Secret Spy Photo Reveals the TRUTH!

[Kieran]

They're all real. Honest.

[texace]

My granddad owns an RV-4...built it himself. I have to agree that all of the Van's aircraft are sweet planes. Though the 4 isn't as fast as the 8, it's still a quick plane.

Nice plane, HT...wish I could get one...

[MrCoffee]

LOL, thats an amazing photo. Wish I was good with photoshop.

[Toad]

Here's the onlyl inflight one I took...... screwed it up too. He reefed into a descending spiral and put a bunch a g's on me. I think he doesn't want to photoed from behind.

[weazel]

Do you teach a course in witty comebacks laz?

You crack me up.  

[Kieran]

Originally posted by MrCoffee
LOL, thats an amazing photo. Wish I was good with photoshop.

So do I, MG.

[Rude]

Toad....

Don't waste your time with MG....only he could crap on a post regarding fun and HT enjoying himself and his new plane.

Sorry I missed the get together....was busy all day Saturday.

I have not seen Dale's new ride first hand, but I can sure attest to his love for flying....I'm happy for him and a bit envious...it's been 12 years since I've flown...4 kids a wifey and life in general has slowed me down a bit.

WTG Dale....happy for ya.

[Ripsnort]

Great pics Toad.

Keiren, that photo you left MG in the AGW thread, that'll be known as "a classic"

[beet1e]

LOL Lazs!  

toad ol buddy... you are having WAY to much fun! Didn't you know that us old folk aren't supposed to have fun? do you know how many people are needlessly killed or injured by private aviation and the reckless thrill seekers involved in it? well... I don't either but... I'm sure beetle has the figures from the "home office" about American aviation! In fact.... it will probly make his sig a few hundred words longer once he get's wind of this recklessness...

fortunately for you... this is a thread that involves fun so he probly won't even know it exists.
lazs

Well, as I must shortly hit the sack, I'm going to have to say something that will have you reaching for the Amyl Nitrate to recover. Almost pains me but it has to be said that the US has the best aviation prospects in the world. And is twice as safe as anywhere else because they positively embrace "new" technology like radar, instead of the procedural crap they have here. Most medium sized US airports have radar and ILS, unlike those here. Aviation in the UK is not governed by the Home Office, but by the CAA - Campaign Against Aviation, who may at some stage recognise that GPS exists.

I've done a load of private flying in the US, mostly out of DuPage County (DPA) at St. Charles,IL. But also a fair amount out of Centennial at Denver, Westchester NY, Mahlon Sweet, Eugene/Springfield, OR (where pilots can even pump their own Avgas!) and Santa Monica, CA. All I had to do to get my FAA airman certificate (#2426110) was to show up at the GADO office with my British credentials - didn't cost a penny.

The Americans are more courteous than the guys here. Everyone calls everyone else Sir!  One time, I parked at Rockford,IL, and even got the red carpet treatment. Yep, the handling agent laid a piece of red mat on the apron for me to step down onto, and then very kindly moved my plane for me to a proper parking stand. I really liked that you could call 1-800-WXBRIEF and actually talk to a forecaster (without having to pay £10) and file a flight plan in the same call. I liked the DUAT service too. Some differences between US and European Aviation:

• Runway numbers - US truncate leading zero - so Runway 09 as I would know it becomes runway 9.
• Almost every field (at least the magenta ones on the sectional) has an ATIS - much better than having to get Tower to repeat it for every departure.
• VFR conspicuity squawk code is 1200 in the US, 7000 in Europe.
• Flight levels start at 18,000 feet! Here, transition alt is 3000, 5000 in Germany. The US system is better.
• We have a pisspot system of changing the altimeter to read AGL for landing. The US keeps it on AMSL. Makes perfect sense at somewhere like Centennial (elev 5800'). You'd look pretty silly winding your altimeter through almost 6000' just prior to landing.
• Use of headsets much more widespread here. US seems to prefer hand held mikes - and lots of cockpit noise.
• The Americans freak out about our cavalier attitude to overwater flight. I used to cross the channel many times a year, and the longest crossing was about 58Nm between Southampton and Cherbourg. Once flew from Fréjus, France to Ajjaccio, Corsica - 160Nm, almost all over water. Told a US check pilot that, and he thought I was nuts. Maybe I was - happens in Europe!
• ATC talks too fast in the US! I found it easier to understand the French
• No landing fees in the US!
• Even major airports are in Class B airspace. Here, they're so paranoid about combining IFR traffic with VFR traffic that they cut huge swathes of Class A airspace right across the country, and right down to 2,500' all around London. So all the VFR traffic is compressed into a tiny 2,400' layer. I almost couldn't believe it when I was told that VFR traffic may cross overhead LAX without making radio contact (but with a designated squawk and carriage of 1:250,000 map)

Can you add to this list!

A little off topic - sorry. Very nice plane, Mr. Hitech. I hope we might see it modelled in AH. Wasn't it you who put that flying saucer into WB? The yellow looks lovely, but will probably attract bugs like nothing on earth, so remember to plug your static vents and pitot. I had a bee in a static vent once, and I did not enjoy landing with a wonky ASI.  Hope you used the static line when you pumped that gas.

Off to bed now, with lots of nice memories about flying in the US - oh yes, forgot to mention the weather. Yes, this really is me - Beet1e, Lazs's friend, signing off now.  Goodnight.

Just to be nice, the sig is off for this post. But I may turn it back on tomorrow.

[NUKE]

Use of headsets much more widespread here. US seems to prefer hand held mikes - and lots of cockpit noise.

hmmmmm....... sure Beet1e

[Dago]

Everyone I know and fly with uses a headset.
Mine is a Pilot 17-79 ANR.  I like it.

dago (USA Pilot type)