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123494 03-02-2019 07:44 AM

Those Still Flying GA
 
For the airline and corporate guys, do you still fly GA in your free time? Do you own or rent? What plane do you have? How often do you take the plane up? Just curious

sourdough44 03-03-2019 04:30 PM

I own a plane, no it doesn’t always make sense on the financial ledger. That aspect does not keep me up at night.

I fly at least inside of every two weeks, move the oil around.

The older Son went to college for half a year, came home & said he’d like to switch to piloting. Having a family plane as he was growing up likely influenced that decision. I didn’t push it one way or another.

One can buy a nice plane if you can avoid spending $200k+ with divorce attorneys. I know, can’t be avoided at times.

A plane is a bit more special than that boat or RV.

TiredSoul 03-03-2019 04:57 PM

I’ve just started flight instructing again just for giggles.
It’s amazing how bad of an airplane the C172 really is.

JohnBurke 03-03-2019 07:10 PM

I think the 172 is an outstanding airplane.

I fly general aviation often, but prefer to get paid for it.

TiredSoul 03-03-2019 08:46 PM

It’s the Lada or Festiva of the skies.
It gets you there but is not really good at anything else.
Handles like a wet paper bag.

JohnBurke 03-03-2019 09:11 PM

I dunno. I've run 172's off dirt strips with full loads of passengers or cargo in the mountains, towed banners with them, all kinds of things. They're great training airplanes.

They're the Glock 19 of the light airplane world.

TiredSoul 03-03-2019 11:24 PM

That’s what I said, a Lada...

http://www.globatrol.com/wp-content/...7/IMG_3176.jpg

Back to the original question, I fly light GA about twice a month.

sailingfun 03-04-2019 05:03 AM


Originally Posted by sourdough44 (Post 2774093)
I own a plane, no it doesn’t always make sense on the financial ledger. That aspect does not keep me up at night.

I fly at least inside of every two weeks, move the oil around.

The older Son went to college for half a year, came home & said he’d like to switch to piloting. Having a family plane as he was growing up likely influenced that decision. I didn’t push it one way or another.

One can buy a nice plane if you can avoid spending $200k+ with divorce attorneys. I know, can’t be avoided at times.

A plane is a bit more special than that boat or RV.

If his goal is to be a professional pilot send him back to college to get his degree.

galleycafe 03-04-2019 05:57 AM


Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 2774335)
If his goal is to be a professional pilot send him back to college to get his degree.

I disagree. Get the flying done. Get to a regional. Then do the cheapest online degree you can find.

It's what I would do if I had a do over. Then again, no online degrees when I started. Dammit, I'm too young to be this old.

Plane Coffee

sourdough44 03-04-2019 06:55 AM

FWIW, He does have a degree, full timing at a pilot mill now as a CFI.

TiredSoul 03-04-2019 07:10 AM

After an absence I felt a need to return to light GA flying.
I was also curious if I’d still like instructing.
I do.

galleycafe 03-04-2019 07:16 AM


Originally Posted by sourdough44 (Post 2774400)
FWIW, He does have a degree, full timing at a pilot mill now as a CFI.

Perfect! He's on a path to glory.

Plane Coffee

bradthepilot 03-04-2019 01:01 PM

I built an RV, and still fly it as often as possible. It's avionics are more advanced than those in the RJ I fly for work, and it handles like (or better than) Van's claims.

I'd leave the pt 121 world before I'd give it up.

A Squared 03-08-2019 08:46 PM

Yes. Own. Cessna 180, on floats when the water is liquid. Not often enough, although I did fly it yesterday. Here's a pic from that flight:





https://i115.photobucket.com/albums/...c/DSCF1488.jpg

JohnBurke 03-08-2019 08:49 PM

Cool picture.

dustrpilot 03-08-2019 10:04 PM

Those Still Flying GA
 
Yes, Cessna 185. I don’t get to fly it as much as I’d like nowadays, but I did get to fly it a bunch around the Rockies last summer and really enjoyed it.
I have pictures of it on floats and skis from it’s former life in Alaska, but it lives a pampered life in the south now.
I can’t justify owning it, but I’ll own it as long as I don’t miss a meal paying for it,and I’d like to get a CFI one day. I think I could use it doing BFR’s for my Ag buddies.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ByrdmanFL 03-12-2019 07:02 AM

Do any of you fly to your work instead of drive? I would think that would be nice if your commute was within an hour or two.

JayMahon 03-12-2019 10:04 AM


Originally Posted by ByrdmanFL (Post 2780596)
Do any of you fly to your work instead of drive? I would think that would be nice if your commute was within an hour or two.

lol, will the airline pay for "parking"?

A Squared 03-12-2019 10:16 AM


Originally Posted by ByrdmanFL (Post 2780596)
Do any of you fly to your work instead of drive? I would think that would be nice if your commute was within an hour or two.


Well, I live about a half mile from our base, and my plane is usually tied down at a GA airport that's further away, so I'd have to reeeeeaaally want to fly to work to do that. A while back, I was working on the airport where I keep my plane, and I was temporarily living at a friends house on an airstrip on the other side of town and I used to fly home for lunch, so there's that.

JohnBurke 03-12-2019 12:43 PM


Originally Posted by ByrdmanFL (Post 2780596)
Do any of you fly to your work instead of drive? I would think that would be nice if your commute was within an hour or two.

I did that the year before last. A boss loaned me a Cessna 180 to get back and forth, so I took it to work each day.

I hate traffic.

Barnstormer 03-12-2019 03:45 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by A Squared (Post 2778317)
Yes. Own. Cessna 180, on floats when the water is liquid. Not often enough, although I did fly it yesterday. Here's a pic from that flight


https://i115.photobucket.com/albums/...c/DSCF1488.jpg

Me too! This is the view over by the Glacier.

A Squared 03-12-2019 03:48 PM


Originally Posted by Barnstormer (Post 2781031)
Me too! This is the view over by the Glacier.


Small world, ain't it. Looks like you had nicer weather than I did. Good VMC, but just kind of overcast and gloomy. Didn't bring out the best in the ice without the sun.


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