What I Do For Fun

So, went through some old pics today and came across these two

This was a short flight out of Des Moines Iowa, to Ankeny, then Ames and back to Des Moines. Took a friend for his first airplane ride and he loved it. Good times.

Schweet.

-mountain girl

Nice!

I've flown a 172 a few times and I've spent thousands of hours using X-Plane over the years. No exaggeration. I'd like to get my private license at some point. I had pondered it for this summer but I fell behind in my projects right from the git-go and so I'm not sure that will happen. But it will at some point.

I live in Western New York. The mountains, lakes, and rivers - including some massive gorges - are an incredible site. I live 20 minutes from Letchworth Gorge and only a short flight in a 172 over to the Finger Lakes, both of which make for astounding scenery.

Brett, youre a busy guy, but if you find the time and money GO for it!! It took me 2 years paying as I went to get my private and I've never regretted it. Although, here in Iowa the views arent nearly as interesting but, in the fall we have unlimited emergency runways.

MG, flying is one of my great joys and I dont do enough of it, but I do love it! Just takes time and money ( plane rentals are around $100 an hour with fuel)

I suppose I should put my flight experience on here. I have flown Piper Tomahawks( awesome, fun little aircraft) Cessna 152(The only plane I've been in that could fly backwards) 172( standard yet boring) Piper Cherokee 151 and 160. I definitely prefer low wing to high wing, better visibility while turning. I've only had 1 in flight emergency in 14 years. In 2002 I flew the kids to a flight breakfast in Atlantic Iowa. Going there everything was fine. We spent a few hours looking at planes, ate breakfast then head out. Rolling down the runway everything was ok, as soon as I was wheels up I heard a loud pop , all my pressure gauges were acting strange, the stall horn came on, and the kids were yelling THE DOOR IS OPEN. I look over and sure enough the passenger door is unlocked and open about an inch(There was a hundred mile an hour breeze against it) All I could think of was "fly the plane" and made a plan of "get to 2500, then we'll deal with this" and that wasnt easy. The door was creating so much drag on the airframe I could only eek out 100 to 200 feet per min climb. Finally got to 2500 and started working on the door. Had to play around with vent settings to get the right pressure difference then push hard on the door and slam it shut. Finally got it. Landed at Winterset airport and secured and double checked the door. Then an easy flight back to Ankeny with my heart beating out of my chest.

Way to keep your cool though, HM. This seems to be a common thread, I'm learning - truckers who also fly. One of my CDL instructors was a pilot and working his way up to getting a jet pilot license.

Hmmm. The wheels in my head turn... ...

-mountain girl

Man, I would actually buy the fuel to go up with ya! I've been on commercial flights but never been in a small plane before. I haven't seen Atlantic's airport but the one in Anita always looked scary as hell to land on. Something about landing in a field just seems like bad things waiting to happen :)

Man, I would actually buy the fuel to go up with ya! I've been on commercial flights but never been in a small plane before. I haven't seen Atlantic's airport but the one in Anita always looked scary as hell to land on. Something about landing in a field just seems like bad things waiting to happen :)

Yea, I've been over Anitas field plenty of times. Turf fields arent so bad to land on. Todds field just north of Ankeny on the other hand, is a very narrow, short, runway. You have to nail it or you eat corn.

Just so you know, 100LL(Fuel for piston planes) is runnin $7 a gallon. Jet A is a little cheaper at $6.50 and you thought diesel was expensive

Way to keep your cool though, HM. This seems to be a common thread, I'm learning - truckers who also fly. One of my CDL instructors was a pilot and working his way up to getting a jet pilot license.

Hmmm. The wheels in my head turn... ...

-mountain girl

lol, thanks . Honestly, I was too busy trying to keep her in the air to be nervous or worried. Once I came down though, I was shaking all the way home.

Hehe turn those wheels! See where they lead you!

Man, I would actually buy the fuel to go up with ya! I've been on commercial flights but never been in a small plane before. I haven't seen Atlantic's airport but the one in Anita always looked scary as hell to land on. Something about landing in a field just seems like bad things waiting to happen :)

Yea, I've been over Anitas field plenty of times. Turf fields arent so bad to land on. Todds field just north of Ankeny on the other hand, is a very narrow, short, runway. You have to nail it or you eat corn.

Just so you know, 100LL(Fuel for piston planes) is runnin $7 a gallon. Jet A is a little cheaper at $6.50 and you thought diesel was expensive

Ha! I used to buy 100LL for my VR4 just to drive around town because it was cheaper than going to SCS Fab in Ankeny to buy Sunoco 110!