Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Do We Have Any Aviation Fanatics Here?

Do We Have Any Aviation Fanatics Here?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
questiongraphicsdiscussioncareer
59 Posts 25 Posters 1 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • S Steve Raw

    I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

    P Offline
    P Offline
    PJ Arends
    wrote on last edited by
    #30

    My favourite part of flying is when the plane stops at the terminal and I can get off.

    Within you lies the power for good - Use it!

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • S Steve Raw

      I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

      K Offline
      K Offline
      kmoorevs
      wrote on last edited by
      #31

      Some of my earliest memories are of my Grandfather taking my brother and I for ice cream near the Memphis airport so we could watch the planes takeoff and land. :) His love for aviation stemmed from over 20 years overseeing the maintenance shops at Warner Robins AFB, GA. Many years later, after his retirement, he would take us to the regional air shows. Great times! :) One of his favorite stories was about going down to a local garage owned by one of his friends. When he walked up, he saw two feet sticking out from under a Caddy. Assuming it was his friend the mechanic, he lightly kicked them to get his attention. 'Hey Red, it's Jack...' The guy rolled out, stuck out his hand and said 'Paul Tibbets. Nice to meet you Jack.'

      "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"

      S 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • S Steve Raw

        I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

        J Offline
        J Offline
        jochance
        wrote on last edited by
        #32

        I think I heard a comedian put it best... I love flying, but I'm the sort of person who forgets their car keys. This makes me the sort of person you don't want flying a plane. If I had way more disposable income/time I would near definitely try to get a license anyway though. I've thought about an ultra-light... Basically a go-cart with a parachute and a really huge fan. You can fly those here without licensure. I got into R/C flight back when batteries/electric were a fringe cutting edge thing and everything was still this sort of special diesel. The electric stuff is just way easier to deal with now and I'd guess more popular (have not done for awhile). A 1/6th scale B-52 with all the engines going on diesel is just an awesome thing to behold. The bigger draw for me there is maybe the overlap with history buffs and the folks into it tend to be much older. I tend to get on better with folks who have some years on me.

        S 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • M Member 16128696

          To run flight sim you need a PC with a bit of grunt and a decent graphics card such as the Nvidia RTX series that supports multiple monitors. On a flight sim I was roped in to assist on the owner had built a cockpit simulation and with all the switches and controls hooked into a USB joystick interface with simple push in wire connectors for the necessary buttons, potentiometers, sensors, rotary encoders and switches. An excellent set-up but a lot of work and all enhanced with terrific sound card and speakers to add to the realism. I have just purchased a Meta Quest 3 to see what it is like on my son's sim, I reckon that will add an extra dimension to things.

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Steve Raw
          wrote on last edited by
          #33

          Member 16128696 wrote:

          a decent graphics card such as the Nvidia RTX series

          I'm thinking the next laptop I get will be a gaming laptop. I used to have an ASUS gaming laptop and it was great for using 3D Studio and Maya.

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • M Member 16128696

            Here in the UK we have an aviation charity called Aerobility it's main intention is to get the disabled into the air and behind the controls of an aircraft. My wife and I do our best to put our twin adult disabled sons into the air with them once a month. One of the son's flies a Piper "PA-28 Warrior" and the other a "Grob109B" Touring Motor Glider. The lads have almost no functionallity in their hands and forearms so the instructors (amazing folks) assist but only where necessary. What an fantastic therapy, they land and life has been different for a while. The sparkle in their eyes says it all, muscular dystrophy and all the baggage that goes with it is forgotton about for that joyful hour. It is not as expensive as flying for the able bodied but still hurts the wallet but our philosophy is to make every day count, you can't take it with you!

            S Offline
            S Offline
            Steve Raw
            wrote on last edited by
            #34

            Member 16128696 wrote:

            aviation charity called Aerobility it's main intention is to get the disabled into the air and behind the controls of an aircraft.

            I know of a girl who earned her pilot's license using only her feet. She was born without arms, but she does just fine. It's remarkable to watch her at the controls. I wonder, do we have a charity in the US like the one you mentioned?

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • L Lost User

              For a long time I wanted to learn to fly but for many reasons (lack of funds mainly) I never managed it. I did have a sample lesson for my 70th birthday, but again, I couldn't justify the expenditure to go further.

              S Offline
              S Offline
              Steve Raw
              wrote on last edited by
              #35

              Richard MacCutchan wrote:

              (lack of funds mainly)

              You're not alone in that.

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • G GuyThiebaut

                I was a big fan of aviation in my teens up to my mid 30s. I did 3 static line parachute jumps in my teens and later a glider flight as well as started flying lessons stopping when it became obvious how expensive it would be to maintain a license. So I channeled my enthusiasm into hundreds of hours in flightsims, the 747 being my favourite aircraft to fly with the Kai Tak approach (PMDG 747). One of the first projects I set myself in .NET back in around 2006 was to write a voice recognition application so that I could give commands to a virtual co-pilot to lower the landing gear, flaps etc.

                “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

                ― Christopher Hitchens

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Steve Raw
                wrote on last edited by
                #36

                GuyThiebaut wrote:

                747 being my favourite aircraft to fly with the Kai Tak approach (PMDG 747).

                That would keep me busy for hours!

                GuyThiebaut wrote:

                One of the first projects I set myself in .NET back in around 2006 was to write a voice recognition application so that I could give commands to a virtual co-pilot to lower the landing gear, flaps etc.

                How did the project go? Did you use machine learning? I've always wanted to be able to communicate with ATC verbally in flight sims. With all the progress in AI, that's now possible.

                G 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • S Steve Raw

                  GuyThiebaut wrote:

                  747 being my favourite aircraft to fly with the Kai Tak approach (PMDG 747).

                  That would keep me busy for hours!

                  GuyThiebaut wrote:

                  One of the first projects I set myself in .NET back in around 2006 was to write a voice recognition application so that I could give commands to a virtual co-pilot to lower the landing gear, flaps etc.

                  How did the project go? Did you use machine learning? I've always wanted to be able to communicate with ATC verbally in flight sims. With all the progress in AI, that's now possible.

                  G Offline
                  G Offline
                  GuyThiebaut
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #37

                  The voice recognition app went really well with lots of extra stuff in it including the app speaking back confirming the command to be executed(the confirmation could be customised) and the ability to ask what the status of various systems was such as asking "Landing gear status?" and application speaking back "Landing gear is down." It was a while back but I didn't use AI, I used a standard .NET voice recognition and speech module which could be taught independently. You could also tie the mic to a button on the joystick for PTT, so that while the button was pressed the app would listen to the command being given - for extra geekiness I also got the app to beep with the Apollo beep after the PTT button was released. I should did it out again at some point although it was written in VB.NET(so I might consider rewriting it in C#) as I was very new to .NET at that point.

                  “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

                  ― Christopher Hitchens

                  S 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • K kmoorevs

                    Some of my earliest memories are of my Grandfather taking my brother and I for ice cream near the Memphis airport so we could watch the planes takeoff and land. :) His love for aviation stemmed from over 20 years overseeing the maintenance shops at Warner Robins AFB, GA. Many years later, after his retirement, he would take us to the regional air shows. Great times! :) One of his favorite stories was about going down to a local garage owned by one of his friends. When he walked up, he saw two feet sticking out from under a Caddy. Assuming it was his friend the mechanic, he lightly kicked them to get his attention. 'Hey Red, it's Jack...' The guy rolled out, stuck out his hand and said 'Paul Tibbets. Nice to meet you Jack.'

                    "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Steve Raw
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #38

                    kmoorevs wrote:

                    One of his favorite stories was about going down to a local garage owned by one of his friends. When he walked up, he saw two feet sticking out from under a Caddy. Assuming it was his friend the mechanic, he lightly kicked them to get his attention. 'Hey Red, it's Jack...' The guy rolled out, stuck out his hand and said 'Paul Tibbets. Nice to meet you Jack.'

                    Seriously? That's a story I'd like to hear. How did your grandfather react upon meeting Paul Tibbets?

                    K 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • J jochance

                      I think I heard a comedian put it best... I love flying, but I'm the sort of person who forgets their car keys. This makes me the sort of person you don't want flying a plane. If I had way more disposable income/time I would near definitely try to get a license anyway though. I've thought about an ultra-light... Basically a go-cart with a parachute and a really huge fan. You can fly those here without licensure. I got into R/C flight back when batteries/electric were a fringe cutting edge thing and everything was still this sort of special diesel. The electric stuff is just way easier to deal with now and I'd guess more popular (have not done for awhile). A 1/6th scale B-52 with all the engines going on diesel is just an awesome thing to behold. The bigger draw for me there is maybe the overlap with history buffs and the folks into it tend to be much older. I tend to get on better with folks who have some years on me.

                      S Offline
                      S Offline
                      Steve Raw
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #39

                      jochance wrote:

                      I've thought about an ultra-light... Basically a go-cart with a parachute and a really huge fan. You can fly those here without licensure.

                      Ultra-lights are my favorite aircraft to fly. It's more of a pure flying experience. You get the wind on your face, you don't need to use a radio, or a transponder. It's that freedom that I absolutely love. It's a lot like the experience of riding a motorcycle, whereas flying a single-engine Cessna is more akin to driving a car.

                      jochance wrote:

                      I got into R/C flight back when batteries/electric were a fringe cutting edge thing and everything was still this sort of special diesel. The electric stuff is just way easier to deal with now and I'd guess more popular (have not done for awhile). A 1/6th scale B-52 with all the engines going on diesel is just an awesome thing to behold.

                      That's something I'd like to see. I built a model glider once. The nail of the glider was "Gentle Lady". I really enjoyed the building process. It was simple. All you needed was a two-channel radio to control the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Beyond that, it was about finding the thermals. You could fly it wherever you wanted to. Just choose a mountain. There is no need for dealing with gas engines or bulky batteries. 4 AA batteries were all that was needed to operate the two servos. The only sound you would hear is the wind flowing through the evergreen trees. It makes for great therapy, especially if you can't afford the therapist. :thumbsup:

                      K 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • G GuyThiebaut

                        The voice recognition app went really well with lots of extra stuff in it including the app speaking back confirming the command to be executed(the confirmation could be customised) and the ability to ask what the status of various systems was such as asking "Landing gear status?" and application speaking back "Landing gear is down." It was a while back but I didn't use AI, I used a standard .NET voice recognition and speech module which could be taught independently. You could also tie the mic to a button on the joystick for PTT, so that while the button was pressed the app would listen to the command being given - for extra geekiness I also got the app to beep with the Apollo beep after the PTT button was released. I should did it out again at some point although it was written in VB.NET(so I might consider rewriting it in C#) as I was very new to .NET at that point.

                        “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

                        ― Christopher Hitchens

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        Steve Raw
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #40

                        GuyThiebaut wrote:

                        The voice recognition app went really well with lots of extra stuff in it including the app speaking back confirming the command to be executed(the confirmation could be customised) and the ability to ask what the status of various systems was such as asking "Landing gear status?" and application speaking back "Landing gear is down."

                        That is so cool. :)

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • S Steve Raw

                          kmoorevs wrote:

                          One of his favorite stories was about going down to a local garage owned by one of his friends. When he walked up, he saw two feet sticking out from under a Caddy. Assuming it was his friend the mechanic, he lightly kicked them to get his attention. 'Hey Red, it's Jack...' The guy rolled out, stuck out his hand and said 'Paul Tibbets. Nice to meet you Jack.'

                          Seriously? That's a story I'd like to hear. How did your grandfather react upon meeting Paul Tibbets?

                          K Offline
                          K Offline
                          kmoorevs
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #41

                          From my best recollection, he was shocked and somewhat embarrassed...then quickly relieved with the handshake and laugh of a true gentleman. :laugh:

                          "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • S Steve Raw

                            jochance wrote:

                            I've thought about an ultra-light... Basically a go-cart with a parachute and a really huge fan. You can fly those here without licensure.

                            Ultra-lights are my favorite aircraft to fly. It's more of a pure flying experience. You get the wind on your face, you don't need to use a radio, or a transponder. It's that freedom that I absolutely love. It's a lot like the experience of riding a motorcycle, whereas flying a single-engine Cessna is more akin to driving a car.

                            jochance wrote:

                            I got into R/C flight back when batteries/electric were a fringe cutting edge thing and everything was still this sort of special diesel. The electric stuff is just way easier to deal with now and I'd guess more popular (have not done for awhile). A 1/6th scale B-52 with all the engines going on diesel is just an awesome thing to behold.

                            That's something I'd like to see. I built a model glider once. The nail of the glider was "Gentle Lady". I really enjoyed the building process. It was simple. All you needed was a two-channel radio to control the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. Beyond that, it was about finding the thermals. You could fly it wherever you wanted to. Just choose a mountain. There is no need for dealing with gas engines or bulky batteries. 4 AA batteries were all that was needed to operate the two servos. The only sound you would hear is the wind flowing through the evergreen trees. It makes for great therapy, especially if you can't afford the therapist. :thumbsup:

                            K Offline
                            K Offline
                            kmoorevs
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #42

                            Sometime in my early teens, I got a little gas-powered plane that was controlled with strings. By the time it ran out of gas, I was so dizzy I couldn't stand! :laugh: Thank gawd it was held together with rubber bands! :) Earlier, you mentioned MS Flight Simulator. I've got a 2010 copy on my bookshelf, and a joystick controller, but haven't played it in over 10 years. My favorite was actually the glider training where the key was to find thermals/updrafts. Occasionally, I'll see hawks here flying circles effortlessly without flapping a wing, going higher and higher, and think about that game. I also have a Meta Quest that's been sitting dormant for over a year. Let us know how that goes.

                            "Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse "Hope is contagious"

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • D Daniel Pfeffer

                              Steve Raw wrote:

                              Aviation Turbine Fuel Eau De Toilette, A Fragrance For Men, by Boeing.

                              With a lid that falls off. :)

                              Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Steve Raw
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #43

                              LMAO! Now THAT was funny!

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • S Steve Raw

                                I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

                                V Offline
                                V Offline
                                VE2
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #44

                                I used to fly years ago. I had my own aircraft, a Piper PA-22 Colt, a high wing two-seater. I flew out of a gravel strip on a farm outside of Montreal. Had a lot of fun and a couple of serious incidents. Now I'm too old (81) but I still enjoy my aviation memories!

                                73

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • S Steve Raw

                                  I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

                                  H Offline
                                  H Offline
                                  Hooga Booga
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #45

                                  For all my life I have loved things that fly. It rubbed off on my son and he is now a bush pilot in the far north of Canada and loving his life.

                                  Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend; inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. -- Groucho Marx

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • S Steve Raw

                                    I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

                                    D Offline
                                    D Offline
                                    DerekT P
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #46

                                    Interested in an enthusiastic amateur way. As a kid (aged 4 or 5) I travelled to Italy (Birmingham -> London -> Milan) a fair bit, and can still remember both the Viscounts on the domestic flights, and the Tridents, Comets and (once, I think) a VC10 on the international leg. Loved flying in the days when you had china crockery, room to stretch out, your own large window. In teens went to Farnborough airshow and various RAF bases, with friends who were in the Air Cadets (couldn't afford to join myself). One of my jobs in my 30s involved a lot of European day trips and several longer trans-Atlantic ones, and on one of these took myself on a jolly around Canada. Air Canada used to do a "freedom of Canada" ticket, valid for unlimited domestic flights over a week - but standby only. So literally hanging around the departure gates hoping there'd be a no-show and hopping on where-ever it was going. Best/riskiest bit was going on the Yellowknife -> Resolute weekly trip on a 50/50 cargo/passenger 737. Only one flight back out each week so there just HAD to be a space on the return. Fortunately there were a few. Also done a couple of gliding trial flights, and some very small aircraft (and helicopter) trips to the Scilly Isles; and also splashed out on a helicopter transfer from Nice when visiting Monaco. I enjoy flying but hate the airport hassle and stress, and also very concerned about the eco impacts of flying. Last trip to Europe was fly out, train back - tbh, the train return was much better, more comfortable, cheaper and only a couple of hours longer. Including an hour in Paris' Gare de Lyon famous "Le train bleu" restaurant. Spend a lot of time reading crash reports and watching videos; fascinated by the investigation process and the way that a tiny error can escalate to major disaster. (This aspect I think grew from a similar fascination with railway accidents and signalling). The one thing I hate about air traffic are the vapour trails, which as far as I'm concerned are a horrific graffiti in the sky. Even at Resolute, and at Nordkapp in Norway, the sky is full of lines scarring the view. Plus as they spread out they form clouds that can obscure half the sky, contributing even further to climate change.

                                    Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT

                                    S 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • S Steve Raw

                                      I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

                                      U Offline
                                      U Offline
                                      User 13413423
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #47

                                      - Wingsuit - lot of fun and cut-aways. - Skydive 30k+ feet with oxygen tank (elephant day) 3x - Jump from the glider (with the pilot obviously) - 4 surgeries 2 screws. They forgot to tighten the 3rd one (loose).

                                      S 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • S Steve Raw

                                        I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do? From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet. We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me. In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating. I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that. I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! :thumbsup: What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?

                                        P Offline
                                        P Offline
                                        playwude
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #48

                                        I caught the flying bug when I was stationed in Germany and got my private pilot's license there and then went together with my dad (a flight instructor) to purchase a used airplane. Now I am trying to build a low-cost avionics network supporting navigation (both GNSS and ground-based), ADS-B and airframe and engine sensors.

                                        S 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • D DerekT P

                                          Interested in an enthusiastic amateur way. As a kid (aged 4 or 5) I travelled to Italy (Birmingham -> London -> Milan) a fair bit, and can still remember both the Viscounts on the domestic flights, and the Tridents, Comets and (once, I think) a VC10 on the international leg. Loved flying in the days when you had china crockery, room to stretch out, your own large window. In teens went to Farnborough airshow and various RAF bases, with friends who were in the Air Cadets (couldn't afford to join myself). One of my jobs in my 30s involved a lot of European day trips and several longer trans-Atlantic ones, and on one of these took myself on a jolly around Canada. Air Canada used to do a "freedom of Canada" ticket, valid for unlimited domestic flights over a week - but standby only. So literally hanging around the departure gates hoping there'd be a no-show and hopping on where-ever it was going. Best/riskiest bit was going on the Yellowknife -> Resolute weekly trip on a 50/50 cargo/passenger 737. Only one flight back out each week so there just HAD to be a space on the return. Fortunately there were a few. Also done a couple of gliding trial flights, and some very small aircraft (and helicopter) trips to the Scilly Isles; and also splashed out on a helicopter transfer from Nice when visiting Monaco. I enjoy flying but hate the airport hassle and stress, and also very concerned about the eco impacts of flying. Last trip to Europe was fly out, train back - tbh, the train return was much better, more comfortable, cheaper and only a couple of hours longer. Including an hour in Paris' Gare de Lyon famous "Le train bleu" restaurant. Spend a lot of time reading crash reports and watching videos; fascinated by the investigation process and the way that a tiny error can escalate to major disaster. (This aspect I think grew from a similar fascination with railway accidents and signalling). The one thing I hate about air traffic are the vapour trails, which as far as I'm concerned are a horrific graffiti in the sky. Even at Resolute, and at Nordkapp in Norway, the sky is full of lines scarring the view. Plus as they spread out they form clouds that can obscure half the sky, contributing even further to climate change.

                                          Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT

                                          S Offline
                                          S Offline
                                          Steve Raw
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #49

                                          DerekT-P wrote:

                                          ook myself on a jolly around Canada. Air Canada used to do a "freedom of Canada" ticket, valid for unlimited domestic flights over a week - but standby only. So literally hanging around the departure gates hoping there'd be a no-show and hopping on where-ever it was going.

                                          Many years ago, I heard about something similar to the "freedom of Canada" ticket. A major airline offered a deal where if you bought a special ticket, you could fly anywhere you want. You had the ability to take as many flights as you wanted to. That one ticket covered the cost of it all. There was a catch, though. You had to travel eastward. This allowed you to travel around the globe for one set price. It was affordable, too. I wonder if any airlines still offer that.

                                          DerekT-P wrote:

                                          Spend a lot of time reading crash reports and watching videos; fascinated by the investigation process and the way that a tiny error can escalate to major disaster.

                                          When I was training to be a pilot, I realized how important it was to study these same things. I figured if you have a comprehensive understanding of what causes a plane to crash, then it helps you to avoid being in one. You know what to look for. In most cases, the chain of events that lead up to a crash are innocuous little things that go unnoticed until it's too late. Little distractions that you'd never think could pose a danger have the potential to lead to huge disasters. The training was more about safety than anything else, and that's how it should be.

                                          DerekT-P wrote:

                                          The one thing I hate about air traffic are the vapour trails, which as far as I'm concerned are a horrific graffiti in the sky. Even at Resolute, and at Nordkapp in Norway, the sky is full of lines scarring the view. Plus as they spread out they form clouds that can obscure half the sky, contributing even further to climate change

                                          When I learned how much fuel airplanes burn through, it was a surprise to me. I don't remember how much fuel you burn just taxiing to the runway, but it's actually a lot. I'm not fan of the pollution either, but without fuel, you're not going anywhere.

                                          DerekT-P wrote:

                                          the vapour trails, which as far as I'm concerned are a horrific graffiti in the sky. Even at Resolute, and at Nordkapp in Norway, the sky is full of lines scarring the view. Plus as they spread out the

                                          M 1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups