Preferred aircraft?

[PureMuscle]

Did/do some of you like flying smaller jets rather than the airliners your flying today(unless your flying corporate jets now), or is it the other way around? I'm sure there is pros and cons for each, but I'd like to hear your experiences.

 

[idleclamp]

It's really like comparing apples to oranges. I REALLY miss flying the little hot rod jets, but don't miss the quality of life (or lack there of) at all. Now it's about moving the heavy iron and trying to figure out which bar you're going to meet up at in various corners of the planet. So, for me, it was a trade off. I wouldn't give up my current job (not yet anyway), but that doesn't mean I don't miss having the VSI pegged going through FL250, and not even trying.

 

[celloman]

I like the airplane that they pay me to fly

All kidding aside. I miss flying piston singles.... Each type of flying has its pros and cons.

 

[Bjammin]

Both have their pros and cons. I like the squadron atmoshere, flying low levels at 450kts and flying tactical every day all day. In the T-45 I try to get inverted at least once on every flight.
Flying the big jets can be no less demanding on short haul, long haul it can be demanding to stay awake, but that's where the money is and the lifstyle. Flying for the military usually involves alot of other stuff beside flying, and flying heavies really isn't flying, but is system management instead.
Would would be the best? Flying fighters every day, non combat,without a ground job, but getting paid as a senior airline pilot. That job does not really excist. Test pilot for a defence contractor may come close, but then you still have a bunch of reports to fill out.
Again, as far as flying goes, fighters by far, but I left being active for the long haul airlines, what does that tell you?

 

[typhoonpilot]

Long haul full service passenger aircraft on north-south routes is a nice lifestyle. If the airplane is a Boeing then it is even better. The flying isn't very challenging though and that is what I liked about flying the DC-9-15 around the western United States. In and out of small airports in the mountains, non-radar, procedural approaches, hand flying, and doing my own flight planning all made for a more satisfying feeling of accomplishment. Now-a-days I just hand fly up through the transition and then sit on autopilot for 7 hours before getting radar vectored to an ILS at a major international airport.

Even that little bit of hand flying I do up through the transition and then again on the approach isn't real. With the fly-by-wire controls all I'm really doing is making the computer provide feedback to me while working on my scan a little. The 777 fly-by-wire is designed with so many protections that I could let go of the yoke in a climbing turn and it will just stay there exactly like I left it until I touch the yoke again. Flap changes, power changes, turbulence, etc won't require any pitch changes as the system compensates for those automatically. Only speed changes require any trimming. It's all I've got though, so I still do it to try and keep a decent scan going. I know my skills have degraded and I wish I was at the top of my game like I used to be when flying the DC-9. As Bjammin says though, you have to go where the lifestyle and money will be tolerable long term.... and it is nice to go to the hotel with 16 flight attendants in tow .


TP

 

[PureMuscle]

All good replies, thanks.

For all you that used to fly fighters or still do, what kinds of paperwork, other assignments do you do when not flying, and how many hours a month do you get when you do fly(on average)?

 

[SIG600]

Boris... I told Stoney your update the other night at a winging and he about threw up in his drink! Stand by!

 

[Metro752]

neat stuff