What do you fly?
Discussion
We have a number of pilots on the forum, El Stovey and Ginetta Girl spring to mind and I think Tonker is/was aircrew?
I'm just interested in who flies and who flies what.
I don't fly, but have a mate who used to be a Sea Harrier pilot, now an instructor at RAF Valley.
Plus my best mate used to fly 777's for Emirates and now flies 787 for Virgin.
All I've flown is the F-35 sim at Warton.
I'm just interested in who flies and who flies what.
I don't fly, but have a mate who used to be a Sea Harrier pilot, now an instructor at RAF Valley.
Plus my best mate used to fly 777's for Emirates and now flies 787 for Virgin.
All I've flown is the F-35 sim at Warton.
Nice, I like the idea of flying helicopters. Though have heard they far more difficult to fly. Are modern helicopters becoming easier to fly with better computer enhanced flight controls now? In much the same way as model helicopters are becoming a bit easier to fly?
I think (probably very wrongly) that helicopters offer a more "accessible" for of flying in that you have more opportunities of where to land and take off from.
I think (probably very wrongly) that helicopters offer a more "accessible" for of flying in that you have more opportunities of where to land and take off from.
They have a reputation for being more difficult to fly, but like most things, you get used to it. Our company’s aircraft are mainly of the ‘analogue’ generation, so flying is very hands on. Some have a basic autopilot, so they’ll hold an altitude and heading but not a lot more. Obviously the bigger more modern types, like the North Sea helicopters and the new air ambulances are much more capable and crews probably spend more time hands off the controls than on.
Agreed they are more accessible re landing, but not so good regards cost. They are complicated beasts, and not especially fuel economic, so cost per flying our can negate any accessibility advantages to the civilian user.
Agreed they are more accessible re landing, but not so good regards cost. They are complicated beasts, and not especially fuel economic, so cost per flying our can negate any accessibility advantages to the civilian user.
frodo_monkey said:
I’m now in a desk job but still in the RAF. Flew (as a WSO - backseater):
Tornado F3: about 650hrs 2005-08
Tornado GR4: about 1500hrs, 2010-17
Plus the standard smattering of trainer aircraft, transport etc.
Cool, do you know Dezzie Taylor? She's a mate/colleague of mine.Tornado F3: about 650hrs 2005-08
Tornado GR4: about 1500hrs, 2010-17
Plus the standard smattering of trainer aircraft, transport etc.
AshVX220 said:
They look great fun!
The Vagabond is great bimble machine for strip flying - the RV is waiting for it's permit to test from the Light Aircraft Association, but should be a bit of a hoot.I fly a desk nowadays, but commercially I've flown the mighty Shorts 3-30 and 3-60, 737's of various types and the A320 series. Mainly 320's and 321's.
Small aircraft, it's probably more what I haven't flown than have, as after 20 years as an instructor and flying other people's aircraft with them, you tend to clock up a lot of types. Still not had a go in P-51 or Hurricane yet though...
Heli's I've only flown the R-22 and 44. The Augusta 109 and the B206. Oh and a a couple of hours poling around in a Gazelle, which was a lot of fun, even if the blades turn the wrong way...
Aeroplanes are marvellous things.
Small aircraft, it's probably more what I haven't flown than have, as after 20 years as an instructor and flying other people's aircraft with them, you tend to clock up a lot of types. Still not had a go in P-51 or Hurricane yet though...
Heli's I've only flown the R-22 and 44. The Augusta 109 and the B206. Oh and a a couple of hours poling around in a Gazelle, which was a lot of fun, even if the blades turn the wrong way...
Aeroplanes are marvellous things.
Neptune188 said:
Also frequently seen in the back of ASK13's, Grob Acro III's on instructor duty. Will be getting motor glider ticket back shortly. Have approx 5-600hrs total time across all types.
Is the Acro the one the RAF refer to as the Viking? I did a weeks course in a Viking and then solo'd in an IS-28 B2, K13, and converted to a K8. Long time ago though, would love to take it up again.AshVX220 said:
I think (probably very wrongly) that helicopters offer a more "accessible" for of flying in that you have more opportunities of where to land and take off from.
I used to work with an ex-Navy Lynx pilot. He said loads of colleagues had PPL's but very few bothered with flying civilian helicopters as they couldn't see the point. Ship moors up for a few days in France he could hire a plane from a local strip and nip back to the UK to pick his wife up for the weekend. Helicopters might have more places they can operate from, but their lower speed makes them a lot less useful for a lot of tasks.
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