Any other Pilots on here?

[flyguy_17]

Just wondering if there are any other pilots hangin out on here? What do you fly and how long have you been flying? Post up any cool pics!

I have loved aviation every since I can first remember. I got my first ride for my 11th birthday. I got a job at the FBO at my local airport as a ramp rat fueling planes and helping the boss do some wrenching in the hangar. I got my private pilots license when I was 17 before I graduated HS. Funny part was I trained in and still fly the 172 Skyhawk that I took my first flight in! For now I just fly for fun...growing up I had planned on becoming a USN Fighter Pilot, but life changed and I now have a wonderful wife and 3 awesome kids, so thats kinda outta the question @ almost 27, But I would still like to one day make a career out of flying. Been watching Flying Wild Alaska and thinking that would be the best of both worlds...fly for "work" and sled on days off! Ohh Yeah!!! :face-icon-small-coo

 

[flyguy_17]

Heres a few of my pics...

 

[RMK7SledHead]

My current ride.

 

[togwotee9]

4000 hour IFR commerical rated

 

[av8er]

been a Pilot for 19 Years- ATP

I just closed down my FAR 135 Company it had been in Business since 1996 we specialized in Fire Fighting Aircraft. but mother nature did not cooperate the last few years. The Highlight of my career was escorting President George W. Bush around the B&B Complex fire NW of Redmond Oregon. The only aircraft in the sky within a 50 miles radius was my Aircraft, an AWACs, 2- cap ships, and EAGLE-1, and Eagle-2 the Presidential Black Hawk helicopters. I've also had the Opportunity to fly the C130 Hercules, and the Lockheed P2V.

 

[av8er]

Sleadhead- your ride looks a lot more fun

Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RMK7SledHead]

Fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some days it is...some days it's work. Had a bad sim this morning, getting ready to go drop practice bombs the first week of January...just couldn't do anything right.

Christmas leave starts tomorrow, so it'll be a nice break away from the jet.

 

[augerin]

I started flying in '83 and soloed at 16 but didn't finish up my licence till '94. I got the chance to fly Super Cub's and 180's on ski's up in AK but never got the chance to fly floats up there. The fastest thing I got to fly was either a P210 or a Christian Eagle. Not sure which is faster but I know which is funner. Since then my ears started F'n with me and I have had to give it up.:face-icon-small-fro

 

[flyguy_17]

Sledhead: I'm definitly jellous! I would love that as a job! T-45?

Av8er: I live in Battle Mountain, NV and we have a Tanker Base here and thats what I used to do at the FBO (Harless Aircraft Services) is fuel and oil Tankers. Your profile pic looks like a Neptune P2V if I'm not mistaken. We ran a lot of P2Vs, C-130's, PB4Y's, P3's, & DC-4s/6s. I worked there from 2000 to 2005. I knew the H&P guys that were involved in the crashes in 02. Man there were a lot of good guys I met in that industry. Sorry to hear you closed your business.

 

[allied1]

This is my toy. It's a 1941 Piper J-3 Cub. It's been in my family for over 50 years. Total frame up restoration several years ago. Fun to fly for sure. Just picked up a Beechcraft V-35B Bonanza for work. Driving sucks unless you're going sledding!

 

[flyguy_17]

Very cool J-3! And I think the V-35 is what I need now with a wife and 3 kids...or a twin...but I kinda have my heart set on an RV8

 

[summitboy]

Heres a few from times gone by. Love being a pilot, just wish i had more time off to sled :face-icon-small-win:lie:

 

[flyguy_17]

Love the skiing behind the Caravan! haha makes me want my float rating even more

 

[zach477]

I had my heart set on going into aviation in high school (was accepted into SDSU’s aviation program) but then 9/11 came and went and with the industry pretty shaky and knowing how much $ was involved I graduated with a mechanical engineering degree instead. Now I sit behind a desk writing reports or sit in meetings all day wishing I would have followed my dreams. I have 3 kids and a wife that is getting her Doctorates so I’m gonna be stuck as an engineer until she is back at work full time making better money.

Here is a question for you guys. I just took a new job with a nice pay raise; my wife thinks I need a new Yukon….but I’m eyeing something that flies instead. My parents neighbor has 2 hangers and nice grass strip and has offered to let me hanger a new toy for free. What would be the best option to buy for a guy like me? I thinking something in the $15-20k range, cheap to maintain and fly. I think a 150 tail dragger would be fun, but I know there are a lot of options out there. Should I get my privates in a rental and buy afterwards or should I try to purchase something during my instruction to save some $?