Have any of you simply pulled back???

[UnAnswerd]

Probably more than a few people were only exposed to one particular make/model of aircraft during their primary flight training. In fact, many probably received a fresh pilot certificate, and yet have only ever flown that one particular model. The question is, how did you feel about flying something completely different after you got your license???

I mean, what if all you've ever flown is a PA-28. Did you think twice about taking off solo for the very first time is a high-wing Cessna??? Or did you grab an instructor just to make sure the aircraft wasn't going to break your balls??? Anyone ever just get in, accelerate, and pull back????

 

[Kream926]

you have to get checked out if you plan to rent from an fbo. youll go with one of their cfi's and demonstrate that you can fly, like a mini checkride

 

[Art Vandalay]

never simply pulled back, but have simply pulled out many many times.

 

[CUEBOAT]

ive done this, not with a brand new pvt certificate,however. I was instructing at the time and a nice gentleman asked me if i could reposition his airplane, a Bonanza. At the same time I was to give a high performance endorsement to his flight instructor. Both of us had zero time in the airplane. Everything was fine until he attempted a power on stall, as the airplane stalled we rolled 120 degrees to teh left, windshield is completely green. i take control and level it out, decide not to attempt it again and go to touch and goes.Im sure had he compensated with proper control inputs this would have been avoided. In short in my opinion a check out in an unfamiliar airplane is always a wise choice.

 

[UnAnswerd]

And our very own UnAnswerd is a result of not doing the latter.....

As are you Sir.

 

[UnAnswerd]

you have to get checked out if you plan to rent from an fbo. youll go with one of their cfi's and demonstrate that you can fly, like a mini checkride

I see. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Tram]

An airplane is an airplane. Just hop in and go!

 

[Goose Egg]

Yes, actually. I flew a 152 without a rental checkout after I had flown ~100 hours in a 172. I know, I'm a pretty big rebel.

-Goose

 

[hotwings402]

Yea a couple of times but I had over 1500 hours at the time. And the plane was fairly rare.

 

[Fly_Chick]

If you plan on flying a plane you have not been exposed to previously, I would suggest looking at the POH, getting familiar with limitations, performance, emergency procedures, etc... Take some time sitting in the plane before flying, become familiar with cockpit layout and instrument panel.

 

[FlyJordan]

Wheels hit concrete at the bottom of the green arc, what the problem?

 

[Cardinal]

Jumped in to a Saratoga once, as well as a nice Mooney MSE. The Saratoga trip was a disaster, but had nothing to do with the aircraft type. The Mooney trip was a blast. Yet neither of these voyages were my shining moment...I've made better decisions.

Most airplanes evolve...if you know a 152 you can figure out a 172, if you can fly a 172 a 182 should be manageable (as long as you don't bend the firewall), if you can fly an Archer a Cherokee Six won't embarass you (if you managed to get it started). Yet everything is easier, more stress free, and safer if you get some instruction in the airplane first, even if it's just in the pilot's lounge from somebody who's flown it.

 

[FN FAL]

The question is, how did you feel about flying something completely different after you got your license???

I mean, what if all you've ever flown is a PA-28. Did you think twice about taking off solo for the very first time is a high-wing Cessna??? Or did you grab an instructor just to make sure the aircraft wasn't going to break your balls??? Anyone ever just get in, accelerate, and pull back????

I wanted to rent our FBO's Katana for a long weekend and a long cross country from south central wisconsin to Green Bay and then on to FT Dodge Iowa. Since I was an experienced 135 pilot with the company and checked out in 6 makes/models of piston twins...from Aztec to Cessna 414...the owner said go for it.

I took an hour and half and read over the aircraft manual, noting differences and similarities of light singles that I had flown, then went out at night with a flashlight and the check lists. Familiarizing myself with every detail in the check lists. Before I did this, I got some real time fuel burn, performance and power setting information from the experienced CFI's at our place.

Once I felt it was time to untie the plane from the tie downs, I felt very much "good to go".

Since I had never flown a plane with only differential braking for ground steering, that was experimented with on the taxi out. I found it very easy to just use the rudder peddals, since thrust was flowing over the rudder, so I only used the brakes for tighter turns.

When it was time to line up on the runway, the night time visibility in the Katana was very new to me...having been used to 152's other high wing Cessnas and all the other typical GA fare. When the runway edge lighting went by and I was moving, my heart stired with anticipation...this was freaking fun! I had never flown a "stick" airplane before...and once again, the visibility was awesome.

As I climbed out, I couldn't get over how much fun this was...flying a plane not much larger than a gold wing with wings.

The flight to Green Bay was beautiful and I landed and parked at the FBO. The wife walks up to the fence and points at the plane and says, "You expect me to fly with you in that 'BUG'?"

We left together the next morning and flew in loose formation with a group of friends in a Cessna 205 that we hooked up with at Shiocton, all the way to FT Dodge and the wife totally enjoyed the trip.

Before I get beat on by the "puritans" of aviation, I spent quite a bit of time familiarizing myself with that plane and felt totally comfortable with checking myself out...however, I would warn anyone that is thinking of doing such a thing to seriously evaluate what they are contemplating doing and the consequences, both legally and liability wise.

I need to get back in the air with an Aztec soon, just to do some old fashioned piston multi flying. I'll be renting from the same FBO. If the owner throws me the keys and says, "You know what you're doing!" I'll proudly turn the offer down.

First of all, even though I have been flying piston single on the weekends, I haven't flown a piston twin in 5 years. Second of all, I don't want to survive an "accident" just to find out that I'm subject to charges for criminal criminal negligence regarding property damage, personal injury or death. I'll pay the FBO for time with the instructor and go up flying...it'll be fun and a great way to get my feet wet again. Plus, I'm not rich, but I do believe in sharing the wealth...which means, if you can afford to rent a twin, you can afford to put beans and biscuits on a CFI's table! It's the reasonable and prudent thing to do.

 

[UnAnswerd]

FNFAL, sounds like you know what you're doing. Interesting to hear that some people have in fact done this.

 

[FN FAL]

FNFAL, sounds like you know what you're doing. Interesting to hear that some people have in fact done this.

In one way, it's no big deal...in another way, it's a big freaking deal. Everybody is your brother until the rent comes due...bang a plane up or injure someone, without a "rental checkout" and see who your brother is then. Probably the attorney you'll have to hire...if you can afford one.

It's all different now.