Yeah, the frequent engine-outs and other “emergencies” they experience probably attest to that! I’d likely build/buy a tri-gear first and get a few years of experience with that before I convert it to something more difficult like a tail-dragger or a float plane. Eventually though I want to more back country type flying, probably never to the extent they do it though. I’m also thinking getting my PPL, gaining experience and logging hours now while I’m still somewhat young (24) would be extremely beneficial if I ever wanted to change careers down the road, as I’d be able to step pretty easily into it. It would be fun to accumulate various ratings such as IFR, seaplane, tail-dragger etc, and because I’d be logging hours just owning my own plane, if I ever wanted to get my commercial license I’d just have to do the 20 or so instructed hours and I could jump into any part of the industry I want. Or at least I think!Pinetreebbs wrote: Trent Palmer's videos are very good, though those pilots in his videos are very experienced and some of their planes are set up for performance over endurance and reliability, something Palmer does mention.
I really appreciate the advice! It’s cool that you are float rated, you can see I just mentioned I’m interested in that in my response to Pinetreebbs. I’ve been drooling over Kitfoxes with floats for the past few days haha. I’ve watched a few videos from the Air Safety Institute that detail various fatal and non-fatal accidents, and so many of them revolve around a mistake or something the pilot missed on his preflight, etc. That’s also a big reason I am looking at building my own kit vs buying used or ready-to-fly. In addition to being less expensive, I will literally know that plane inside and out, and as a mechanic I know how quickly a mysterious mechanism becomes simple to understand once you have all the pieces in your hand and need to put it together. From my understanding, maybe you can answer this definitively, if your plane came as a certified airplane (I think that’s the correct terminology, basically a complete factory airplane) you need certified people to perform maintenance on it, where if you have a homebuilt/experimental airplane you as the builder/owner can work on it without issue, which is what I would prefer for the reasons you stated. At least that’s my understanding.bgcameron wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 1:05 pmSo my first piece of advice is this- pay attention and don't trust anyone. Complacency kills. I have lost a few friends now because of complacency. In the end YOU are the final person who is responsible for your own safety.
Second- Learn your machine inside and out. It is safer for you to know HOW everything works and not just "why". This will also help you when maintenance is required.
Third- give yourself lots of time in every aspect of a flight- from planning to parking your machine at the end of the day. It is so easy to miss crucial tasks when you are in a rush.
Lastly, learn as much as you can and have fun! Find a niche that you really enjoy and run with it. The most fun I ever had was in a float plane, because it gave you freedom to go places where nobody else could go.
Correct, for most tasks I needed a certified AME to perform work. However, I could work alongside the AME and have him sign things off. Numerous tasks don't require any special know-how and anyone with a good mechanical aptitude can do.Ez556 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 1:29 pm
I really appreciate the advice! It’s cool that you are float rated, you can see I just mentioned I’m interested in that in my response to Pinetreebbs. I’ve been drooling over Kitfoxes with floats for the past few days haha. I’ve watched a few videos from the Air Safety Institute that detail various fatal and non-fatal accidents, and so many of them revolve around a mistake or something the pilot missed on his preflight, etc. That’s also a big reason I am looking at building my own kit vs buying used or ready-to-fly. In addition to being less expensive, I will literally know that plane inside and out, and as a mechanic I know how quickly a mysterious mechanism becomes simple to understand once you have all the pieces in your hand and need to put it together. From my understanding, maybe you can answer this definitively, if your plane came as a certified airplane (I think that’s the correct terminology, basically a complete factory airplane) you need certified people to perform maintenance on it, where if you have a homebuilt/experimental airplane you as the builder/owner can work on it without issue, which is what I would prefer for the reasons you stated. At least that’s my understanding.
yablanowitz wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 2:20 pmMy father has been a pilot for about 50 years. Instrument, commercial, instructor and multi-engine ratings, and has owned a plane since the early 70s. My observation of his hobby is "it makes my hobbies look cheap". Full blown Spyderco addiction can't compare to even a small plane for expense. Think of something you do to maintain your car, and you will have to do it to your plane three times as often and it will cost three times as much each time. The last radio he put in his Cessna cost three times as much as my home. It will give you a new perspective on "expensive" for certain.
I have flown with him and have taken a couple of lessons from other instructors as well, but I've never loved flying the way he does
yablanowitz wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2019 1:54 pmSmall planes are mostly very well maintained, because they are regulated far more than cars. If they stop running, most (fixed wings) can be glided to a clear space and landed safely. Helicopters are a different story. You aren't going to get me in one of those while I'm conscious.
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