Entry Aircraft

[Blue Side Down]

Very Intersting- Thanks!

[Hedley]

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[Cat Driver]

I have a question about weight, when I was fit and in fighting shape a couple of years ago when I retired I weighed 120 pounds.

Now that I am retired and only surfing porn for something to do I have gained weight, I now weigh 126 pounds.

My question is am I to heavy now to really get performance out of a Pitts?

[Hedley]

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[niwre]

did my initial training on a 7ECA... I had a good instructor but energy managment is a must... pain in the butt if you ask me

now I do it in a much more fun a/c with an inverted system... although it hates to hammer head

[Hedley]

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[Skyhunter]

Ok... here is one question to add to the thread... options... for a two seat... I want to be able to take friends and family (my kids) etc for a ride now and again and show them what it is like to go upside down and pull G. I know a decathlon is a good option and one I am seriously considering, What else is out there of at least decathlon type performance?

Yes, I know I will have to get an aerobatic instructor license etc. Not worried about that side of things... just what aircraft are out there that...

1. have a descent roll rate
2. have 2 seats (probably dual controls)
3. decsent power to weight so don't have to spend all my time climbing.
4. i will be able to get insurance for (will have about 50 hour Tail Drag time when I am ready to purchase) as well as lots of total time doing aero's just not in prop's.

Is the above aircraft affordable? ( I have looked into Decthlon costs but not anything else yet.)

Thoughts?

[Hedley]

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[Skyhunter]

Thanks Hedley... and we will talk in person when the weather warms.

[niwre]

this a/c you HAVE to right stick otherwise it wont go and just "flop"

[cgzro]

One alternative is to own a single seater and rent the odd 2 seater (and make the pax pay

You really don't need much performance in a two seater if you are just giving intro acro rides and the nearly doubled cost will turn away a lot of pax.

[Hedley]

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[Skyhunter]

Having 2 teenage boys with at least one having an interest in aviation I have a feeling much of the time the second seat would be occupied. Also with some of the aircraft might take the wife on short (ie under 200 mile) cross countries. With a single that would necessitate buying (at some point in time) a second aircraft. Cheaper to have a single aerobatic and then something else for non-aerobatic or perhaps mild aerobatic rides? Something to think about.

The costs for the single seat pitts is very appealing, to say the least, but would it make up the cost of insurance and hangar space on a second aircraft more for taking the kids and wife flying. Not sure I could do both on the current income.

[Hedley]

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[albertdesalvo]

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[Cat Driver]

Anyone here ever fly a HiperBipe?

[. ._]

You can't learn to swing a baseball bat at 40. By the time you
hit 40, you should have almost 30 years of flying experience.

True- sort of. IMHO, ANYONE who has the motivation can learn how to fly the plane. It might take 200 hours to solo, but if you have the motivation and money you can do it at ANY age. The true part is that the way the human brain develops, yeah, the sooner the better to hardwire good habits into the brain through experience. That's why Wayne Gretzky and Tiger Woods are so good. The perfect combination of genetics, motivation, hard work and starting early.

But do not try to tell me a person can't be a decent, safe pilot if he or she learns after the age of 40. That would be BS, IMHO.

-istp

[Hedley]

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[Skyhunter]

My 13 your old son and I just learned to snow board. I had the advantage of taking it up briefly last year , went about 8 times. He started this year. Withing both of us going to the hill three times he can now snowboard better than I can. Flying being a motor skill as well, I am sure the learning process would be the same. I am glad I started as a teenager, I am sure it helped out the rest of my career.

[niwre]

muscle memory and muscle control

You learn as well as your muscles learn what forces and pressures will do what. Going from one platform to another can be frustrating (for me at times) when simple steep turns did not go so well. Some a/c dont need back pressure at all while others need "a lot" in comparison. Sure one says I can fly the attitude but that also changes from platform to platform. Learning things young can be a BIG advantage but also with age there comes greater critial thinking abilities.

I just wish flying was something you can "install" like a software program

[Hedley]

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[Skyhunter]

Intersesting topic, open loop-closed loop. Reminds me of teaching Defensive BFM , You have to look back over your shoulder at the other aircraft, you can't just look out front at the attitude and the instruments. If you do you will go blind on the bad guy, and you can't fight what you can't see. So you teach the student to take a quick glance in at the intruments and look back at the bad guy. Think about what he saw.. A/S, Alt, Att, make any changes req'd (while watching the bad guy).. pull harder or less, ease bank off or on, then assess the bandit... what effect did it have.... glance back inside... what effect did his inputs have on the parameters... what needs to be fixed... make the new inputs... repeat. An endless cycle until somebody losses. Closed loop for sure, just never thought of it in that term before. Formation fly is another expample that absolutely has to be done in this way.

Thanks for the insight Hedley.

[pilotdreams]

I have around 70 hours total time on tricycle gear. What is a safe amount of hours to fly before I buy my own Yak 55?

[pilotdreams]

Please do recommend several people to help me out here. Not much aerobatic school action here in Canada. I was planning on going to Harv's Air unless something else comes up. Best thing would be to share an airplane but, I guess that doesn't always work either.

[Hedley]

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