My dads PA-15 Vagabond (C85 powered)
When I was 2 years old.
Hillarious,
I soloed with 9:45 of dual instruction. Same thing, after shooting touch and goes for 45 minutes my CFI-S had me do a full stop and I made another full stop all by myself. Then I flew more touch and goes by myself.
People have told me that 9:45 doesn't prepare you adequately. But, then again, the guy who designed my airplane did not have an instructor and taught himself to fly. So...
Sorry I'm new to Forums, not even sure how to post correctly here so Ill reply to you.
I noticed your response to the question and about teaching your self to fly.. I don't think their are a lot of us left that did that.
I was on my second step dad, it was early 60's and the new stepdad was a crop duster. Actually an alcoholic crop duster. I was 10 or 11.
I was the kid that was always in trouble. Probably because as my mom used to say " I was just built that way".
I thought the trouble was likely because I was used to living on a ranch with lots to do, dogs, horses, chickens, cows, pigs, barns, tractors, heaven!! Looking back now I know better and my mom was probably right. At 5 or 6, I was driving a tractor in Colorado pulling a hay sled out in the fields with big guys picking up bales tossing them on and when full one of them would take over. I was just supposed to "keep it straight, slow and don't hit the bales. and this was probably because I was always causing some kind of trouble, riding sows (pigs), or something I was not supposed to do.
And then, Poof, now ,mom, divorce again and a move near a relative's near the city out skirts.
Now I'm stuck, In a yard. Probably yes, still in trouble constantly ,worse probably.
Soo my mom figured what worked before that I was bored and needed something to do, rightly soo.
Sent me out with her boy friend to flag for him. He was a crop duster.
He went in very early and got off early usually so I still had time to play and drive my moms old car she didn't use, a fiat I think. I was allowed to go up and down the side road where my friends lived about 5 miles away.
Anyway this was A small Co of 3 or 4 planes he was the senior pilot I guess because he just got the Company's new Ag cat!
Gorgeous plane, fire shoots out of it! Its a radial, Its amazing!!
Especially in the morn when its dark! I was hooked the first day!
He was a great pilot and had the scars to prove it even to the point of lots of burn scars on his face and missing fingers from crashes.
I would go in early with him and when we were loaded up and ready I would jump on his lap and off we would go for one field or another usually within 50 or so miles.
When we arrived he would land somewhere near and I would jump out and run to the end of the field and wave my flag. every 20 paces and when he lined up, run to keep from being sprayed to the next 20. Under wires and any where he wanted!
And yes we were in a couple of fender benders , broken gear and wing tip bumps. never serious and I was not allowed to scare my mom with these stories. Soo, I would flag, until the end of the day or until the field was done then he would land (usually next to the field and pick me up).
Off to the next field!!! Wow I was in heaven!!
In the afternoon he was pretty soused because he would doze off and me setting on his lap would get to fly!!
He woke up on the first couple times and said "this is the gas gouge , DONT let it get below here". and pointed to the lower mark on the gauge. Be careful don't go to low or too high and stay around here Don't go to far!
So I would follow the roads around and around and up and down at about 500 ft and elbow him to wake up when the gauge got near the lowest line. Talk about hooked on flying!! Wouldn't teach me to land, I think he was afraid I would go back to home field (a road beside the owners house) and land and get him in trouble.
My first personal plane was a c 140 and after a few years I got my ticket in that plane, mostly because I was sure someone would sooner or later ask to see my license although no one ever has!
I've had several planes and now, including a beautiful 170B.
I've just retired, I would like to build a Zenith 750 or 750 hd. On my small budget. Anyone have a partly finished kit to sell? lol.
Glad you are all here thanks for the great stories!!
We washed out 50% of my UPT class before graduation. Toughest part for me: T-41s (CE 172). "Roller, roller nut and bolt secure. Hinge pin, two cotter keys, actuating arm nut and bolt secure." etc.
