Aviation BS and Photo Thread

I believe the CAF changed their name back in the early 2000s?

 

I hope you're not actually keeping your logbook in the truck! Mine never leaves the house. It's too valuable! Well, it was until I created a digital copy.

 

Prob a bit different with hang gliding where we fly remote and such but if i leave it home i’ll never log my flights after. I have everything electronic as well just in case

 

Ah, I’m sure hang gliding is a bit of a different situation in regard to keeping flight logs

 

I log everything in ForeFlight then copy into my paper log when I get home.

 

Probably a P-8 Poseidon, maybe out of Whidbey Island, WA.

 

what he said. they have to practice landing at random airfields to keep currency. maybe a cross country trip as well

 

All depends on where you live and what opportunities there are. There’s a reason that flight training is busy in SoCal, PHX & South Florida. Good weather and people with excess disposable income. The inverse exists in rural areas such as MS, WV & say Green Bay.

Some instructors fly 200 hours a year and others fly 1,000 a year, depending on where they are and how the industry is doing. COVID will reshape the training industry in ways we don’t know yet. Which will impact how many people are learning to fly/ choosing it as a profession.

There are plenty of methods to earn time toward that golden 1,500 and I’m a big advocate for being a good instructor. Having CFII experience is even better for a future in professional aviation.

 

I just stumbled across this Vlog with a pilot from our local SO.
https://youtu.be/FELE94dWzRY

 

Spontaneous trip to the beach since it was 100° in Dallas today. The poor airplane was struggling to get normal cruise speeds in the heat today and the water in my swimming pool is much cleaner than Texas gulf coast water, but it was nice for a change of scenery and to play in some waves.

2.5 flight time each way

 

This wasn't a popular choice with many. But the pressure was just too high.

 

I agree with @CFI AandP and @MatthewMay1. Getting the 1500 hours for your ATP is about gaining experience and becoming a seasoned pilot. Airlines and other commercial operators are looking for pilots that have acquired their time honestly and safely.
I would also recommend flight instructing as the most efficient method of gaining time. Being an instructor teaches you more than you teach the student. You learn how to be patient, how to "feel" the plane, and you really grasp aviation fundamentals.
If you have access to and/or are able to teach in a multi (MEI rating), I would recommend that as a good way to jump start your career.

 

Awesome, thank you for your experienced feedback as well!
I teach in every job I’ve had before, from the Marine Corps to Construction to Photography, etc. I’ve even been a straight up teacher for a couple years in the mission field haha. So I’m definitely planning on doing CFI work, among any unique experiences I can grab along the way. I’ll keep you all posted as the years pass by.

 

Best of luck! I really enjoyed being a CFI. I actually taught more as a MEI/CFII than teaching private pilots. I found it more rewarding and it helped me gain a lot of multi-engine time rapidly. If you're able to gain those certificates, I think it will help you in the long run.
As Matthew pointed out, the aviation industry is rapidly changing but I have hopes that it will be a good place to work in the next few years.

 

My intention is to do CFII and eventually work up in Alaska for a while with my friend up there, so Bush Pilot work and maybe some missions if the opportunity arises. That said, I’ve done a lot in life I didn’t see coming so who knows where this will lead a few years from now! What are some non-conventional jobs (other than airlines basically) that y’all recommend checking out as a I work my way up?

 

Several years ago (before I retired) I was driving home from southwest Mo and spotted a odd looking (no markings) white KC-135 doing touch and goes at Springfield Mo city airport. Not knowing what I was looking at , I got home and "googled " "white KC-135" and realized I was watching a Navy E6 mercury. Learned as well they were (are?) based at Tinker AFB in OK.
So Like you I was amazed the Navy was flying these so far inland. As most of you know these took on the role of the flying command post when the AF dropped the "looking glass" missions. These missions always were of interest to me as I was a crewmember on RC-135M's back during Viet Nam times.

 

worked on the E-6 2012-2016
always love a good conspiracy theory news article surrounding them. they were doing touch and go's and circling Reno, NV a few years back when I lived there and people though the government was recording them or some nonsense.

 

Its called the TACAMO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TACAMO (or referred to as) and it is currently stationed here at Travis.