Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site wang.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!cbosgd!ukma!psuvm.bitnet!psuvax1!burdvax!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!ucbvax!decvax!wanginst!wang!lee From: lee@wang.UUCP (Lee Story x77155 ms 1989) Newsgroups: net.aviation Subject: Re: Happy New Year Message-ID: <752@wang.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Jan-86 21:36:35 EST Article-I.D.: wang.752 Posted: Tue Jan 14 21:36:35 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 19-Jan-86 05:32:07 EST References: <729@ucsfcgl.UUCP> Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA Lines: 60 More bio and comments for you fly-by-nights: My aviation interest probably began with control line "stunt" models at about age 10, and interrupted for 25 years by college, rock climbing, marriage, piano, work (some of those recreational -- maybe not the ones you'd expect). At age 37 I couldn't overcome the urge to build an R/C J3, which remarkably still exists four years later. That shows the timidity of my flying. Visiting the local airport (Lawrence, MA) one day, I saw a real J3 on the FBO's line, and wanted to try it. By the time I did, I had a private ticket; the 150 and Warrior were enough challenge at first. The model thereafter took a back seat to real flying. Since then 30-40 hours in the J3 (finally), acro instruction with Don Dutton out of the lovely, now-defunct little Haverhill Muni airport (he's still in business, now at Lawrence), several contests between here and Pennsylvania (Sportsman level -- maybe by the time I'm 75 I'll win one and decide to move up to Intermediate), instrument rating. Now, at 300 hours, I hope to find the time to finish the Commercial and CFI, but my flying has lately been restricted to occasional acro pattern practice in a 180 Decathlon, 50-mile jaunts with lots of approaches for instrument currency, and an occasional hop to little NH and VT airports just for fun. Ski trips to Lyndonville (Burke), Rutland (Pico & Killington), Morrisville (Stowe) are great, but make an expensive day. Anyone around here want to share expenses and flying?? Most memorable flights: (1) Leaving Ottawa Int. at night, single-pilot, 300' ceiling, into a heavy snowfall (nice leaseback Arrow which was totalled by some jerk a few weeks later taking off downwind and overweight from a 2500' strip -- no injuries!! -- I ramble); breaking out, level at 9000, over Massena NY, from black clouds into beautiful clear night air, moon rising over the Adirondacks. (2) First acro contest, Marietta PA, delightful Penn D(e)utch farm country. Slightly hung over after the night-before's wine tasting at the sponsor's vineyard, but somehow placing in the middle of the Sportsman bunch. Notes: By all means go for the instrument rating, even if you don't keep current! I generally stay out of wet clouds if there's any question about getting above them, and it's true that most of the time it's either VFR or unsuitable weather for light (201, Arrow, or below) planes, but the discipline will improve your flying skills immeasurably. Likewise for acro: I'm not too fond of riding with a pilot why has never spun or flown upside down in an aerobatic craft (or who HAS intentionally done so in a normal category airplane). Besides, it's great fun and not scary at all after the first couple of times. Isn't that what most of us fly for? Pet peeve: Why don't they teach people to fly in lovely, light, simple taildraggers any more? (A few times 'round the pattern in a Cub or Champ will teach you lots about things like adverse yaw and "controlled descent into terrain".) And why don't More VFR-only lightplanes have sticks as God intended?