A pilots Model A Story

Paul, that post is somewhere in cyberspace, sorry. It was a long, long story about a
20 year old kid (me) who got his first model A 50 years ago and at the same time had
a passion for flying. The synopsis is that a fellow model A nut bet me that that the
1946 Aeronica Chief (65 hp Continental engine) wasn't nearly as exciting as driving the A on the California 101 freeway. Since I had done both, I offered to take him up
for a short flight so he could make an informed decision. He declined at first, but when I called him a chicken------He caved, lol. He had never been in a tail dragger
before-----or anything except a commercial jet as a passenger. I think he about
crapped his pants right after I did my 360 "drive around" at the end of the runway
to check for traffic just seconds before I pushed the throttle (wop). He never doubted again after that. I won the bet--- hamburger and a coke. I was a few months short of my 21st. birthday,so was too young at the time to drink beer! Back
in California you had to be 21 to drink back in the stone age.

Sorry guys, if this made you sleepy, blame it all on Paul.

Jack
 
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Jack '29 Sport Coupe said:
Paul, that post is somewhere in cyberspace, sorry....Back
in California you had to be 21 to drink back in the stone age.

Sorry guys, if this made you sleepy, blame it all on Paul.

Jack
Click to expand...

Not at all--great story, sorry I missed the long version.

BTW, drinking age in CA is still 21.

Joe
 
You're very lucky to be able to fly small planes. I've only had the good luck to go up in small planes twice. I had a 20 minute ride in the co-pilot's seat of the Ford Tri Motor and a 30 minute ride in a bi-plane that took off and landed from a corn field. Now, those were fun rides, unlike the boring rides in large commercial planes. The bi-plane was giving rides at the Little Log House threshing show near Hastings MN, but they haven't done it since. I imagine some insurance outfit shut them down.
 
Tom. you've flown in a couple of planes I haven't been in. I imagine they were both
a thrill! My flying days are over as I can no longer pass the medical certifcate. You
are right about the boring commercial rides----no thrill at all, unless you count the TSA pat down, lol.

Jack
 
One of our club members is a commercial pilot and runs a gliding club.

This is his 29 CCPU and one of his planes.
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Somehow he convinced me that it would be a good idea for me to go up in a plane with no engine. :eek:
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What a rush! :D
 
Joe, I'm surprised to hear that California is still a 21 state. I left in '76, so wasn't
aware. By the way, that little Aeronca Chief I mentioned is still alive and living in
Los Banos---and just re-sold (though the AW certificate is not up to date).

Jack
 
we have a local pilot with a Pietenpol and another with an A powered plane that is presently under restoration. Anyone who has ridden in an old car would appreciate riding in an old airlane. I was fortunate to ride in a Stearman Bi Plane dusting our mountain orchard once. Now that was a thrill!!
 
Old saying about the bi-plane dusters: "If the low flying plane doesn't get you, the
dust will." The oldest plane I was ever in was a '41 Stinson. That was a thrill.

Jack
 
I am a single engine land instrument rated pilot and No comparison to the big jets. I like flying in the fall/autumne when the color is in full season. Fly only Cessna mainly C-172.
 
Yeah I probably lost my medical in 2003 when I had my stroke. I Wanted to join the U.F.O.s (Un-something Flying Octogenarians 80 YO+) So I'm into model A's instead.
Terry




Jack '29 Sport Coupe said:
Tom. you've flown in a couple of planes I haven't been in. I imagine they were both
a thrill! My flying days are over as I can no longer pass the medical certifcate. You
are right about the boring commercial rides----no thrill at all, unless you count the TSA pat down, lol.

Jack
Click to expand...
 
Having a '47 J3 Piper Cub as a young man, I was very interested when I saw three bi-wing airplanes land at our towns little grass strip back in the 60's.

I loaded the wife and kids up and went down to investigate. The "Great American Flying Circus" was making their way across the U.S., stopping at little small town airfields and giving rides. My son and I got to take a ride in one of the planes. One of the pilots was Richard Bach the author. They told us Hugh Downs was with them also but we didn't see him at our town.

It was an experience my son and I will not forget.

img128.jpg
 
Jack '29 Sport Coupe said:
I'll try, Paul-------but you have been warned, LOL.

Jack
Click to expand...
Thanks, my 5 year old daughter and I just got back from flying our PA 28 180. We usually take the Model A to the airport, but didn't today. Did rent a a 65 horse champ in Florida twenty some years ago...it had a Model A gas gauge. No electrical system, had to hand prop that one. Keep the stories comin'. I like 'em.
 
When I learned to fly in 1957 AV gas was 32 cents a gallon and the PA-ll Cub cost $7 an hour to rent. It cost me $2.00 per hour for the instructor. 55 years later and 24,000 hours later, I still enjoy flying a friend's PA-12 since he no longer flys. Flew it today for about a 1/2 hour and best yet, He pays for the gas and I have the use of it anytime I want. Sold my Arrow when I retired. Good thing as AV gas is $5.80/gal at our little field.
 
I soloed in a '39 J3. Grass field, no brakes and no tail wheel. I was a line boy and learned to drive at the airport in a '29 rpu with a Pierce Arrow sitting sideways in the bed. I would drive as fast as I could and the other guy ran the PA engine with a winch attached. We pulled up sailplanes all summer until I had to go back to school. Airport was in Half Day Illinois. Year was '49
 
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