BravoHotel
Well-Known Member
Jumped out of one, 290 times and still have everything intact.
What's the coolest thing you've done in an airplane?
- Thread starter atracnitrix
- Start date
jrh
Well-Known Member
I've had so much mind-blowing fun, I don't even know where to start. I've got the same love as rframe and TwoTwoLeft for old school general aviation. Criss-crossed the country more times than I can remember in piston singles, and all the adventure such trips include. Taught a lot of people how to fly. Scared myself flying into terrain and weather my C-140 wasn't really built to handle. Gone to plenty of pancake breakfasts and fly-ins, including Oshkosh AirVenture several times. Taken more friends than I can count for rides. Learned the fundamentals of aerobatics in a Citabria. Picked up a couple airplanes from the factory...what a neat feeling to be flying a plane with only a couple hours on the hobbs meter, knowing it will probably be around for decades to come, giving other pilots those same amazing memories I've had.
When I was doing the airline thing, I got to fly many soldiers out on the first leg of their deployments, as well as bring many of them home at the end of their deployments. That was pretty cool. I'll also never forget the jumpseating experiences. Riding in the second jumpseat of a 757, watching the crew fly an absolutely beautiful visual approach into Chicago O'hare at sunset is a magnificent sight.
And like Hawks, I've jumped out of all sorts of airplanes all over the country. Leaving a Twin Otter over the beautiful scenery of southern California is nice, but it's hard to beat stepping out of an old 182 over the plains of Nebraska with a couple friends flying right next to you.
Yes. Flying is freakin' amazing.
When I was doing the airline thing, I got to fly many soldiers out on the first leg of their deployments, as well as bring many of them home at the end of their deployments. That was pretty cool. I'll also never forget the jumpseating experiences. Riding in the second jumpseat of a 757, watching the crew fly an absolutely beautiful visual approach into Chicago O'hare at sunset is a magnificent sight.
And like Hawks, I've jumped out of all sorts of airplanes all over the country. Leaving a Twin Otter over the beautiful scenery of southern California is nice, but it's hard to beat stepping out of an old 182 over the plains of Nebraska with a couple friends flying right next to you.
Yes. Flying is freakin' amazing.
cmhumphr
Well-Known Member
So that's why pilots get excited for maintenance ferry flights?
Stomp16
You mean Shennanigans?!?!
Mine was actually the completion of a trip yesterday. I started off Monday night in KC and took a short trip down to Fayettville to overnight and pick up the other pilot. We then headed off and made it to Ft. Lauderdale by Tuesday night. The next morning we left for Exuma, Bahamas and then made it to Provo, Turks and Caicos for an overnight and an outstanding resort. Then, yesterday morning we left Provo and shot down toward the Dominican Republic (coastline is gorgeous) and then over to San Juan. 2000NM in 3 days in a 206 through some beautiful scenery while getting paid. Learning the way GA works in other parts of the world was an experience and it makes you grateful for the ease of use inside the states. It was an unforgettable trip and one that might never be repeated.
Autothrust Blue
”…trusting ze process…”
First time I flew inverted.
"The world makes much more sense this way."
"The world makes much more sense this way."
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
Boarded. Had a beer. Took off. Watched a movie. Had a steak dinner. Drank my body weight in wine. Went to sleep. Woke up in Munich/Tokyo/Prague/Amsterdam/Etc
HerrGruyere
Well-Known Member
So far, the coolest thing I've done was my long XC for my PPL. It's really more of a memory than anything cool. But, it's special to me. It just made me realize that with some hard work and determination plus some skill, I can use my tools to take me where I want to go. I have a framed picture I took out the window the day of my long XC. It hangs in my man room.
fish314
Well-Known Member
Too many to choose from!
Some of the top ones:
1. Aerobatics, formation, and aerobatics in formation (though it was like 500' loose formation when we went over the top).
2. Jumped out of one (Me and Rocketman99 went to a place in alaska that offered tandem).
3. Aerial refueling … but only as the tanker.
4. Watching aerial refueling from the receiver position as an extra crew member in the jump seat.
5. BFM in an F-15 (I was on an incentive ride in the back seat).
6. Taking a Cessna 172RG 300+ miles over water to an island destination (in JAPAN!! With Rocketman99)
7. Wing landings… through actual IMC to < 500' ceiling.
8. Getting to fire the .50 cal out the side of a Pave Hawk helicopter (another incentive ride).
9. Solo'ing my first student.
10. Solo'ing my first student on the wing.
11. 1st Air refueling of the 1st bombers on the no kidding 1st night of the war… and the first A/R of their world record 44+ hour combat flight (Oct, 2001).
12. 2 aileron rolls in <1 second in a T-38 (another incentive ride)…. and a 10,000' loop.
13. Flew an ultralight at EXTREMELY low level over a lake… (took my foot off the rudder pedal and dipped a toe in the lake).
Some still on the bucket list:
1. Break Mach 1 (Unfortunately, don't think I'll ever actually get the chance to do that one).
2. Fly, hover, and land a helicopter.
3. Fly the air refueling as the receiver… especially in a heavy or in a probe equipped airplane.
4. Fly over a pole… (North Pole, South Pole, doesn't matter… just not "telephone pole" or "guy named 'Wojokowski' ").
5. Circumnavigate the globe on 1 trip. (I've hit every longitude, but not on the same trip and not all in one direction).
6. SPACEFLIGHT!!!! (Yeah.. again, not going to happen, probably).
Some of the top ones:
1. Aerobatics, formation, and aerobatics in formation (though it was like 500' loose formation when we went over the top).
2. Jumped out of one (Me and Rocketman99 went to a place in alaska that offered tandem).
3. Aerial refueling … but only as the tanker.
4. Watching aerial refueling from the receiver position as an extra crew member in the jump seat.
5. BFM in an F-15 (I was on an incentive ride in the back seat).
6. Taking a Cessna 172RG 300+ miles over water to an island destination (in JAPAN!! With Rocketman99)
7. Wing landings… through actual IMC to < 500' ceiling.
8. Getting to fire the .50 cal out the side of a Pave Hawk helicopter (another incentive ride).
9. Solo'ing my first student.
10. Solo'ing my first student on the wing.
11. 1st Air refueling of the 1st bombers on the no kidding 1st night of the war… and the first A/R of their world record 44+ hour combat flight (Oct, 2001).
12. 2 aileron rolls in <1 second in a T-38 (another incentive ride)…. and a 10,000' loop.
13. Flew an ultralight at EXTREMELY low level over a lake… (took my foot off the rudder pedal and dipped a toe in the lake).
Some still on the bucket list:
1. Break Mach 1 (Unfortunately, don't think I'll ever actually get the chance to do that one).
2. Fly, hover, and land a helicopter.
3. Fly the air refueling as the receiver… especially in a heavy or in a probe equipped airplane.
4. Fly over a pole… (North Pole, South Pole, doesn't matter… just not "telephone pole" or "guy named 'Wojokowski' ").
5. Circumnavigate the globe on 1 trip. (I've hit every longitude, but not on the same trip and not all in one direction).
6. SPACEFLIGHT!!!! (Yeah.. again, not going to happen, probably).
ozziecat35
4 out of 5 great lakes prefer Michigan.
So far for me getting to take friends or family. Seeing their view of me shift when I get to go into pilot mode is always cool.
TwoTwoLeft
o- - - - - - -l
Honestly, I really don't where I would start. It's so much more than just one particular flight. Flying has been a blast. I hardly remember my first solo, as weird as that sounds. There are a few flights that stand out in my mind over all the others though.
-Flew from CA to SD with my dad to go pheasant hunting. My first REAL XC where I did all the planning.
-Fly in camping trips
-My first coast-to-coast ferry flight in a small plane during winter
-First Tailwheel flight with my dad
-Any flight with a student's first time flying inverted
-First time going +7/-6
-Any Spin endorsement for a CFI applicant
-First inverted spin in an open cockpit
-Flying through pea-sized hail in an open cockpit... Ouch
-Any flight in the Great Lakes
-Any back country flying
-Teaching a primary student in a Scout out of his own 800ft gravel strip
-Any flight up the Owens Valley at night
-First time flying aerobatics in a Stearman
-Playing jump pilot for my skydiving friends at the airport
-First Aerobatic contest flight
-First contest win and Grassroots award in the Great Lakes
-First Airshow in the Great lakes and every practice and evaluation flight that lead to that
-ATP Checkride in my Dads B95. It was my goal to do that before he sold it. I had been riding in the back of that airplane since I was 5 and started flying it as soon as I could reach the pedals.
-Last flight in the Travelair with my dad the evening before he sold it.
-Spread my Girlfriend's grandfathers ashes with her
-Flown in several cross formations for memorials of friends
-I accidentally killed a goat with a C150...
-Flew a launch azimuth survey for an Atlas V launch
-Landing on the Channel Islands
-Saw a Fin whale take a huge dump
-Any island survey
-The last aerobatic flight. I went almost 3 months, never again.
-Any solo evening flight at home, just for fun.
It really has been a good time so far. I've just been really fortunate to be able to sit in a airplane on numerous occasions and say, "Wow, this is really cool."
-Flew from CA to SD with my dad to go pheasant hunting. My first REAL XC where I did all the planning.
-Fly in camping trips
-My first coast-to-coast ferry flight in a small plane during winter
-First Tailwheel flight with my dad
-Any flight with a student's first time flying inverted
-First time going +7/-6
-Any Spin endorsement for a CFI applicant
-First inverted spin in an open cockpit
-Flying through pea-sized hail in an open cockpit... Ouch
-Any flight in the Great Lakes
-Any back country flying
-Teaching a primary student in a Scout out of his own 800ft gravel strip
-Any flight up the Owens Valley at night
-First time flying aerobatics in a Stearman
-Playing jump pilot for my skydiving friends at the airport
-First Aerobatic contest flight
-First contest win and Grassroots award in the Great Lakes
-First Airshow in the Great lakes and every practice and evaluation flight that lead to that
-ATP Checkride in my Dads B95. It was my goal to do that before he sold it. I had been riding in the back of that airplane since I was 5 and started flying it as soon as I could reach the pedals.
-Last flight in the Travelair with my dad the evening before he sold it.
-Spread my Girlfriend's grandfathers ashes with her
-Flown in several cross formations for memorials of friends
-I accidentally killed a goat with a C150...
-Flew a launch azimuth survey for an Atlas V launch
-Landing on the Channel Islands
-Saw a Fin whale take a huge dump
-Any island survey
-The last aerobatic flight. I went almost 3 months, never again.
-Any solo evening flight at home, just for fun.
It really has been a good time so far. I've just been really fortunate to be able to sit in a airplane on numerous occasions and say, "Wow, this is really cool."
Here too. Sometimes with the assistance of the local cuisine or a stew that doesn't practice good hand sanitizing.
