Airport Controller Yells 'Hold' at Plane,

[Weiss Pinguin]

I think the keyword on that list is ACCIDENTS. Four planes being hijacked by terrorists and flown into buildings is not an accident.

[SteamWake]

Well my point really was .. here is a story about ground controll saving hundreds of lives and we end up discussing terrorisim.

Just a certain mindset is all.

[HunterICX]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Well my point really was .. here is a story about ground controll saving hundreds of lives and we end up discussing terrorisim.

Just a certain mindset is all.

What else can you expect here on the GT

HunterICX

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Tchocky

Pilots turning right instead of left. Happens more often than you might think.

If I had a dollar for every time I confused right downwind with left downwind I would have exactly 1 dollar and that is 1 dollar too much!!

The most dangerous thing in the air is a solo student pilot.

There I was, no shi... uh this really happened to me.

Back in nineteen ought eighty-six, I was the aforementioned hazard to aerial navigation.

At our airport we almost always entered a left downwind for a landing (runway 30 was the "default" runway) when entering from the West. Well the wind changed and the pattern changed to Right downwind on the opposite runway.

The tower clearly told me to enter right downwind for 12 and I entered a perfect left downwind for 30 (Fortunately it was the weekend and no traffic at this time). I was actually proud of how smooth my entry was. What a good pilot I was turning out to be!

The tower operator, always the professional, simply asked me to confirm that I was in a right downwind for 12 (when clearly I wasn't. Duh, I was heading in the opposite direction!)

My first reaction, being a stupid student pilot was: of course I am. I know right from left. Does this guy think I am stupid? I can clearly see the runway out my left windo.... hmmm OMG!

"Offutt Tower, Tomahawk 2930B, my apologies, Making right 180 to enter right downwind for runway 12"

What really hurt was the tower's response

"2930B, thank you" That's all they said. I was so embarrassed. And lucky that my fuc... uh "pilot error" did not cause an accident.

Good thing we never have to face the tower people. They would kick our butts.... and for good reason too.

How student pilots survive is one of the mysteries of aviation.

[Growler]

How do we know Platapus is a pilot?


Simple.

His story started with: "No sh- there I was."

QED.

I was a student in 88, out of Gaithersburg. Too bad I ran out of money, time, and high school. Gonna finish that sucker someday, though.

[Weiss Pinguin]

Originally Posted by HunterICX

What else can you expect here on the GT

HunterICX

BOOBIES

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Growler

I was a student in 88, out of Gaithersburg. Too bad I ran out of money, time, and high school. Gonna finish that sucker someday, though.

It is an expensive hobby. And I think the enjoyment depends on where you are. In the Mid-West flying is great. Get out of controlled airspace and you are free. Many small airports to go to. Life is good.

Here in the DC area. Two crowded. Everythings controlled. Less airports. Too much stress and not enough fun for me.

I have been thinking of getting back in to flying but then I look at my checkbook.

[Growler]

Yeah, you and me both. Although, up here in Carroll County, there's at least some area in which a guy can practice. Gaithersburg wasn't like that - that close to controlled airspace made people nervous - these days, I can't imagine how bad it must be down there. All I have to worry about up here is the occasional stray cow.

But then there's that whole "paying for it" deal - and that's where the plan falls apart.

Did get to fly from Carroll Regional to Stanton, VA a few years ago on a B-25. Now THAT was flying.

[Platapus]

I went to Fulton County Alabama to enroll in Air Warriors. There I got to fly a T-34 (Post WWII trainer) equipped with laser tag equipment. Yes, fricking lazers baby.

I had the coolest former RAF pilot in the rear seat. There was another tourist in another T-34 and we were going to do some laser tag dogfighting. They taught us the "High Yo Yo" maneuver.

It was expensive, I almost got sick, I almost passed out from the heat, but it was pretty fun.

If you do go, my advise would be to avoid visiting Fanny's All Famous All Nude Show Bar and Grill. I stopped there for "one beer". Not a smart idea when you are going to be pulling "G"s the next morning.

I don't know if Air Warriors is still in business (this was about 20+ years ago). But if you can scrape up about a grand for all the expenses, it is a good time.

But I was able to get the school to annotate my log book with T-34 time!

[Oberon]

IIRC Jeremy Clarkson did an episode of one of his series (I forget which) that involved laser tag dogfighting between two aircraft with a good hit producing a trail of smoke from the engine.
It looked like great fun.

A bit like this:

[Growler]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I went to Fulton County Alabama to enroll in Air Warriors. There I got to fly a T-34 (Post WWII trainer) equipped with laser tag equipment. Yes, fricking lazers baby.

I had the coolest former RAF pilot in the rear seat. There was another tourist in another T-34 and we were going to do some laser tag dogfighting. They taught us the "High Yo Yo" maneuver.

It was expensive, I almost got sick, I almost passed out from the heat, but it was pretty fun.

If you do go, my advise would be to avoid visiting Fanny's All Famous All Nude Show Bar and Grill. I stopped there for "one beer". Not a smart idea when you are going to be pulling "G"s the next morning.

I don't know if Air Warriors is still in business (this was about 20+ years ago). But if you can scrape up about a grand for all the expenses, it is a good time.

But I was able to get the school to annotate my log book with T-34 time!

That place is totally on my bucket list; has been for years since I first heard about 'em - I've never flown outside the traditional civilian GA flight envelope, other than a mock strafing run in the B25 one afternoon (Whee! Other riders were a bit green, though) so that program sounds like a total blast. The only "combat" stick time I've ever had was in simulations - good one, but sims nonetheless.

Ever since I discovered that I wasn't able to fly military (eyesight) I had fallen off that wagon - until that ride in the Billy.

Got to say, though... takeoff run in a Mitchell is short, sweet, and to the point. BANG and you're up. For a twin-engine, she felt like a fighter. And the sound of those engines is VERY different when you're a few inches away from the end of the props! I think part of me is still aloft over the Appalachian foothills out here with a stupid grin on my face.

Collings Foundation's B-25 - Tondelayo - hasn't made it back up here in awhile; last I heard, she's in Florida, making money on short hops to help support their other A/C. Did have their Fortress, Liberator, and Mustang up here this year; didn't go up this year since I couldn't afford to be out of the loop with mom in the hospital. Next year, hopefully, I'll go up in one of the heavies.

[Platapus]

For my flying bucket list, I want to fly in a DC-3 and especially in the right seat... just for a little bit.