Are there any real pilots out there?

[gbapache]

Other than me and Joeflyer, are there any? If so, share with us your worst check-ride story. I have a whopper of my own.

[Joeflyer]

Why didn't you share the details you whirly bird driver Fortunately I don't have any horror stories to provide as far as check rides
go...and that's a good thing!

[timtomairways]

Although I haven't set foot in a real aircraft in a year

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Image size edited by dan.... Please don't post such huge things

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[Joeflyer]

Goodness Tim....could that picture be any larger???

[timtomairways]

Joeflyer wrote:

Goodness Tim....could that picture be any larger???

Yes it can because I actually had to crop it down in GIMP.

[gbapache]

Okay, here's my story and I'm sticking to it. In the U.S. Army flight school you are lower than a pimple on a dogs ass until you pass instruments.
My instrument check-ride was scheduled for Monday mourning. I had been fighting a severe head cold / ear infection all weekend but there
was no way I was going on sick-call so I sucked it up. The oral exam went perfect, pre-flight was good. Then I had to put on "The Hood".
My inner ear was so out of balance that I couldn't walk a straight line with my eyes wide open. Somehow I got through about 30 minutes of
the ride okay and then came intersection holding. Just remember that you are expected to do everything by yourself, turn, tune, talk, charts.
After screwing that goat for 20 minutes I knew I had flunked the ride and had nothing to lose. I took off my hood, looked at my 195 year old examiner
with his arms crossed over his ginormous fat belly and told him he had the controls and I would talk him through the holding. Somehow it all worked
out. We spent the last 30 minutes doing autorotations to a nearby baseball field. I don't remember what he wrote on my check sheet but I finished
school flying the military version of the Bell Jetranger and after that they stuck me in some helicopter whose name eludes me.

[Joeflyer]

Funny story Apache I bet if you had offered the examiner a Big Mac with a side of prunes, he would have passed you right away

[gbapache]

I remember that guy was HUGE. It was a good thing that hueys had turbine engines. Not to mention I'm sure he taught Moses how to go rafting.

[timtomairways]

I have several favorites. the first (and only) time me and my 1st instructor went flying into Cecil field (VQQ).



For reference all airports are in the JAX area. go to skyvector and search for KJAX.



we departed CRG and flew west bound. Stay north of downtown JAX and at about 2000ft keeping clear of both the JAX Class C, and the NAS Class
D. flew over Herlong and into Cecils where tower instructed us to enter the Left Downwind runway 9L. we flew several T&Gs I cant remember witch
on but on one of them a P3 from NAS Jax came right by our little 172. He was doing the pattern 9R. and he was landing at the same time we were
rotating, so when we got about 400ft up my instructor tells me to look out the right side. That was an awesome sight to see that Orion come flying by
only 1000ft or so away. I remember the pilot had his window open and his arm hanging out. all the while helicopters were doing their thing all over
that damn field.



another one was much later. post First Solo X-county. but still with my 1st instructor. If your looking at the VFR Sectional for the JAX area on
skyvector turn your attention to the small bit of class E airspace right in between the JAX class C and Mayport class D. flight schools from CRG love
to fly through their and head up to FHB to do some work at a un-towered field. (Side note for you aspiring pilots out there, don't think for a seconded
that a un-towered field is not busy, you want to be 4th in the pattern with moderately sized aircraft? FHB is the place to do it). anywho we were just
on the other side of that narrow strip of class E climbing throue 1500 when the TIS when off. both me ant the instructor (at the same time) look at the
MFD then look at where it said the conflicting traffic was. 4 o-clock same altitude just passing us was to F-15s from the Florida ANG on their way
back to KJAX. Close formation to they only showed up as 1 plane on TIS. they passed just behind us an I swear to this day I saw toughs pilot waving
at us.



I got more from my time flying around the KJAX Area. 1 of witch involves me wanting to tell the US Navy to watch where they are flying.

[GamerDude_997]

Well, sence here are so many real pilots, what's it like? Sence it is my dream to become a pilot. Of course i might have to even move to another
country, unless they have some free jobs here (Finland)

[Joeflyer]

GamerDude_997 wrote:
Well, sence here are so many real pilots, what's it like? Sence it is my dream to become a pilot. Of course i might have to even move to another
country, unless they have some free jobs here (Finland)

I always say that flying is the most fun a person can have with clothes on That may be quite raw for some but it gets the point across without
equivocating. That's why I quit a banking job....learned how to fly and knew it was a career I needed to be in....whether it was actually flying or
working in some function of aviation. I had to be around airplanes. I get the best of both worlds....work in an office when I'm not flying around on
Cessna 208s and ATRs. The aviation community is a tight-knit group and we look after each other. I see the camaraderie among the pilot ranks every
trip I make with them. What a wonderful life a person can have just being able break the bonds of earth and touch the faced of God



Post Edited ( 04-10-15 18:48 )

[gbapache]

Not to mention hovering is pretty cool and at least I can fly backwards. Shooting stuff and breaking things is a whole world of fun unto itself.
Oh, I forgot the best part, chicks dig a guy in a military flight suit. ALOT!!!!!

[adrian8891]

I Wonder to be real pilot a lot! But, here in Poland whole process cost around $100k so its way off my limits. I envy You guys!
BTW, apache, from where to get such great signature image?

[pipern9790w]

Wonder what the money exchange is in Poland . Here in us I tell all interested it is about the cost of a good used car. That is pretty cheap for all of
the fun. Also check to see what the instructor will cost . Do as I did and buy a trainer aircraft. You can get your money back from that later or trade it
in for something that will fit more of your needs. I joke a lot , I should have started cocain that would have been cheaper because flying is habit
forming. Have a great day and keep the wheels down.

[Adam1172]

Yo.

Not a real pilot (yet).
Quit becoming a Doctor to pursue and airline career, yep thats a real big jump haha.

I've got an interview a couple months from now and hopefully that would set me up for an airline career flying A320s 2 years from now.