Nova has Wright Brothers Series

I was an aircrewman throughout most of my Coast Guard career. Being able to fly down the beach in a chopper with the door open was always a thrill. In the newer helos, that the Guard uses today, I believe that they have to keep the door closed when the plane is in forward flight - not much fun the way I see it.

Roy

 

I flew cargo around the world while in the military. I also have a private pilot's license, but have not flown in over ten years.

My husband is encouraging me to go up again and enjoy myself.

However, I fear flying is not the same as riding a bike.

 

The cargo plane that I flew on had back doors that opened during flight to jettison cargo.

 

I saw some of that last night. My wife and I were watching something else but I flipped back to it as I could. I am a flying nut. The best job I ever had was working on the line at the airport. I loved it. I have a private license and miss flying like you wouldn't believe.

I was intrigued by the way the rebuilt the plane the Wright brothers flew. It was fascinating to see them fabricate all of it.

My most embarrassing moment flying was on my checkride. I took off with my door open. I made a big show of going through the preflight check list and then the run up. I leaned over and checked his door and then I pushed the throttle in to start down the run way. I was wondering why it was so loud, much louder than normal. I looked down and saw my door was cracked open. I glanced over at him out of hte corner of my eye and tried to surreptiously close the door. I guess I managed to hide it because he never said anything ...

I loved my first solo too. At the time, I was scared to death. I didn't know it was going to be that day. My instructor and I did a couple of touch and go's and then he told me to taxi over. He got out and told me to go on my own around the pattern. I took off and it hit me I was all by myself. I yelled at the top of my lungs to break the tension. It was a great feeling ... I miss those days. All I need is time and money ... I can find the time ... Anyone have any money for me?????

 

Was it a C-130? What was your crew position? Did you enjoy your work?

Roy

 

Was it a C-130? What was your crew position? Did you enjoy your work?

Roy [/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]No, C-5. I was not cut out for the 130! I was a FE. I know you know what FE stands for.

I loved flying, it was the most intellectually stimulating job I have ever held. My brain was maxed out!

The so-called 24 hour max duty day was a bit much.

I loved seeing the world. I now know what true poverty is. I cannot stand to hear Americans say that they are poor or do not have enough. After having seen true poverty my life is forever changed.

And as a Christian lady it was not all that great, if you know what I mean and I am sure you do.

 

In Bible college, I took photos of the seniors for the yearbook. One guy was planning to be a missionary pilot after graduation. He knew of a grass runway with a little white church building at one end. So we flew to this runway so that he could get his picture with the airplane and church building in the background.

On the flight back, the senior had the controls and his instructor decided to put him through an emergency drill. He pulled the engine back to idle and climbed to shed speed and reach optimum glide speed. Then we began to circle slowly and descend while the senior looked for a place to land. All of this is fine except THEY FORGOT TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS A DRILL!!!

After we got back to the airport they apologized for the oversight. My legs were pretty shakey when I got off the plane!

 

from
http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/pearse.html

"Richard Pearse
FIRST FLYER

Richard Pearse: "Mad Pearse", "Bamboo Dick", self-taught inventor, prophetic designer, trail blazing aviator and eccentric visionary. On or about 31st March 1903 a reclusive New Zealand farmer Richard Pearse climbed into a self-built monoplane and flew for about 140 metres before crashing into a gorse hedge on his Waitohi property . Even at half the distance Pearse must have felt the liberating but anxious exhilaration of flying. There is uncertainty about whether it met the definitions of sustained flight, but it came eight months before the Wright Brothers entered the record books at Kitty Hawk North Carolina on 17th December 1903. "

Just thought that in the interests of accuracy on first flight information people might be interested in the flight of this New Zealander some 8 months before the Wright brothers.

Regards
Bob