kbalch

I'm definitely not someone who's going to be put off by bad cosmetics. I've built an airplane (and part of another) and know the difference. I saw leaking seals on main gear struts, a bottomed-out nose gear strut that the mechanic didn't want to service at that moment (he was working on his car), an engine badly in need of new mounts (spinner at least 1.5 inches low in its cowling), seat tracks so worn that they wouldn't hold a position, badly synched throttle & prop controls (almost two inches apart at cruise config), etc. That's just off the top of my head at the moment; I'm sure I could recall more if I gave it any effort. The planes just don't seem cared for, and I don't mean cosmetics. The bare minimum is done to keep them flying and not one penny more.

N6638D.

Yes, thanks, that's my baby. I had to sell it a while ago (it's in HI now), but hope to be able to buy it back at some point. I really loved the reaction everyone had to it at SnF '04.

Some good points about night flying, but the schedule just about killed me and I didn't appreciate not being told about it before arriving at the school. They told me to show up in the morning (it's about a 2.5 hour drive from my house), but didn't have me on the schedule until 5PM. I was not pleased about having to just sit around all day.

As most of you probably know, half of the flight time there is safety pilot time. When I noticed that some of the other time builders were taking off into IMC, I asked my checkout instructor about how the second guy will be logging the time. He looked at me like I was crazy and said 'as safety pilot, of course'. I pointed out how that wasn't kosher in IMC (no safety pilot needed, obviously) and he just winked and blew it off. That seems indicative of their whole attitude down there. Definitely NOT my style.

Anyway, Ari-Ben is what it is. It's certainly one of the least expensive ways to get some multi time (even if half of it is safety pilot time), but it's not for everyone. Just another data point for people to consider.

Ken

Cubdriver

Aside from the corny name, how are things at Skymates? I would blow $5-10k on block time, but I would rent a local airplane before flying death traps at Ari-Ben.

planecrazyjenn

I loved Ari-Ben...but there's other areas I've posted why. 38D was a great plane...not sure what was wrong with it when you were down there. Also, not sure how long ago you posted this...but there are two airplanes set aside just for time builders now.

kbalch

They claimed to have two airplanes 'set aside' for time builders to fly during the day, but both were down when I was there. 38D flew nicely, despite its obvious deficiencies, but needed serious differential power on the ground to taxi in a straight line. It definitely needed work.

My complaints about their maintenance aside, I really, really didn't appreciate having the fly-all-night thing sprung on me when I arrived. They may get away with that sort of treatment of their captive audience of foreign pilots (there were more Euro guys there than Americans), but I've got local options and I chose to exercise one. I just wish they'd been upfront about it before I made the 5 hour round trip.

I should have just turned around and gone home, but I went through with their 5-hour checkout anyway. I'm still waiting to hear how much they're going to charge me for it. Way more than it was worth, I'm sure.

Ken

Cubdriver

Jenn-
Getting a multiengine rating and buying multiengine time blocks appear to have a different story. I am sure Ari does ratings well, but time building rags out those airplanes. I used ATP in Atlanta for my multi-commercial-ifr but they do not do block time building.

At this point I am thinking about finding a pal to share time on a local FBO seminole. FBOs are more than happy to entertain bids on blocks. All you have to do is find a buddy to split it with and voila, you have a time builder.

iflyprops

Ken,

What are you flying in Orlando? I've been flying a duchess out at KLEE, 153hr block wet.

jtramo

I guess seeing is believing, so ill have to find out for myself. I have to admit, I have never seen a flight school with any sort of decent aircraft. The only ones I have even heard of, you pay 50%+ or more which makes it completly unaffordable.

The planes at my first school were well kept for the most part, but none flew straight and level hands off. (dont even joke about that being a pilot issue) Trimmed up, letting go of the controls would, within 5 seconds, produce a 90 degree bank and a dive. The majority snap stalled one way or the other with the ball dead on. Most had leaks and seeps. One had ditched in a lake and been rebuilt. Several were crash rebuilds. The interiors were shot. The planes were pretty tired.

The next school was worse. For examle, their twin was squawked for engine vibration a few times and it was looked at but the problem was never found. Finally someone discovered a fracture/break in the engine mount that clearly existed for some time, because the edges of the break were rounded from contact vibration.
Engines run very very far past TBO. Mega high airframe times. Yokes had A LOT of play in them. No heat, shot interiors, bad intercomms. VORs and radios inop. Compressions right on the borderline. Every retract aircraft had been geared up at least once. Pilots have to self insure because the school was dropped.
The schools mechanic rode his bicycle accross the runway to the FBO in the middle of the day. He crashed into the curb, came inside and plopped down on the couch and started ranting about nothing and everything. He was drunk. Then there were the instructors, but thats another story.

Most flight school aircraft I saw were downright dangerous in IFR conditions. I had about .8 actual when I took my IFR ride because my instructor nearly refused to go actual. In my area, there isnt a single flight school that I would be inclined to tell friends about. This is why I never got my CFI.

How did I solve the problem? I joined a flying club. They ground aircraft for a tear in the seats let alone a real mechanical issue (only a slight exaggeration, everything gets fixed asap) Although there are dues, its slightly cheaper PH and you pay by the tach time vs hobbs. All aircraft are IFR gps equipped and they are kept current. No twin though. Insurance would be wayy to high.

So I ask, is there any school out there who keeps their planes 100% sound? Everyone knows the old saying, the best way to make a small fortune in the FBO business is to start with a big one.

PS. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

kbalch

I've been flying the Duchess at KISM (Sunstate Aviation) at $182/hr block wet. Sounds like I'll have to look into KLEE. Is that Sunair? Send me an email if you want to split some time doing the safety pilot thing.

I need about another 10 hours multi to break 100. After that, I'll just fly whatever's cheapest (152 or similar) for another 20 hours to get my recent time up to a more competitive level.

Ken

iflyprops

The Duchess is out of Triangle, http://www.triangleaviation.com/

The only problem I've had with the airplane is I was getting ready to go on a two day 8-10hr trip and hopped in it after they closed and one of the tachs wouldn't come off of zero. One of the CFI's just happened to be there and on my way home the owner of the school called to apologize, doesn't get much better than that in my book.

I have an interiew for a CFI position at another local school with twins, I will have to see if I can get a better deal than that. If not I'll shoot you a pm.

kbalch

Thanks for the link and good luck with your interview!

Ken