Who here is a pilot?

[pwrdbycotn]

Just wondering if there are any members here that are pilots? Let's hear about your aircraft, reasons for becoming a pilot, etc. I am currently about halfway through my flight training for helicopters. I am hoping to own a Robinson R44 Raven II for personal use. Just interested to see how many others have the long range hunting/shooting and aviation interests.

 

[dogone]

I have a comm. fixed wing licence. I have owned a C188 and a DeHavilland Beaver. Both were a lot of fun. I have spent several hundred hours in choppers (passenger) and thought of getting my licence but had spent 10 years in the Arctic already and that is where the chopper jobs are. My dream chopper would be a Hughes 500, along with a lottery win.
It was all great fun and even made some money but haven't flown for 10 years.

 

[bronco]

I am not a pilot. Yet. Just a knuckle-dragging A&P mechanic. I run a maintenance team for Sikorsky Aircraft in Sweden working on H-60M Blackhawks. I have worked on a half dozen different U.S. Marine and Navy platforms and have been quite happy with my career choice.

All that being said, I dream of getting my private helicopter licence and operating a Bell 206L Long Ranger. Getting to new hunting areas inaccessible by ground.

Imagine landing at spike camp. Hunting your way around the mountain with a partner. Making a shot on (insert favorite big game animal here). Hike back to camp, empty, leaving your partner with the kill. Fly back to kill, hook up and external sling load that animal back to flatter ground.

Could be pretty sweet.

 

[CogburnR]

I about finished my private but the FAA decided I needed to jump through some hoops for a medical.

About that same time we decided to have a kid so the medical and flying are on hold for a while(plus I have too many hobbies).

I have 47 hours or so mostly in a Beechcraft Musketeer, a few in a 150, a couple here and there in a 172, Aviat Husky, and a Schweizer S22 glider.

N2385L was the actual plane I flew and somehow this pic is on wiki.

If I won the lottery I would get an Aviat Husky or Zenair CH750.

I have always loved flying and fly remote control aircraft, skydived some, and will someday return to full scale airplanes.

 

[AV8OR]

Ive been flying since 2000. Don't own my own aircraft but would love a husky in the future. Luckily I get paid to fly and shoot.....not a bad gig

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Ive been flying since 2000. Don't own my own aircraft but would love a husky in the future. Luckily I get paid to fly and shoot.....not a bad gig

NO BS MAN/WOMAN you fly that "PIG"?

 

[AV8OR]

Sure do. I have about 900hrs in the things. 250 of them over AFG!

 

[Tikkamike]

Love the A-10

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Sure do. I have about 900hrs in the things. 250 of them over AFG!

Wow COOL! I loved watching you guys come in low and put dicks in the dirt! You out of Pope? When I was at Bragg, I would spend hours watching them do gun runs and then gun it up into a big roll to return to target. Running under the end of the run way while they land was pretty bad *** to!

 

[idaho elk hunter]

Flying has been a good part of my life next to my business. I currently fly my own Business plane, a Cessna Citation cj-2. But most fun that can be had is our 182 with a 300hp power. Its a blast in the backcountry.

 

[silvertip-co]

I am not a pilot. Yet. Just a knuckle-dragging A&P mechanic. I run a maintenance team for Sikorsky Aircraft in Sweden working on H-60M Blackhawks. I have worked on a half dozen different U.S. Marine and Navy platforms and have been quite happy with my career choice.

All that being said, I dream of getting my private helicopter licence and operating a Bell 206L Long Ranger. Getting to new hunting areas inaccessible by ground.

Imagine landing at spike camp. Hunting your way around the mountain with a partner. Making a shot on (insert favorite big game animal here). Hike back to camp, empty, leaving your partner with the kill. Fly back to kill, hook up and external sling load that animal back to flatter ground.

Could be pretty sweet.

Our son works on Blackhawks in Honduras with URS. He used to hunt some. I wish he was in Sweden. I'd like to emigrate. And hunt.

 

[royinidaho]

I don't drive the thing but sit in the rear seat of a 1974 Balanca Scout and run the camera.

Sweet machine. When the wind is just right we can hover over our target and get the pic picture perfect.

We also look for stray cattle after they come off of the mountain.

We can't read the brand but can definitely see the color of the ear tag.

Pretty intense and more fun than a fella should be allowed to have.

 

[idaho elk hunter]

I thought this thread was LONG RANGE HUNTING? LOL! I am a pilot and am fortunate to have 3 aircraft. My family business has a Cessna Citation cJ2 and I personally have a Bell 430. The Bell absolutely is the ticket for hunting unit 76 and 49 here in Idaho, but the Citation is the ticket for a weekend of fishing in Alaska. Removed 3 cow elk last year in unit 76 with the Bell. All at once. It is a better packhorse and fun machine than anyone can imagine. The 3rd is a powered parachute. 5 mph and your flying! kinda sucks in the wind though.

 

[pwrdbycotn]

Well, I started this thread and it seems as though a few here fly their own aircraft or are around them on a regular basis. I'm currently doing my solo work and should be done with my private license in december. I would be able to get in done in October but cotton harvest will cause me to stop flying during October. Have a safe flight, everyone!