The Official "Airplanes I owned before my Skymaster" Thread

[n86121]

I started with an Enstrom F28 in the late 70's.
About 500 hours in it.
To impress girls.

Married the first one who was impressed by my ability to FLY it, vs own it.

In Washington DC, airlines driving me nuts (to visit aforementioned woman then in Boston).

Transitioned to fixed wing. What, maybe 10 hrs C152, 3 in a C172.
Then bought my RSTOL 337.

Closest thing I could get to a helicopter:
Great view.
Almost as short a landing roll.

But it was QUITE a transition.

"Do NOT terminate at zero airspeed in a 2 ft hover"
"Remember to lineup with the runway before touching down"
"Do NOT land with your nose still 45 degrees into a crosswind"
"What do you mean pull BACK to climb?"
"Get too slow and this thing can STALL!!!"

The 337 is hard to shoot down
(would become useful later over DC, when someone tired and hit my rear prop).

Inline redundancy makes helicopter altitudes even better (and legal).

I was flying with Tom, a friend, GA pilot and NTSB judge.
Up the Potomac River at "less than 500"

Not being an idiot. Staying away from homes, boats etc.
Similar to how I would fly down coast to Hatteras.

I asked Tom, "What would NTSB think of this flight?"

He replied, (paraphrase 91.119)
"Over populated it is 1000ft and 2,000 from nearest etc."
"Unpopulated 500..., or over water, .."
"with enough altitude to land in the event of power failure"

"In this airplane you can lose an engine at gross and still climb to 16,000ft"
"So it is safe"

I you check out flightaware n86121 tracks
you will see I often do what I call a "river return" back into Potomac.

Once a helicopter pilot....

[mshac]

I'd love to join you on one of those flights someday. My buddy just bought a yacht over in Oxford, MD across the Chesapeake. He's living on it until he sails it to St. Thomas for the winter. If I visit him I may try to darken your door...

My D.C. flying story: While flying for US Airways, we would occasionally depart runway 1 at Reagan (DCA). Departing 1, you are on a direct path for the White House. To avoid overflying the White House at low altitude, pilots are instructed to make a HARD left turn AS SOON AS PRACTICAL. We took FULL advantage of this, is all I would say. Maximum Bank angles may have been exceeded. But it was for National Security, right?

[n86121]

Having sold our Hatteras beach house, and with hgih govofficials NOT traveling toDC to see our tech (forthe time being), I am searching for my new mission.

I have bought a few GoPros and am planning to do some more 'training' videos.

A few years back I could see the turmoil all the agencies were in, chasing each other's tails (and everyone else's), not knowing what they were supposed to do. And not being able to talk or coordinate in any rational way about 'compartmented' activities. And lots of people involved with zero operational experience or frame of reference.

So I put this video together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P7CIAAjvfc

It is title "National Security Airspace Explained."

Not to spoil it, ...I use children's toys.

The exec director of US customs air & marine (includes special air ops with USSS) laughed out loud. He said, "It clear, it's accurate, it's memorable. All things government cannot do."

USAF Chief of Staff told me "They consider the video the most lucid briefing available on the airspace"

NCRCC, "Although not 'sanctioned,' the video routinely used for in-briefing into special air operations in the capital region'

I might tell you about some of my other shananigans....

If anyone here gets to Washington DC (or nearby), look me up
We can go flying, and PROBABLY won't get shot down.

[DarylG]

Piper Archer II

I don't have a Skymaster yet, but when I do It'll be the one I had before.

[mshac]

Originally Posted by DarylG

Piper Archer II

I don't have a Skymaster yet, but when I do It'll be the one I had before.

I like your way of thinking!

[Rick Erwin]

Great video David!