LONGGGG flight today

[B4Buster]

Yes!

So he can take naps and no one will notice DUH!

Why he needs auto-pilot!

We laugh, but I know of a guy who used to fly out of the local airport here that would actually take naps while flying. He actually had a job as a CFI, but was fired because he fell asleep during a lesson with a student (I'm not kidding, this is true). He died in a plane crash some years later. I believe he was flying a Beechcraft Baron. He crashed into the side of a hill. Many of the guys who knew him personally suspect he was sleeping in the cockpit.

[Tupac]

I knew of a guy with a Seneca 4 that would take off in IMC from an uncontrolled airport, turn on the autopilot, and go to sleep. He didnt have an instrument rating, and used an egg timer to wake himself up. He crashed and killed himself too.

Falling asleep while flying is one of my biggest fears. When your in the middle of nowhere and there isn't anyone talking on the radio and the plane is trimmed really well its easier to do than one would think. When I was between San Angelo and Lubbock I was talking with Ft Worth Center and the only other plane on the radio asked if anyone was there after about 30 minutes of silence. Center responded and said "I've only got 4 planes in my area" the other guy (not the one that called) said "Yeah, some of us are trying to get some sleep here!"

[colmbo]

Falling asleep while flying is one of my biggest fears.

I used to mess with the jumpers.  There would always be one sitting on floor facing aft against the instrument panel -- we could see each others face.  I would close my right eye and slump like I was sleeping letting my hand drop off the yoke.  The left eye was open and I used gentle rudder pressure to stay wings level.  Some of them "let me nap" for a while.  One very attractive redhead hit me so hard it left a bruise.   

[Tupac]

 

[Babalonian]

Understood.  And I wasn't asking like you'd be openly soliciting for donations, but for-say that you could accept a spare $20 for the gas pump or a $2 sandwitch (or $8 lunch, etc.).  Makes sence that you can't take anything that would be of any monetary gain to your aircraft or its fuel/maintenance costs though.

http://pilotsnpaws.org/

That's the organization I fly for, Its a very worthy cause.

It's also a reasonable excuse/mission to quickly rack-up some cross-country flight hours, amirite? 

[ebfd11]

Ty Tupac for what you are doing and a big  to you and all the pilots who dare to do that. If there is anything I can do to help out then PM me and I will do what I can.

LawnDart

[Babalonian]

Here's a few more pictures.

In between a couple of overcast layers

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Somewhere in far south Texas

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After I picked him up he wouldnt stop yapping so I went up to 12,000' and he got REALLY sleepy. It probably took all the strength he had to muster this dissaproving stare. He also had a couple of towels in the kennel that he squirreled away in the corner.

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Cool picture of a wind farm

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   brilliant.  Did you have to ask ATC for the higher ceiling or was that the flight plan?  (and if so, did they ask why so high/close to 14k?)

Incorrect.

A driven pilot will use any excuse to fly and go to great lengths to contrive a situation that requires him to fly.

You need an excuse?  Does "it had to be" count?

[Tupac]

  brilliant.  Did you have to ask ATC for the higher ceiling or was that the flight plan?  (and if so, did they ask why so high/close to 14k?)

I planned for 8k but the dog was still yapping so I asked for 12. I think the only reason they approved it was out of curiosity to see if a skyhawk could get that high. 10 probably would have worked, but his barking was so annoying that I made sure he would shut up. I carry oxygen with me most of the time but I forgot it yesterday, they never ask if you have it or not but it is implied that you have it if you ask for more than 14k. (atleast they never asked me. I asked for 16 once just to see if it would get up there.) Bush conversions claims 19,200' ceiling but I dont believe them.

[Pigslilspaz]

I planned for 8k but the dog was still yapping so I asked for 12. I think the only reason they approved it was out of curiosity to see if a skyhawk could get that high. 10 probably would have worked, but his barking was so annoying that I made sure he would shut up. I carry oxygen with me most of the time but I forgot it yesterday, they never ask if you have it or not but it is implied that you have it if you ask for more than 14k. (atleast they never asked me. I asked for 16 once just to see if it would get up there.) Bush conversions claims 19,200' ceiling but I dont believe them.

Gotta test that one out for us

[Babalonian]

I planned for 8k but the dog was still yapping so I asked for 12. I think the only reason they approved it was out of curiosity to see if a skyhawk could get that high. 10 probably would have worked, but his barking was so annoying that I made sure he would shut up. I carry oxygen with me most of the time but I forgot it yesterday, they never ask if you have it or not but it is implied that you have it if you ask for more than 14k. (atleast they never asked me. I asked for 16 once just to see if it would get up there.) Bush conversions claims 19,200' ceiling but I dont believe them.

Sounds like a challenge to me.     But if you ever do seriously try it, do it smart (and with a co-pilot that weighs more than 7-pounds).

[colmbo]

I planned for 8k but the dog was still yapping so I asked for 12. I think the only reason they approved it was out of curiosity to see if a skyhawk could get that high. 10 probably would have worked, but his barking was so annoying that I made sure he would shut up. I carry oxygen with me most of the time but I forgot it yesterday, they never ask if you have it or not but it is implied that you have it if you ask for more than 14k. (atleast they never asked me. I asked for 16 once just to see if it would get up there.) Bush conversions claims 19,200' ceiling but I dont believe them.

I got my 182 to 15.5K with two jumpers on board -- not a real brisk climb up there. <G>

[colmbo]

And along the lines of yapping dogs -- one of the bomber co-pilots was an attractive young lady.  On one long leg they had to go to 14K due to weather/terrain and were there for quite a while.  After some time had passed the copilot needed to pee.  She went all the way to the tail of the B-24, peeled her flightsuit down and pee'd in the restored and never used potty can in the tail --- much to the delight of the 4 guys sitting in the waist whom she didn't seem to notice.  She denied it on the ground, quite probably was hypoxic due to time at alt and long walk to the tail (exertion).  Something to think about --- we don't want to watch you pee.

[Golfer]

Controllers won't ask not are they responsible for carrying O2 or any other safety equipment. They'll clear you for things you're not approved for or that aren't even legal for you to do. That responsibility falls on your shoulders.

They'll keep you above the terrain, in theory. They'll also make a mistake and vector you right into a mountain for instance. It's happened.  They'll clear you for flight out over the water without you having a raft. Not their job.

It's up to you to make sure the clearance they've issued is both legal and safe. You'll see that going over water but if you're a Texas flatlander TFRs might be a more appropriate example. ATC isn't responsible for keeping you out of one. They may and probably will try but the final responsibility is yours.

[Dichotomy]

I used to mess with the jumpers.  There would always be one sitting on floor facing aft against the instrument panel -- we could see each others face.  I would close my right eye and slump like I was sleeping letting my hand drop off the yoke.  The left eye was open and I used gentle rudder pressure to stay wings level.  Some of them "let me nap" for a while.  One very attractive redhead hit me so hard it left a bruise.   

I had an attractive redhead leave some serious bruises on me a few times as well.  Totally different reasons though.  Bite marks on the chest and claw marks on the back take a LONG time to heal.