Who is a pilot?

[BayMoWe335]

I fly the A380 at Lufthansa.

[motch]

Very Cool.. but you live here in the US?
Too funny as I fly for United but would rather live in Germany~

Interesting world we live in. At least we have German Engineering!

Always
Motch

[Icysheet]

Cool to see so many pilots on here. I fly for the Navy and it's a hoot!

[SakhirM4]

Here's mine in 1972:



Southeast Asia 1972

[mike the snake]

My Grandfather was one of the very first pilots for United. Flew Ford Tri-motors and DC3's.

He was killed, landing on approach at Oakland international. At the time, a number of DC3's had crashed shortly after radioing in, they'd say whatever they'd say, then moments later the planes augured in.

Through my Grandfather's crash, they discovered that the microphone clip was placed exactly where if you missed the clip, the mike would fall into the controls and lock them up, causing the planes to crash. They found the mic jammed in the controls from my Grandfather's crash, and ordered boots be placed around all the yokes of all aircraft after that.

My Grandmother was one of the first 20 stewardesses for United, flew in the same Ford Tri-motors and DC3's. You had to be a registered nurse back then to be a stewardess. She was an amazing woman, and accomplished more in her life than most.

My Father flew F-104's and F4's in the air Force, and owned a Cessna 182 when I was young. We flew weekly to Mexico, he was a big game fisherman. I spent a LOT of time in Mexico as a child, on boats, when the Marlin were still 18-20 feet long and weighed tons.

I'm now following in his footsteps, and taking flying lessons presently. Going for my Sport License. I'm planning on buying an airplane in the next few months as well.

If I sell my Pantera, I'm going to buy a used 60K swoopty doopty light sport plane. If I don't sell my Pantera, I'll be buying something like a Piper Cub, Luscoumbe, Ercoupe, Taylorcraft, or some other lower priced, plane.

In either case, in a couple months I'll have my license, and be shopping for planes, and I'll be up there enjoying the skies with you other pilots!

[kunzjob]

I have my private from Riddle... Professionally I'm a controller at New York Approach.

[stashtrey]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

My Grandfather was one of the very first pilots for United. Flew Ford Tri-motors and DC3's.

He was killed, landing on approach at Oakland international. At the time, a number of DC3's had crashed shortly after radioing in, they'd say whatever they'd say, then moments later the planes augured in.

Through my Grandfather's crash, they discovered that the microphone clip was placed exactly where if you missed the clip, the mike would fall into the controls and lock them up, causing the planes to crash. They found the mic jammed in the controls from my Grandfather's crash, and ordered boots be placed around all the yokes of all aircraft after that.

My Grandmother was one of the first 20 stewardesses for United, flew in the same Ford Tri-motors and DC3's. You had to be a registered nurse back then to be a stewardess. She was an amazing woman, and accomplished more in her life than most.

My Father flew F-104's and F4's in the air Force, and owned a Cessna 182 when I was young. We flew weekly to Mexico, he was a big game fisherman. I spent a LOT of time in Mexico as a child, on boats, when the Marlin were still 18-20 feet long and weighed tons.

I'm now following in his footsteps, and taking flying lessons presently. Going for my Sport License. I'm planning on buying an airplane in the next few months as well.

If I sell my Pantera, I'm going to buy a used 60K swoopty doopty light sport plane. If I don't sell my Pantera, I'll be buying something like a Piper Cub, Luscoumbe, Ercoupe, Taylorcraft, or some other lower priced, plane.

In either case, in a couple months I'll have my license, and be shopping for planes, and I'll be up there enjoying the skies with you other pilots!

Awesome story!! Very sorry about your grandfather going out like that.

My grandfather was a united pilot WAY back in the day...not sure when United started flying but he went into commercial when WWII was in full swing. I have a solid gold ring he received for an anniversary with the airline. He flew for them his entire career. Left two rings...one for me and the other for my brother.

[mike the snake]

Thanks!
I think it's really col that my family has such a deep history in aviation.

Until recently, I had not considered flying because I thought it just out of my financial abilities, but my Dad just bought this SWEET little 1956 Ercoupe for 14 grand, 55 hours on a fresh engine, and we've been flying together every weekend, but he just flew back to Phoenix where he winters.

I've flown RC planes my whole life. My friends and I fly dynamic soaring, where our (used to be 6 pounds) 120 inch span model gliders (unpowered sailplanes) now weigh 65 pounds, and we hold the world speed record for ALL model aircraft, even model jets. In fact, we are 200mph faster than the fastest model jets. The record today stands at 505mph! Youtube "Dynamic Soaring world record" and it'll bring up vids of what we do. It's truly amazing. These are sustained speeds, planes sustaining constant 100G's!
I've also flown powered RC planes, flew pattern aerobatics, Giant Scale 3D (hovering on the prop, super crazy big scale planes), flying has been a bigger, longer dream than owning a Pantera. When my Dad bought his Ercoupe, it hit me, "I can do this too!" so up went the ads for the Pantera, and I'm taking lessons now, and in a month or 2 I'll have my light sport license, and I'll be shopping for a plane.
Dream to dream, I guess that's how my life goes.

[Haywood]

I went to school at Florida Tech in Melbourne. Got my multi, IFR. Had an unexplained seizure in my senior year. There went my flight career. I ended up getting a job with Northwest Airlines in operations, but couldn't get over the pain of not being able to fulfill my dream. Now, I drink heavily and drive sports cars really fast!

[lens]

I'm a tech that maintains the planes, most pilots I've met are pretty cool.

[motch]

Great stories and great thread...
Keep it up.
How about some airplane/car pics?~

Always
Motch

[FL335]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Here's mine in 1972:

Attachment 1317322

Southeast Asia 1972
Attachment 1317323

Bad ass!

I have a few clients who are commercial pilots. I always pepper them with questions. I have no interest in flying but have interest in general

I cannot fathom flying the side stick...It just seems odd. BA or go home.

[jaye944]

First thing I thought was "shit is the plane going to crash"... I mean why are they asking for a pilot?
then I thought, "hang on I'm at work and not on a plane"