Inflight Entertainment => There I was... => Topic started by: Gulfstream Driver on January 13, 2006, 07:14:03 PM
Title: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on January 13, 2006, 07:14:03 PM
...in a 150 Aerobat over ND, SD, NE, and KS, going 60 kts over the ground. Yuck. Took over 9 hours to get from Fargo to Garden City, Kansas. Luckily, I wasn't flying directly over any highways, or I would have been even more depressed.
I was delivering this plane to California. Took 5 days and 25.5 hours of flight time. This very small, underpowered plane does not make it onto my list of favorite airplanes.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on January 13, 2006, 09:45:31 PM
Well... take heart... I heard of a Piper J3 that was flying in Colorado.... took off into a headwind, was able to slow flight it and actually get blown BACKWARDS over the airport... and landed! No turns needed!!
He was admonished, by the way, for a "non-standard traffic pattern", and told not to do that again.
... no... it wasn't me... maybe it was "Chuck" ? ;D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on January 14, 2006, 01:22:53 AM
... no... it wasn't me... maybe it was "Chuck" ? ;D
sounds like something Chuck would do...
And there I was in a Cessna 152. . .
. . . over Ventura, California at night when all my electrics went out. I think I was trying to turn on or off the landing light when everything went dark. I was just a little private pilot then trying to build some night time. The adrenaline went up a little at that point, but I did have a few flashlights with me like my instructor always taught me (thanks Andrea!). I kind of sat on a big mag-lite and let it shine through my legs onto the instrument panel. I thought I was set. Actually I was pretty proud of myself and even contemplated trucking on but changed my mind after I came to my senses again. Then I thought of squawking 7600 and returning to the airport since I knew I wouldn't be able to talk to the tower, but then fellt silly when I realized that the transponder wouldn't be working either without any electrical power. Then I thought I didn't even need to talk to anybody anyways because it was past 2200LCL and the tower was already closed for the night. "Cool" I said to myself "that way I don't have to go though all the emergency procedures and there will be no other traffic anyways!" But when I got back to Camarillo (CMA) I realized that I wouldn't be able to turn on the runway lights either without my radios. No I was suddenly wishing for some traffic. There wasn't any. As I circled just north of the airport I made some calculations. I figured I had about 2hrs of fuel left before I had to fly to Santa Barbara, which I was sure had a lit runway at night. But did I really want to fly into Class C without any radio or transponder? I kept that as my last option. Then I thought about making a low approach over the dark hole where I knew the runway was but tossed that idea out since it seemed pretty dangerous and stupid. I just kept circling, but got a little nervous after an hour or so. Luckily a plane showed up then and turned on the runway lights. And you better believe I was right at their tail (as much as you can be "right at somebodys tail" in a C-152) to make sure I'd land before the lights go back out. They never even knew I was there. A small "stealth" C-152 completely dark like in a James Bond movie... I made a beautiful landing and taxied back to the FBO.
I just parked the plane and went home pretty pissed off at the electrical system. It wasn't until the next day when I told the story and got all those "oh-my-god-what-did-you-do-to-get-out-of-this-emergency!!" reactions that I knew I now had my first very own "So, there I was..." story to tell!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on January 20, 2006, 08:33:11 PM
I just ran across this photo in an archive... If not a photoshop job (which I doubt since the source on this one seems authentic), then the guy was NUTS!
Looks like a formation flight... and that guy appears to be hand-propping WHILE IN FLIGHT!
Parachute anyone????
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on January 20, 2006, 08:41:26 PM
HOLY CRAP! :o :o
My palms got all sweaty and tingly just by looking at the picture...
CHUCK, IS THAT YOU????
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Sleek-Jet on January 20, 2006, 08:49:18 PM
That looks like a Breitling logo on the empenage... I wonder if it was for some sort of print ad??
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on January 20, 2006, 09:49:04 PM
Not sure if it is a Breitling logo there or not. I tried sharpening and magnifying the picture in that area but couldn't get it to resolve well enough to make it out any better.
I think sweaty and tingly palms was the least of the things I would have had going on if I had been the one in that plane! The guy had to have needed a change of clothes afterwards!! Yipes!!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on January 20, 2006, 10:10:50 PM
Must be a J-3 w/o a starter? Not sure if that's the first thing I'd do to fix the problem. Looks like a nice landing spot behind him there...
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on January 20, 2006, 10:28:44 PM
HA HA!! maybe THAT's why he's hand-prop-ing it... ...because the nice landing field is already BEHIND him! ;D ;D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Plthijnx on January 20, 2006, 10:52:34 PM
eh, i dunno folks. i'd have to say photoshop. then again, i did see a video where this freak jumped without wearing his parachute. he held on to it the entire way down!! nucking futz!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on January 20, 2006, 10:59:49 PM
Well... considering that barnstormers of old used to do mid-air plane exchanges without safety lines, crashes through barns, and the like... it's possible that this guy did this... I wish I had an exact date of the original photo... but I do know its an old one. Not that it means that it would have to be an old picture to have a crazy guy doing that... just that if it was a publicity ad, they used to do some crazy stunts!!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on January 20, 2006, 11:26:14 PM
If it is photoshopped, would they have bothered to put his shadow in?
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: chuckar101 on January 21, 2006, 04:55:18 AM
Guys crazy. Hey I was watching stunt jockies the other night and they had a guy jump fro one airplane and get into another one. The one he jumped into was attached to a drag shoot in a vertical dive with the engine off. When the guy was in he released the drag shoot and pulled up. Landed safely though.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on January 21, 2006, 06:41:28 PM
No, it ain't photoshop, I've seen the picture before and read the story (can't remember the details---I'M OLD!!!) and it is most certainly genuine. Genuine but not sane, which brings up a question, how many of you pilot-types out there are afraid of heights??? Been scared of altitude all my life so I thought I'd beard the lion in his den and at age 50 signed up for an accelerated free fall course at Davis Skydiving. First jump (with 2 instructors) from 13,500 ft was like participating in my own killing, screamed "AKK AKK AKK" in the fetal position for first 5 seconds the realized I'd better arch and do the drills taught me in ground school. Had to check my shorts when I landed---they were OK though. Second attempt, my chute popped just before I got out the door---landed (in the airplane), got a new chute, jumped, and it was still tooooo scary for words. Did a third jump and decided there's enough opportunity to get the crap scared outta you in aviation so why go looking for it! Got a refund on the unused jumps and came away with even more anxiety about heights. So much for facing your fears. ???
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Inept on January 21, 2006, 07:44:38 PM
I hear ya about the heights... I have no problem flying along, even looking straight down, well, as straight as you can, from anywhere from takeoff or landing to 8000+ feet AGL, but get me on a lagger, and I'm scared witless. Is this a common combination among pilots, fear of heights, but love of the sky?
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mark on January 21, 2006, 09:15:04 PM
Yeah id have to agree im fine flying around doing all kinds of maneuvers but standing on the edge of say a balcony of a hotel room on the 15th floor i get scared and i have to back away its kinda weird how that works.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on January 21, 2006, 10:37:23 PM
It gets even more crazy than that: Imagine long-lining with the helicopter. Hanging half way out of the machine, looking straight down, 150 feet in the air, moving airconditioners on top of buildings,. . . . . . but standing on the balcony on the 10th floor or something and looking down...not my favorite.
My friends always give me a hard time about it and think I am just messing with them.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on January 22, 2006, 12:39:05 AM
I hear you there Mike, there rational (semi) mind knows your gonna die if you fall from 150 feet but 10 stories on a balcony tightens up the old sphinter enough that you couldn't drive in a needle with a sledge hammer! It doesn't bother me at 500' AGL but man, when I'm traveling cross country at 10,000 and above, I get a little anxious. My friends also figure I'm screwing with them on the subject----what ever possesed me to pursue flying I'll never know (OK, it was the babes) but a week without fliying is hard to take Guess that's why I like flying fires, it ain't scary like being up high-----------Go figure!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: chuckar101 on January 22, 2006, 03:47:59 AM
I fly an ultralight that has no structure around the pilot at all and enjoy the hell out of it. But when I get up high on a ladder I get a little nervous. Go figure.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on January 22, 2006, 05:05:26 AM
No, it ain't photoshop, I've seen the picture before and read the story (can't remember the details---I'M OLD!!!) and it is most certainly genuine. Genuine but not sane, which brings up a question, how many of you pilot-types out there are afraid of heights??? Been scared of altitude all my life so I thought I'd beard the lion in his den and at age 50 signed up for an accelerated free fall course at Davis Skydiving. First jump (with 2 instructors) from 13,500 ft was like participating in my own killing, screamed "AKK AKK AKK" in the fetal position for first 5 seconds the realized I'd better arch and do the drills taught me in ground school. Had to check my shorts when I landed---they were OK though. Second attempt, my chute popped just before I got out the door---landed (in the airplane), got a new chute, jumped, and it was still tooooo scary for words. Did a third jump and decided there's enough opportunity to get the crap scared outta you in aviation so why go looking for it! Got a refund on the unused jumps and came away with even more anxiety about heights. So much for facing your fears. ???
I have the same problems with heights. I can't do ski-lifts, or ladders, or balconies without being really nervous. Yet I'm fine in the airplane, helicopter, or other vehicle.
As for parchuting out of an airplane.... well... let's just say "If the wings are staying on, I'm staying IN!" :)
So far I've never had the urge to leave a perfectly good aircraft.... I must say I don't see that changing anytime soon. ;D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Plthijnx on January 24, 2006, 05:10:17 AM
i'm with Ted. i used to want to learn to skydive but after i learned to fly......fuggetaboutit
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mark on January 24, 2006, 05:31:36 AM
Yeah i used to want to go skydiving so bad and a bunch of my friends are going in a few months but now i have no desire to do it anymore. Most of the other pilots Ive talked to down here agree too. I guess its a common trend with pilots and not wanting to jump out of a perfectly good airplane.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: FlyingBlind on January 24, 2006, 03:16:41 PM
eh, i dunno folks. i'd have to say photoshop. then again, i did see a video where this freak jumped without wearing his parachute. he held on to it the entire way down!! nucking futz!
That would have been a aquantiance of mine :D he is a nutcase ! Once jumped out by holding on to the parachute with his FEET...now that was...GARGH
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on January 24, 2006, 05:47:20 PM
Here is what I was talking about guys! (I am getting sweaty palms just posting this...eechh)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on January 24, 2006, 06:09:18 PM
Here is what I was talking about guys! (I am getting sweaty palms just posting this...eechh)
Yikes!!!! Ok... that shot gives me the sweats too!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mark on January 24, 2006, 06:46:06 PM
Wow that guy is insane. I mean who in their right mind would stand out there like that.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: leiafee on January 24, 2006, 08:47:03 PM
Nyah I like heights. Mind you I do a lot of fair amount of up and down ladders and in and out of attics at work so it's jsut as well. (It's doesn't pay to be the littlest technician you know--you get far to much of "Oh Leia'll fit up there..."
I like looking down--maybe it's because I'm a shorty!
There's a headland here where the cliffpath goes right up to the edge and you can sit with your feet hanging over and the the seagulls eyeballing you! Best viewthere is without getting off the ground.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: FlyingBlind on January 25, 2006, 02:00:03 PM
That's definitely photoshop. Lighting and sharpness is wrong. Still made me sick, though. :P
Yeah, I knew it was. Looks like the guy isn't even holding on. But it's the thought of it all. . . . isn't it? Just imagining being in his position . . . uargh...
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: FlyingBlind on January 26, 2006, 02:11:33 PM
That's definitely photoshop. Lighting and sharpness is wrong. Still made me sick, though. :P
agreed..now that i concentrate on the picture..its pretty obvious
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on January 29, 2006, 12:26:13 PM
I made a post on "things you don't want to hear" about gear up landings that reminded me of a young pilot who landed gear up at SBD a few years back---her comment was to the effect that she couldn't understand why the A/C (a Seneca) floated like 6000 feet down the runway before settling. Gads, what an UGLY sound!!!
Second thing I remembered was my first solo flight in a Mooney with manual gear---got on short final and looked at handle--it was up, I quickly moved it to the down position then realized that when the handle is UP the gear is DOWN (and vice versa)---- VERY quickly put it back in the UP position (gear DOWN) and landed. I was trying to impress the folks on the field with my new airplane--they were impressed with how fast the gear goes up and down at 50 feet, DUH!!!! Now I always do 3 GUMP checks before landing, even in a fixed gear airplane (G as on correct tank- U ndercarriage down and welded- M ixture for go around- P rop set for go around) They say there are 2 types of pilots---those who have landed gear up and those who will---I try to avoid the latter by always using the gear to slow the A/C to landing speed instead of retarding the power all the way.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Plthijnx on February 27, 2006, 11:16:35 PM
so there i was today at 10,500 doing my radio relay when i look up and see a dark spec getting bigger in the windscreen of my trusty tomatohawk (red tomohawk) and well i'll be......it was a duck! just one duck. a teal. missed'im by about 3 feet with the outter edge of my left wing. he zigged and i zagged. that got me thinking....what's the highest anyone here has ever seen a fowl friend? i've seen geese as high as 8,000 and in groups. i was taken aback that there was just one duck cruising along and not in formation......
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Stef on February 28, 2006, 12:13:25 AM
Did it wear an oxygen mask?! ???
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on February 28, 2006, 12:44:20 AM
I think I read somewhere that birds have been spotted as high as 10 or 11,000...I'll try to find that article.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on February 28, 2006, 12:16:38 PM
No bird incidents at high altitudes but I got a HUGE bug splat on the windshield at 14 or 15 one day. What the hell is some dumbass bug doing up there----might have been a Steve Fossett beetle going for an altitude record. I probably ruined his once-in-a-lifetime attempt.
I was about 10,000 one day over Big Bear Lake and was startled by looking UP and seeing a powered parachute (or whatever the hell they're called) a couple of thousand above me. Speaking of YO-YO'S, anybody remember the jerk that fastened a bunch of balloons to a lawn chair and ascended through LA's airspace with a BB gun for altitude control? I would have loved to heard the PIREPS on that........ "Uh, LA center, United 1836 heavy, Do you show a man in a lawn chair at 10,500 over HTSHT intersection?"----------"United 1836 heavy, LA center, after landing, please report to the FSDO office for a random drug test"
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on March 01, 2006, 02:11:55 AM
"United 493 heavy, you have traffic 3'o'clock at 10,000" "Really, please confirm. We don't see him on TCAS" "Uhm,...yeah...it's a guy in a lawn chair" "Control, please confirm. At 10,000?" "yep" or something like that! We should start a new thread on this one! Maybe the tape floats around on the internet somewhere... ;)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: MO on March 01, 2006, 05:19:56 PM
Larry Walters was the guy in the flying lawnchair incident. You can find out more about this here:
http://www.markbarry.com/lawnchairman.html
And yes, it seems that there's a tape circulating... Kind of interesting.
Cheers!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: MO on March 01, 2006, 05:40:58 PM
For those of you who don't like to read too much... Well, here's the short version of the incident, including a myths spelled and links section.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Walters
Enjoy!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: FlyingBlind on March 01, 2006, 09:05:29 PM
Well...10 feet is a lot! But the jump we did with the gardening tools (Shovels, Baskets, Buckets etc. etc.) was at 3000 feet.... That was fun, ill try to get the vid. uploaded somewhere (First of all - my pc!) then ill show you guys :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Stef on March 01, 2006, 10:15:19 PM
By coincidence, I've seen an episode of "Myth Busters" today where they tried to recreate the story with the flying garden chair. I didn't pay close attention and didn't see if the myth was busted or confirmed in the end, but it seemed like a hell of a lot of work! First you need a very stable garden chair that on the other hand is not too heavy. (They had to reinforce theirs with a small metal frame). Then they needed hundreds of dollars of helium. I think they spent at least 800-1000.00 bucks just on helium... Well I think it is possible after all, but a rather expensive experiment!! Oh, and the sixpack of beer should rather be cans rather than bottles, because every ounce counts! ;D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Stef on March 01, 2006, 10:18:28 PM
Well...10 feet is a lot! But the jump we did with the gardening tools (Shovels, Baskets, Buckets etc. etc.) was at 3000 feet.... That was fun, ill try to get the vid. uploaded somewhere (First of all - my pc!) then ill show you guys :)
Haha... Where do you do stuff like that? You can't just do it anywhere can you? You could kill innocent people with throwing shovels out of an airplaine at 3000 feet! ??? ??? But... hm, thinking about it, you probably didn't let go of that stuff, did you?
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: FlyingBlind on March 01, 2006, 10:56:59 PM
Well...10 feet is a lot! But the jump we did with the gardening tools (Shovels, Baskets, Buckets etc. etc.) was at 3000 feet.... That was fun, ill try to get the vid. uploaded somewhere (First of all - my pc!) then ill show you guys :)
Haha... Where do you do stuff like that? You can't just do it anywhere can you? You could kill innocent people with throwing shovels out of an airplaine at 3000 feet! ??? ??? But... hm, thinking about it, you probably didn't let go of that stuff, did you?
yes we did :P its at a military airstrip in ämari (seriously remote , not many people wondering around in a airbase) and we had to let go...cause you cant hold a shovel AND guid your parachute to the ground :) well technically you could, but that would be painful and could end up badly
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: chuckar101 on March 02, 2006, 09:24:47 PM
Hey Stef speaking of mythbuster I saw an episode like that might of been the same one. They lifted a little girl off the ground about ten feet. All I remember is that they filled up a pretty descent sized hangar with balloons before it worked.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on March 02, 2006, 09:30:26 PM
Hey Stef speaking of mythbuster I saw an episode like that might of been the same one. They lifted a little girl off the ground about ten feet. All I remember is that they filled up a pretty descent sized hangar with balloons before it worked.
Somehow the visual that painted reminded me of the time a fire suppression system went off in a hangar with a military jet. The photo was amazing.... looked like a hangar sized bubble bath with the plane in it :) If I can find it again, I'll post a message with it. :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: wbarnhill on March 16, 2006, 05:39:30 AM
Well... take heart... I heard of a Piper J3 that was flying in Colorado.... took off into a headwind, was able to slow flight it and actually get blown BACKWARDS over the airport... and landed! No turns needed!!
He was admonished, by the way, for a "non-standard traffic pattern", and told not to do that again.
... no... it wasn't me... maybe it was "Chuck" ? ;D
Didn't fly backwards, but we've taken the DA-20 up and got slow flight down to about 14kts Groundspeed. Controls get a wee bit sluggish at that point and the stall horn is a little annoying, but it's fun :D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on March 16, 2006, 11:12:40 PM
Hey, my first trainer was a -C Katana! UND quit using them because they couldn't take the abuse (and maintenance changed the manufacturer's recommended procedures). I always thought they were neat planes, though. Where were you flying one?
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: wbarnhill on March 17, 2006, 12:33:00 AM
Donaldson Jet Center at KGYH (Greenville, SC) has a DA-20-C1 Katana for 80$/hr wet. After flying it once, I fell in love. :D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on March 28, 2006, 03:46:17 AM
So the boss calls today and say's "want you at Big Bear on the 8th of April for your 135 ride-----your airplanes in the radio shop but we've got a spare with a Garmin 530 yo can do it in" ------#1, I've never SEEN a 530 but I understand it's close to the 430 in my airplane #2 ,I'll have to do some GPS approaches (never done one before because I never had a n IFR GPS before) #3, haven't seen my airplane in 8 months--- why do I get the jitters before a checkride???? SHE######T, what an industry!!!! RUN AWAY KIDS---GO TO THE JIM NABORS SCHOOL OF TRUCK DRIVING while you got a chance!!!!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on March 28, 2006, 04:04:30 AM
If I remember right the Garmin 530 is only bigger than the 430 (and has a compass overlay, whatever it is called). I don't think you will have a problem.
But I get what you're saying about the business. I just did two 135 checkrides in two completely different helicopters in one day, just because it just happened to work out that way.... (*my head was spinning with all the numbers I had to memorize*)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on March 28, 2006, 05:46:37 AM
A Garmin is a Garmin is a Garmin. Even the glass cockpit works the same as a 430.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on March 28, 2006, 04:00:54 PM
A Garmin is a Garmin is a Garmin. Even the glass cockpit works the same as a 430.
Having never seen a glass cockpit, I'll take your word on that and I dowlnoaded some poop sheets on the 530 AND I can see it's not much different so it's on to the GPS approaches which oughta be a piece of cake. Now all I gotta do is remember how to fly an airplane which Ted will tell you is like riding a bike (except for the cards in the spokes) 8) 8)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: C310RCaptian on March 28, 2006, 04:35:04 PM
The 310 I fly has both a Garmin 530 and 430. If you want to go to Garmins website and download the free trainers for them. If you need help I can help you with them. They are the simplest thing in the world to use. I hate going back and flying something with a Bendix King GPS. To me they are not very user friendly. If you know how to work a 430 the 530 is the same thing. My problem is that I get lazy and couple the autopilot to the GPS. Let it fly the approach and I just work the altitude or if it’s an ILS I just look for the field and land… wonder if I can install an auto land on the 310??????
Pilot: auto land rough…. Mechanic: auto land not installed!!!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: wbarnhill on March 29, 2006, 10:52:56 PM
(Why we shouldn't always trust the gov't ;) )
An examiner is waiting for his private pilot applicant to get back from his weather briefing. The briefer lets the pilot know that he should have clear skies throughout his flight. Soon the prospective pilot is ready to go and they go through the preflight and hop in, start up, and takeoff. The pilot is doing quite well and the examiner tells the applicant to start his cross country. The applicant, in accordance with his flight planning, begins climbing to altitude, and promptly flies through a cloud. The examiner notifies the student of his failure and begins descending. On the trip back the applicant is completely silent. As they taxi to the ramp, the examiner just has to ask "Son, why did you do that?" His response?
"The United States government said that cloud wasn't there, so damnit it wasn't!"
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on March 30, 2006, 02:20:07 AM
OK GIRLS,
I downloaded the 530 Sim from Garmin, figured out how initialize it to STS and am working on loading a flight plan----I did the DP and PYE transition out of STS, then got vectors for the RWY 32 ILS, the LOC comes in fine but I can't get the GS to work---Am getting a bad case of heartburn--How about one of you young computer geek/pilots explaining to this ELDERLY (OK, flyingblind, ELDERLY ;D) person how to do this--please :-*----I'm getting frustrated >:(
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Turbomallard on March 30, 2006, 02:49:22 AM
I downloaded the 530 Sim from Garmin, figured out how initialize it to STS and am working on loading a flight plan----I did the DP and PYE transition out of STS, then got vectors for the RWY 32 ILS, the LOC comes in fine but I can't get the GS to work---Am getting a bad case of heartburn--How about one of you young computer geek/pilots explaining to this ELDERLY (OK, flyingblind, ELDERLY ;D) person how to do this--please :-*----I'm getting frustrated >:(
Glideslope is not included on the simulator. ;D
TM
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on March 30, 2006, 04:21:59 AM
"Technically," you can't use GPS for a precision approach, unless you have VNAV, which wouldn't be available on the sim. :)
Here's a quiz for all the "elderly" people in here. What is required for VNAV? How do you know it's available to you? On what page will you find it in the 530?
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on March 30, 2006, 06:09:07 AM
Wow, I learned something today! Mainly that I am not using my GPS to its full capabilities... All I use it for is the good old "direct to" function, ring up frequencies, and make sure I don't run into any airspace (especially in Nevada where every mountain looks the same but some of them have areas you REALLLLy don't want to fly into, EVER)
just my $0.02.... carry on!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on March 30, 2006, 10:58:16 AM
Gulfstream, I guess your answer would be the ground based unit for WAAS(even "elderly" people know that one)---however, I'm NOT using the unit to make a GPS approach-I'm tuning the localizer frequency into the VOR reciever which should give me vertical guidance just like the 430 in my airplane does. The simulator, to be accurate HAS to have a glideslope function. I'll talk with Garmin tomorrow and find out the real story. 8)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on March 30, 2006, 02:55:21 PM
Ah. Carry on, then. :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: C310RCaptian on March 30, 2006, 03:50:06 PM
The Garmin trainers do not have the GS function. However on the 530 like the 430 remember to push the CDI button once you activate the approach. That way it will go off the LOC frequency and not the GPS. Everything about the 530 is the same as the 430. Just a bigger screen for the “elderly.” ;D So if you know the 430 you are golden with the 530. Personally the only thing I use the 530 trainer for was familiarization of the controls. Knowing what page gives you what information, how to enter an approach or SID/STAR. I wish they could put it in Microsoft Flight Sim, which would be the best way to fully train at home to use it. :-\
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: C310RCaptian on March 30, 2006, 04:50:59 PM
Also I forgot to mention… the trainers do not include the weather page, terrain page or the traffic page on the trainers… The airplane you may be flying might not have these pages.
If it does the 3 pages are under the NAV section Pages 3,4,5. They really don’t do much. If you hit the menu button while on the weather page it will give you the option to change from a 360 view to a 180 view of the WX. And if you hit the cursor button on the WX page you can scroll between radar, graphical metars, winds, and temperatures/dew points. (I may be wrong on the order, I am just going from memory ???). If you hit the menu button with the graphical metars it will give you a legend to tell you what the graphics mean. The other pages are basically just there to look at.
The only other difference is the AUX page has one more page on it. This is where you can get textual metars if you have the XM aviation weather service. Its pretty strait forward to use. I love it. It has saved my butt i dont know how many times.
Let me know if you need any help with it. Ive flow with both for 2 years now. I am sure you will do excellent. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on March 31, 2006, 03:58:26 PM
|:)\ To Turbomallard, Gulfstream driver, and 310 Captain!!! One of my attributes has always been being tenacious in my pursuit of a goal and at times, like now, it has taken a great deal of persuasion to make me back out of an untenable position. I ADMIT I WAS WRONG!! :'( It would seem that the glideslope is indeed inoperable on the Garmin 530 sim for (now) obvious reasons. :-\ Thanks for your input guys, if I seem hard-headed it's because I am and I make no apologies for that, that's just me. ;) And besides, I got to use a lot of different smileys in one post. ;D ;D
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: SkyKing on May 02, 2006, 08:15:52 PM
Here is what I was talking about guys! (I am getting sweaty palms just posting this...eechh)
I dunno, Photoshop doesn't scare me much.
Look closer. The Tower is in natural light from the 2 o-clock, the guy is in a photo with the flash from 12. The light quality on the ledge should be different than it is below. The clean-focus zone is also all wrong.
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Zaffex on May 04, 2006, 09:38:40 PM
The big question though: how did they get the picture of the tower? :o It's almost as scary for me to imagine a guy taking this picture as the picture itself.
Anyways, there I was...
...in our home state back when I was 14, getting my first chance ever to fly in a fixed wing. It was an opportunity for people to come in and get a chance to fly in a GA aircraft. I got to go up in a C-172K with a couple other people, and boy was it breathtaking! I had ridden in a sling wing before at the county fair, but for some reason this ride really stuck out to me. It was actually only the second time I had ever gone up in the air, so the flying experience was pretty captivating. I can remember seeing everything down on the ground and thinking of how small they were. Then, best of all, the pilot gave me a chance to fly the aircraft. How awesome that felt! It was an experience I hope I won't soon forget.
...down in North Carolina for vacation. My dad and I went to Ocean Isle Beach Airport (60J) while we were there to check out some of the aircraft. They had mostly single-engine aircraft, but the second time we went down someone had flown in a beautiful Beechcraft twin-engine taildragger. I think it's called an E18, or Super 18, I don't know. What I do know was that it was a gourgeous machine. Fresh paint job, polished chrome, just glistening in the sunlight. It was such a beautiful moment, just standing there and taking it all in. I wish I didn't have to leave, but maybe I'll be able to come back to NC when I get my Private Pilot and see that plane again. :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on May 04, 2006, 11:17:14 PM
Great Story, man!
Keep 'em coming you guys!!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on May 05, 2006, 04:12:25 AM
So... there I was on my way home after another lesson towards my Instrument rating.... and on my way out of the airport, what do I see parked on the ramp for the parallel runway? Yep... my eyes didn't decieve me... it was a Ford Tri-Motor! In fact, it was the EAA's Ford Tri-Motor on a tour of different parts of the country! This was last summer, and it was pure luck for me! They had taken the plane to Creve Coeur Airport originally, but didn't get much of a crowd. So, they flew it over to Spirit of St. Louis (KSUS), where I fly out of, to try to get more traffic with people wanting a peek inside, or going up for a ride.
Well, I love aircraft new and old, so I was fascinated with this rare opportunity to see such a classic up close. I immediately pulled into the parking area near the rampway, and went up to see what was going on. I got the chance to speak to the pilot of the plane, a commercial pilot who normally flew Airbus A-330's, and in his off time volunteers to fly for EAA. I've been up to Oshkosh. Wisconsin before when I was with Civil Air Patrol, but never got the chance to get into their hangars or museums when I was up there since it was during the fly-in each time and we were way too busy. So this was even more exciting as a result.
The pilot informed me that they were taking people up for rides, and would I like to go along. One millisecond later my decision was made, and I think I answered just as fast as that too! I was surprised even more when I was told that because I was a pilot, and the pilot of the plane got to know me a little by then, he asked if I would like to fly right-seat with him for the ride! Ok... it was not quite as long as a full millisecond for THAT answer to come out of my mouth with a resounding, wide-smiled, emphatic YES!
The day was CAVU (clear and visibility unlimited), with light southerly winds. Here I was, boarding this plane built so long ago... long before I was born, yet it still had the majesty and strength about it as if it had just rolled off of the assembly line. The three huge radial engines, corrigated steel skin panels, and boxy taildragger design the signature of this bird that was the very first commercial passenger aircraft to be used widely in the early days of commercial aviation. As I enter the cabin from the rear entry door, you are struck by the fact that the appointments of the plane are rather nice inside, with real leather seats, and polished wood panel trim. Walking uphill to the front of the plane I am confronted with an instrument panel that I did not expect. This is a multi-engine plane, yet the panel has basic instrumentation for only the front engine. Mixture controls in the center of the front panel for each engine and throttles for each engine the only evidence that this plane is equipped with two more on the pylons from the wings. I sit down, and put on the headset, connected to a modern radio that is oddly out of place suddenly. I also see the handheld GPS unit on a mounting bracket velcroed to the area near the left seat. The control wheels are wheel shaped, not "W" yokes, nor bowties as on other aircraft.
I look over at the pilot as he takes his place in the left seat, giving him my "thumbs up" that signals I'm buckled in and headset prepped. I was too excited to say anything else at that point, but that soon faded as he strapped in and started each of the massive engines. A powerful throb and hum now enveloped the plane as I felt the rudder pedals and yoke move during his checkout. I remained silent, but observant... not wanting to miss a thing as he started us taxing out to take off at 8R. The preflight runup was brief, about the same as one might expect in a regular GA aircraft. Then the tower calls, letting us know we are cleared for takeoff. The pilot advances the throttles, and we start running down the runway. It seemed like only seconds, and the airspeed was up at 60 KIAS... the tail rose, bringing the horizon into full normal perspective again. By 70 KIAS we are up and airborne! Climbout at 75 KIAS and then leveling off to fly at the plane's top speed of around 94 KIAS! He looks over at me and says "Any questions?" I think... "any questions? about a million of them!", but I settle on just a few as I first point to the panel and ask him about the lack of other engine instruments. He smiles and says, "Look at the landing gear pylons". As I look out and see the pylon on my right, I note the RPM, temp, and oil pressure gauges mounted into the side of the skin there. The landing gear pylons also support the outboard engines. "It behooves you to have a flashlight at night so you can check them!", he says to me over the intercom. I'm astounded both at the elegance of the solution, and the impracticality at the same time, but knowing that I'm spoiled with today's technology, I find the charm of the unique solution, and nod... then shake my head in awe of the way the engineers solved that issue back then.
As we make our first turn to the south after takeoff, he looks at me and says, "Wanna fly her?" Ok... I was not expecting this treat at all, but I eagerly did so, taking the heavy control wheel yoke in hand, and feeling the power, and lumbering aspect of this bird. "Make some turns if you like.", he tells me. Well, not needing much prompting at this point, I try a turn to the right to keep us in the airport area. The plane takes a bit of input, heavy on the controls to make even a 45 degree turn, much less a 90 degree one, the plane "thinks" about compliance, but then does so with grace, easing into the turn on the downwind leg of the pattern. "What's the top speed?", I ask, seeing the airspeed guage reading about 92 KIAS after my turn. "You're at about it!", he says to me with a smile. "She's not fast, but she's reliable!", he says. It takes a while to make our way down the leg of the pattern, as the pattern was held wide, and a few more turns also ensued (with the tower's co-operation). Finally, he takes the controls to make the base leg and final approach. The plane lumbers into the turns, behaving herself gracefully, though requiring a heavy hand. As we land, the tail settles, and swings behind and to my right as we turn off. My first time in both a mult-engine cockpit AND a taildragger, and I was lucky enough to have it be in this bird! As we taxi off, and I reluctantly get out, I spend the next 20 minutes talking to the pilot again, this time getting more details about the plane, having more of a basis to ask better questions now. The pilot then asks me for my logbook. In it he makes a new column "SIC" (Second In Command), and enters the time I flew... .2 hours, multi-engine, taildragger, SEC, Ford Tri-Motor!
One of the best experiences and proudest log entries I have since getting my license.
Just thought I'd pass it along :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: fireflyr on May 05, 2006, 08:28:49 AM
Nice story Ted, thanks for sharing it with us. That is a log book entry equaled by VERY few (I know I ain't no Tri-Motor time). |:)\
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Frank N. O. on May 05, 2006, 11:15:04 AM
Wow, one story better than the next, you guys are really some fortunate people! And you both write the stories so I almost feel like I was there! |:)\
Frank
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on May 05, 2006, 02:20:53 PM
Thanks! I've been short on time lately, so I've been monitoring the forum, but haven't had a chance to write much.
I've got a few other experiences I'll relate as time permits too :)
Glad you guys liked it :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Plthijnx on May 05, 2006, 03:09:34 PM
yeah, Ted, outstanding story and experience!! you're very lucky!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Mike on May 05, 2006, 05:47:51 PM
Wow, cool!
We could have used that story for the "True Pilot Stories" book. . .
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on May 05, 2006, 05:59:21 PM
Thanks again :)
If you want to use it in the future, feel free :)
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Zaffex on May 06, 2006, 12:34:22 AM
Very awe-some story Ted! Makes me wish so bad that I was there. I regret that I missed a chance to fly in the very plane you speak of. Guess I had a problem with having to be somewhere else for some reason or another. :( If they ever come back to the area, your story has convinced me that that would be an opportunity that I wouldn't want to miss again!
Title: Re: So, there I was....
Post by: Ted_Stryker on May 06, 2006, 11:11:31 AM
Very awe-some story Ted! Makes me wish so bad that I was there. I regret that I missed a chance to fly in the very plane you speak of. Guess I had a problem with having to be somewhere else for some reason or another. :( If they ever come back to the area, your story has convinced me that that would be an opportunity that I wouldn't want to miss again!
Well, if you get the chance to go up to Oshkosh, the plane is there when it's not on tour. It's the same Ford Tri-Motor that was on the cover of Flying Magazine about six months ago. Silver, with blue trim. It's worth the price of the ride and then some! :)
