obstacles had been removed from your path contributed to the problem.

 

Bet pounds to peanuts you will be absolutely fine next fortnight.

 

No coffee stick to tea.

 

Mark

 

 

[riverduk]

Yeh, thanks guys, still laughin, and looking forward to next time, thanx Mark, definitely cuppa tea, black and some toast I think, happy flyin' guys, cheers, rosco :thumb_up:

 

 

[farri]

So is this the end? no way, next time, no coffee b4 flight, more sleep and the ball will remain centered in all turns and I can't wait!

Cheers to all, Rosco

Yeah,good onya Rosco,

 

It realy is all about balls :thumb_up:

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

 

[riverduk]

2nd lesson

 

Hi to all, well the second lesson did actually happen, 11/2 weeks ago, just been to hot to get at the 'puter, anyhow it went really good, wild cross wind @ takeoff and some decent pot holes on the way to 4000' but good fun, flat turns as well as climbing and descending turns and just for fun Cliff tried to back the Jab up in the wind, didn't go backwards but wasn't going forwards to quick either.

 

Well the best part, I didn't toss a sickie this time and managed to fly a bit better, had a chance to have a chat with Big Pete and a look at his plane, Pete I reckon that grandson of yours knows that plane as well as you do, look out he'll want the left seat before long.

 

Any way better head off, gettin' late and the beds a callin', will make a bigger effort after next lesson, not sure if that will be this week or not, flying fund a little low, rates to pay on the 15th,now there's a waste of the old hard earned, could of had about 9 hours of lessons right there, any how, happy flying and stay safe up there, our wives mightn't understand but they do want us to come home, cheer to all,:thumb_up: Ross

 

 

[farri]

Hi to all, well just for fun Cliff tried to back the Jab up in the wind, didn't go backwards but wasn't going forwards to quick either. Ross

Good onya Ross,

 

At times,we get a very strong northerly wind up here, when this happens I go up and just work across the face of the wind, I actually make the Drifter go backwards, relative to the ground, I have a lot of fun and that`s what recreational flying is all about.

 

Cheers and all the best,

 

Frank.

 

 

[markendee]

Two down only x more to go.

 

Keep up the momentum, don't let anything stop you now.

 

Mark