Enjoyed my first flight in a light aircraft
Discussion
I don't think I've quite caught the bug yet, but a friend of mine offered me a ride in his little Piper aircraft on Sunday, a beautiful day down in Shoreham, and it was amazing.
Never been in a small aircraft before, and I was amazed how smooth it all felt, I don't know why, but I was expecting all kinds of G-force and to feel every bump and turn but no, it was very similar to being in a car really, just 3,000 feet higher up!
Definitely an entertaining way to spend an hour or so - I can see why you guys do it!
Never been in a small aircraft before, and I was amazed how smooth it all felt, I don't know why, but I was expecting all kinds of G-force and to feel every bump and turn but no, it was very similar to being in a car really, just 3,000 feet higher up!
Definitely an entertaining way to spend an hour or so - I can see why you guys do it!
Colleague I work with has some kind of share in a Piper single engined affair, I'm going up in it with him on the 13th Jan - we are literally taking off, flying to an airfield closeby, having a bacon sandwich and then flying back!
Looking forward to it, what has surprised me is the blase nature of it all - book a slot, do some checks, fly, land, come back, hand keys in. Like borrowing a fiesta for a couple of hours. He has been emailing me the history of the aircraft - it has had three minor crashes, one aborted takeoff and there is a quite substantial list of things that need sorting.
Should be interesting
Looking forward to it, what has surprised me is the blase nature of it all - book a slot, do some checks, fly, land, come back, hand keys in. Like borrowing a fiesta for a couple of hours. He has been emailing me the history of the aircraft - it has had three minor crashes, one aborted takeoff and there is a quite substantial list of things that need sorting.
Should be interesting
FerdiZ28 said:
Colleague I work with has some kind of share in a Piper single engined affair, I'm going up in it with him on the 13th Jan - we are literally taking off, flying to an airfield closeby, having a bacon sandwich and then flying back!
Looking forward to it, what has surprised me is the blase nature of it all - book a slot, do some checks, fly, land, come back, hand keys in. Like borrowing a fiesta for a couple of hours. He has been emailing me the history of the aircraft - it has had three minor crashes, one aborted takeoff and there is a quite substantial list of things that need sorting.
Should be interesting
Buy a parachute Looking forward to it, what has surprised me is the blase nature of it all - book a slot, do some checks, fly, land, come back, hand keys in. Like borrowing a fiesta for a couple of hours. He has been emailing me the history of the aircraft - it has had three minor crashes, one aborted takeoff and there is a quite substantial list of things that need sorting.
Should be interesting
Mrs Bakerstreet bought me a decent length first lesson in light aircraft about five years ago. Was great fun. We flew over Silverstone
As per the OP, I was expecting much more discomfort, but it was fairly smooth Cabin was a little cramped and the interior didn't look to be in the best shape, but it was still good fun.
I then went home and did some man maths and decided I still couldn't afford it. Its five years later and I still can't afford it. I'll stick to Land Rovers for now...
Not sure how comfortable I would feel about someone telling me a bout of list of things that need sorting on a light aircraft that they wanted me to fly in.
As per the OP, I was expecting much more discomfort, but it was fairly smooth Cabin was a little cramped and the interior didn't look to be in the best shape, but it was still good fun.
I then went home and did some man maths and decided I still couldn't afford it. Its five years later and I still can't afford it. I'll stick to Land Rovers for now...
Not sure how comfortable I would feel about someone telling me a bout of list of things that need sorting on a light aircraft that they wanted me to fly in.
Shakermaker said:
Never been in a small aircraft before, and I was amazed how smooth it all felt, I don't know why, but I was expecting all kinds of G-force and to feel every bump and turn
It can be like that, you can have choppy days and still days, depends on the weather. It certainly concentrates your mind when you are steering with one hand, trying to stop your chart falling off your lap and trying to get your hand on to the radio to change a frequency whilst looking out of the window to see which way your rollercoaster is going. Shakermaker said:
Definitely an entertaining way to spend an hour or so - I can see why you guys do it!
The "or so" bit can easily be another 1-2 hours on the ground beforehand, planning the flight, checking NOTAMs, checking, preparing, fueling the aircraft etc.48k said:
Shakermaker said:
Never been in a small aircraft before, and I was amazed how smooth it all felt, I don't know why, but I was expecting all kinds of G-force and to feel every bump and turn
It can be like that, you can have choppy days and still days, depends on the weather. It certainly concentrates your mind when you are steering with one hand, trying to stop your chart falling off your lap and trying to get your hand on to the radio to change a frequency whilst looking out of the window to see which way your rollercoaster is going. Shakermaker said:
Definitely an entertaining way to spend an hour or so - I can see why you guys do it!
The "or so" bit can easily be another 1-2 hours on the ground beforehand, planning the flight, checking NOTAMs, checking, preparing, fueling the aircraft etc.But yes, I rather get that isn't going to be the case if you are planning on actually going somewhere, rather than just going around in the local area. Seems that he had quite a good app which gave all the NOTAM information and weather conditions etc that were pertinent to the flight.
Shakermaker said:
I don't know why, but I was expecting all kinds of G-force and to feel every bump and turn but no, it was very similar to being in a car really, just 3,000 feet higher up!
I've been up in a few light aircraft (no idea what they were as they all look the same to me) and liken them to a 1970's car but with wings. A coordinated turn will push you straight down but you'll feel other directions of G depending on conditions.Eric Mc said:
FerdiZ28 said:
Colleague I work with has some kind of share in a Piper single engined affair, I'm going up in it with him on the 13th Jan - we are literally taking off, flying to an airfield closeby, having a bacon sandwich and then flying back!
Looking forward to it, what has surprised me is the blase nature of it all - book a slot, do some checks, fly, land, come back, hand keys in. Like borrowing a fiesta for a couple of hours. He has been emailing me the history of the aircraft - it has had three minor crashes, one aborted takeoff and there is a quite substantial list of things that need sorting.
Should be interesting
Buy a parachute Looking forward to it, what has surprised me is the blase nature of it all - book a slot, do some checks, fly, land, come back, hand keys in. Like borrowing a fiesta for a couple of hours. He has been emailing me the history of the aircraft - it has had three minor crashes, one aborted takeoff and there is a quite substantial list of things that need sorting.
Should be interesting
The last Friday 13th I flew I had an alternator belt come off in flight which necessitated a hasty retreat back to terra firma. Not a full on emergency but the tower granted us a priority approach and I had the pleasure of Fire Chief's company when back on the apron, and then had to help him fill out his paperwork - standard procedure for them to be involved at this airport apparently, and I guess it was a quiet day for them. My shortest flight to date.
You will find most rental/school aircraft of that vintage will have had a few scrapes over the years, not really a cause for concern. Just google the reg and you should find all the reports! It is great fun though.
bakerstreet said:
Mrs Bakerstreet bought me a decent length first lesson in light aircraft about five years ago. Was great fun. We flew over Silverstone
As per the OP, I was expecting much more discomfort, but it was fairly smooth Cabin was a little cramped and the interior didn't look to be in the best shape, but it was still good fun.
I then went home and did some man maths and decided I still couldn't afford it. Its five years later and I still can't afford it. I'll stick to Land Rovers for now...
Not sure how comfortable I would feel about someone telling me a bout of list of things that need sorting on a light aircraft that they wanted me to fly in.
Have you considered microlights? Modern microlights have performance equal to (and in some cases, exceeding) most 'proper' GA light aircraft, and are considerably cheaper to operate. The only real restrictions are daytime VFR, two seats and no aerobatics. You can still cross the Atlantic if you want.As per the OP, I was expecting much more discomfort, but it was fairly smooth Cabin was a little cramped and the interior didn't look to be in the best shape, but it was still good fun.
I then went home and did some man maths and decided I still couldn't afford it. Its five years later and I still can't afford it. I'll stick to Land Rovers for now...
Not sure how comfortable I would feel about someone telling me a bout of list of things that need sorting on a light aircraft that they wanted me to fly in.
Shakermaker said:
erm... I don't know. I think it began with C. Single prop, 4 seater, wings under the cockpit type aircraft. Had a 7-litre I4 engine.
I assumed it would be a member of the Piper PA28 family. They are one of the most common single engine light aircraft around. I've had a few flights in them over the years.- edit*
Shakermaker said:
48k said:
Shakermaker said:
Never been in a small aircraft before, and I was amazed how smooth it all felt, I don't know why, but I was expecting all kinds of G-force and to feel every bump and turn
It can be like that, you can have choppy days and still days, depends on the weather. It certainly concentrates your mind when you are steering with one hand, trying to stop your chart falling off your lap and trying to get your hand on to the radio to change a frequency whilst looking out of the window to see which way your rollercoaster is going. Shakermaker said:
Definitely an entertaining way to spend an hour or so - I can see why you guys do it!
The "or so" bit can easily be another 1-2 hours on the ground beforehand, planning the flight, checking NOTAMs, checking, preparing, fueling the aircraft etc.But yes, I rather get that isn't going to be the case if you are planning on actually going somewhere, rather than just going around in the local area. Seems that he had quite a good app which gave all the NOTAM information and weather conditions etc that were pertinent to the flight.
LimaDelta said:
Have you considered microlights? Modern microlights have performance equal to (and in some cases, exceeding) most 'proper' GA light aircraft, and are considerably cheaper to operate. The only real restrictions are daytime VFR, two seats and no aerobatics. You can still cross the Atlantic if you want.
Some friends of ours had one - the rate of climb when it took off from a standing start into a breeze at what looked like jogging speed was nuts - it just shot upwards like a helicopter. The surface area of the wings for the size of the tandem seat bathtub thing was vaaaaast. I got taken up in it which was alarming as I'm scared of heights. We also did some very low flying over fields and stuff (so low he had to "hop" over hedges).They put airbeds in the wing cavities when going to France.
As an aside - this is a picture they took when the BBMF flew UNDER them
They also flew all the way up to our house (from near Stevenage), did a few orbits around our house and took some photos and flew home.
Light aircraft such as the PA28 or Cessna 150/52 family cruise at just over 100 mph (although the airspeed indicator on the instrument panel is calibrated in knots, not miles per hour).
That is airspeed, of course. The speed over the ground may be faster or slower, depending on the direction and speed of the wind. A light aircraft can be showing an airspeed of 100 mph but might be covering the ground at less than 60 mph.
That is airspeed, of course. The speed over the ground may be faster or slower, depending on the direction and speed of the wind. A light aircraft can be showing an airspeed of 100 mph but might be covering the ground at less than 60 mph.
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