GA Stuff, Owned a 182 for a while, then a SR-22 (Screaming pile of **** that one is) Now I have a DA-42.

Have a bunch of time in KingAirs, a Commander 980, Various Citations, a few round motor planes and some Helicopter time

Private Pilot, 200+ hours in a Cessna 172 skyhawk. I've owned and driven corvettes before switching to the 550SL.

Hi everyone. The only things that existed to me when I was younger were, airplanes, motorcycles and cars....and really not much has changed since. I started flying when I was 17 (almost 12 yrs ago), got my PPL, MEL, Mulit. Instrument, Multi. Comm., ASEL, CFII, and then CFI....in that order. I did the whole flight instruction thing for 1.5 yrs in SoCal but the whole qualifying for food stamp thing really took a toll on me. After about 1000 hrs of manned flight time I took a step over to the dark side. Now I "fly" unmanned aerial vehicles for a company that works with government contracts...Can't really say which UAV but it's pretty awesome. I am currently on a deployment in Iraq, been here for about 5 months flying every-single-day....approx hours from this 1 deployment: 820 hrs :eek:

^^ Nice, I'm sure the pay is much better than CFI as well. Serious question, not trying to be flippant here, but are you able to log UAV time like normal PIC flight time?

Haha, the pay is basically the only reason I transitioned to this job, but I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would....except this whole being deployed thing kinda blows. Unfortunately I can't log this flight time, it's completely useless outside of our company. However I do believe that sometime in the near future the FAA will recognize this flight time, at least I'm hoping they will.

Here are some shots of what I did this last weekend, taken by some professional aviation photographers who came and chatted us up at the FBO while we were getting dressed to go fly. I'm flying "266", making some noise leaving Long Beach on sat afternoon. It was cool to see all the traffic pulled off to the side of a nearby freeway exit to watch us take off :y
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/...3d7c421b_b.jpg
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Wow! pretty cool just happened to find an aviation section on here! I'm new to this forum and find that the posts people leave on here is amazing! People helping people and that what this is all about. Anyway regarding aviation, I'm 29 years old always fascinated about becoming a pilot and with the current economic cards that I'm dealt with I'm looking to joining the navy to hopefully work or be around airplanes! You guys that are on here, I just want to say that those who are pilots are the luckiest and the most respected human beings on this earth! Anyway to expand this section would be great. Any pilots who would like to express their comments or give me some advice please email me at rmbrstrnl@yahoo.com and I thank you.

What kind of advice are you looking for? Glad to throw out some pointers if you can be more specific. Keep in mind that people who really think we are cool are mostly little kids and middle aged men, so it normally doesn't really win you any points with the ladies :)

I'm wondering if aviation is worth pursuing thats all. With the new "colgan law" it seems more out of reach.

Worth pusuing? I'd have to say yes, but then again, I guess that is more of a personal question. I never had to work my way through being a CFI, random commercial flying gigs, getting little to no compensation along the way, so I can't really speak to what that is like, and whether it is worth it or not. I'd say that with anything, if you keep your eyes on the prize so to speak, you can get through a lot of crappy times.......that and I'm sure there is a lot of fun to be had in those entry level flying jobs as well, as long as you have an open mind and enjoy flying. The new mins are really not that much greater (1500 vice 1000 right?), so I'd think you could probably make up the difference in a year or two of regular flying with a commercial gig.

LOL -- you just described my 25+ year flying career.
Mike
Commercial / CFI ASMELI
Retired.

PP-SEL for giggles. went to high school looking out the window and day dreaming
as the planes took off/land at Boeing Field/Seattle. got PP rating so I can resolve
my fear of heights. moved to aerobatics. not much time flying now but always
have the aviation freq on in house and car so I can observe traffic around
BFI and KSEA. during the week, i frequently sit in the parking lot at the Museum
of Flight just to hear the drone and roar and watch the planes. one of the best
things in gray Seattle area is the aviation scene. LOVE night flying which turns
every evening to christmas. chicks dig flights on dates, especially when venturing
to nearby San Juan islands for lunch/dinner

Currently B747 Captain for major airline 19,000+ hours

Small world, my flight school is based out of the fbo you guys were parked at. I was in the run up area of 25L when you boys came in. It was pretty cool to watch.

Nice, we probably sounded pretty funny over twr/gnd......both of our jets had been suffering radio issues, so I was making calls for my flight lead, and then when we got on deck, the problem reversed and nobody could hear the gnd controller very well......so lots of confusion on the taxi to the ramp

I am a jet engine mechanic. I have worked on the F-14, E-2 and currently the P-3c.

My dad flew P51 Mustangs then F85 before going into farming.

Brother did his AME, worked on larger jets then switched to petroleum land man.

Buddy is captain on 777 - said he is mainly a system operator, programming them etc.

Former GFs dad owns an oil patch charter co with about 15 planes - mostly larger twin turbo props for hauling people out to remote mining and oil sites with dedicated strips.

I worked FT at an Aerospace Museum for a couple years on the complete strip down and cosmetic restoration of a Super Marine Spitfire and a Hawker Sea Fury. Worked beside an 85 year old British guy with more energy than most 20 years olds - he was the sheet metal specialist - used to work for Rolls Royce before alum aircraft came in. Had a great time - learned lots.

Lots of passenger time in helicopters in the Canadian Rockies looking for oil - mainly A-Star, clapped out UH-1s (hauled the portable rigs and all other gear / supplies around the mountains + people), Bell 206. All transport done by helo.

This was a complete blast - landing pads were cut out of the forest and the pads themselves were the trimmed trees - always on a slope. tricky landing and take offs. Great experiences flying around the mountains in the middle of nowhere, some times chasing bears away from the ground workers and skinning over rivers in tight ravines. Great Pilots!!

Helicopter is the best way to go to work!

Countless passenger hours in 330s, 777s - love the 777 - most pleasant aircraft for long haul by far but I have not been in 380 yet. The rougher the turbulence the more fun and I love stormy landings. Especially watching the wings flex and feeling the aircraft moving about seconds away from landing!

More interested in the technical aspects / machinery than the flying itself.

Gas turbine tech, Rolla-Royce 250 , CF6, CFM

Repair Manager for a Hydraulic,Pneumatic and Electro-Machanical repair station here in Miami - FAA/EASA/DGCA I've been in avaition since 1995 and my father was AirFroce for 24 years... so pretty much my entire life has been around aircarft military and civil

Aviation Machinist's Mate (AD) USN 1996-2000
Worked on Sea Kings, Sea Knights, Sea Dragons and E-2 Hawkeye engines in Norfolk VA

Just noticed this section. FAA controller in the terminal environment. I work tower and approach control. I was USAF 1993-1998.

I started out my flying career at KEUG......have always thought it would be a relatively sentimental event to check in w/ Cascade app, just haven't gotten the chance to make the ccx happen yet. When I do, I'll be asking for the overhead/break :)

Sweet, small world! How long ago was that? Did you go through the LCC program? We do see F-18s a few times a year for whatever reason, they usually stay a night or two..? Mainly as far as military we get a few F-15s from PDX and tons of P3s and some A6s out of NAS Whidbey. If you are ever in the area and want to take a tour let me know! :y

I was indeed in the LCC program.....'01-'02, then went up the road to OSU and the rest is history. I know we sent a roadshow of 4 jets up through there a few weeks back, but I think they RON'd in PDX. Sounds like the usual suspects haven't changed much, though I'd guess you probably are starting to see Growlers/EA-18's nowadays shooting practice approaches.

Really cool that you started there and now fly the F-18! They'd probaly like to have your story on their website. If you come through EUG again let me know, I'll come down to the ramp and say hi, maybe even go for a ride! :naughty: