What is it with this jet thing?

[aerodromebum]

We gotta get rid of these turbines, they are ruining aviation.

We need to go back to big round engines.

{Turbines are as round as you can get. What the heck are you talking about?}

Anybody can start a turbine, you just need to move a switch from "OFF" to "START", and then remember to move it back to "ON" after a while. My PC is harder to start.

Cranking a round engine requires skill, finesse and style. On some planes, the pilots aren't even allowed to do it.

Turbines start by whining for a while, then give a small lady-like poot and start whining louder.

Round engines give a satisfying rattle-rattle, click-click, BANG, more rattles, another BANG, a big macho fart or two, more clicks, a lot of smoke and finally a serious low pitched roar. We like that. It's a guy thing.

When you start a round engine, your mind is engaged and you can concentrate on the flight ahead. Starting a turbine is like flicking on a ceiling fan: Useful, but hardly exciting.

Turbines don't break often enough, leading to aircrew boredom, complacency and inattention. A round engine at speed looks and sounds like it's going to blow at any minute. This helps concentrate the mind.

Turbines don't have enough control levers to keep a pilot's attention. There's nothing to fiddle with during long flights.

Turbines smell like a Boy Scout camp full of Coleman lanterns. Round engined planes smell like God intended flying machines to smell.

I think I hear the nurse coming down the hall. I gotta go.

You're right - Turbines are a piece of cake to operate (relatively speaking).

IMO the toughest type of engine to operate is turbocharged & geared piston engines (i.e. CE-421).

 

[XTW]

When people find out I'm a pilot, I tell them I fly Piper Cubs. After talking to me, they would never believe I could fly anything else anyway.



X

 

[avbug]

Yep, lets get rid of turbine engines and go back to frequent blown jugs, engine fires, vibration, noise, having to take on more oil than fuel with every fuel stop, wearing 60 weight as the hair treatment of choice, orbiting props, hydraulic lock, fouled plugs, backfires, carburetor ice, and all the other things that made operating radial engines a wonderful experience.

I can't understand an owner of a six of fifteen million dollar piece of equipment seeking the most experienced hand he or she can to operate it, rather than grabbing a kid out of flight school. What's up with that?

This whole process of small piston engine equipment paying less while the less demanding, less intelligent, far less sophisticated turbojet equipment paying so much more...what's up with that? After all, a 500 hour pilot should be paid top of the industry wages in his ragged 402 or 210...let the citation or challenger or gulfstream pilot who's put in 20 or 30 years get paid the dirt wages....those piston engines are so complicated that they should be drawing the real pay. Do you think?

Perhaps there's a reason that things work the way they do in this mixed up world.

Do ya think??

 

[PacoPollo]

Okay folks. I gotta ask this lighthearted question, just for kicks. What is up with all the ga-ga over flying the jets?
Any input will be greatly appreciated!

Speed son. Nothing more annoying than having to slow down on a 20mile final cuz following a POS KingAir or any other prop.

 

[Hvy]

Do whats right for you ... flying jets is noooo big deal .....

As a good friend once said 'If you can fly a Piper Cub, I can teach you to fly a 747 - but not necessarily the other way around ...'

Having flown both, I can tell you your "good friend" was mistaken.

 

[aerodromebum]

Speed son. Nothing more annoying than having to slow down on a 20mile final cuz following a POS KingAir or any other prop.

WHAT?!?! Then how come I'm the one slowing to 190 20 miles out to stay behind some Airbus while going into PHL?

 

[Canucit]

look to the future for what you want and screw what all the people say about what you do or do not fly. but it is a sad fact of life that the bigger the aircraft the bigger the paycheck
also each aircraft has its benefits
jets fly higher and have alot of automation
of course the king air has the pro line 21 (which is really cool)
always look to your future cause nobody else will and
hey good luck

 

[FastestPA31Ever]

The only things I've really liked in my first two months in the jet (cargo) is climbing above most weather, and having someone to talk to if you feel like it! Do what makes you happy, always.

 

[skydash]

Jets??

1) THE MONEY
2)Flying above the weather
3)See #1

 

[bell47]

I just started flying a jet. I'm not impressed with it. Caravans were more fun in the WX.(except ice!) The radial engine/taildragger stuff is where the real fun is. Give me a BE-18, or an Airtractor any day! Jets are too much by the numbers, no seat of the pants flying.

 

[G2T]

Speed son. Nothing more annoying than having to slow down on a 20mile final cuz following a POS KingAir or any other prop.

Why is that? Did you get some kind of 250 below 10 exemption?

 

[AdlerDriver]

1) THE MONEY
2)Flying above the weather
3)See #1

AND the #4 and most important reason to fly jets.......

You can't put an after-burner on a prop!

 

[Cat Driver]

I sort of think I have the best job flying the big radial engine flying boats.

 

[Say Again Over]

my 2 cents

You know my King Air 200 just didn't look quite as impressive when the odd Lear Jet or Gulfstream pulled up on the ramp, the same was true when I looked at the flight deck. My advise would be if you have an interest in flying the biggest or the fastest that you move up the ladder while you are young, you can always come back. :beer:

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

Speed son. Nothing more annoying than having to slow down on a 20mile final cuz following a POS KingAir or any other prop.

Unless it's an F-15, in my Metro or BE1900, I more than hold my own against a jet in the terminal environment-your full of s**t on that one mate!