Who has experience flying, or flying in, smallplanes. We are about to take a 4 hour trip in a small plane,and the first question everyone asks, is "do you have a will?"
Sounds funny at first, but then you think there must be a reason they are asking.
Can anyone tell me of their experiences of flying in small planes. We are flying in a 6 seater, single engine prop from CO to AR. I am ok with it, but my wife freaked out when i showed her a picture of the plane.
I'd be more concerned with the pilot's experience than with the size of the aircraft.
4 hours in a small plane is going to get cramped. The first thing you will notice is there is alot to see below to help pass the time. Flying commericial your'e up to high to see anything. The glide ratio of a small plane is great compared to commercial. If you have any problems you will have plenty of time to find a place to land. Have a great trip!
lol andy
pilot is experienced. comes from an aviation family, works in aerospace, owns the plane, been flying since he was a kid, etc.
4 hours is a long time, but we will take our time, and he has offered to stop as often as we want. probably once or twice on the way out.
i am totally looking forward to it, and I think my daughter will absolutely love it. It's going to be fun, and the weather is supposed to be perfect all weekend. Plus, we are travelling early to avoid any chance of thunderstorms. it was a;; the questions about wills that had me nervous. and i'm sure everyone was joking, but it was EVERYONE who was asking.
Dude, . . .
Small airplanes are a lot safer than driving on the highway during rush hour.
It all depends on 1) the experience of the pilot , 2) If there is lousy weather along the way , is he IFR qualified ? , 3) Make sure that the aircraft is not overloaded , 4) What kind of plane is it anyways , 5) last and not least how long can the old bladder hold out determines how long the flight will be .
Small aircraft like big aircraft are as good as the pilot and how well they manage and fly the plane. Being in a big airliner does not necessarilly guarante a safe and happy flight. Look at what happened to the Comair flight recently in Kentucky .
Go on the flight and enjoy yourself dude. They're a lot more interesting to fly in than a big airliner.
I agree with the comment about the pilot. I'd be way less worried about the plane itself than I would be with the pilots level of experience and the conditions you will be flying through.
Some observations...
Leave early in the morning. Get as far away from the front range as you can before the heat of the day stirs up more turbulance. The eastern slope gets really bumpy as the day progresses. Same goes for the return trip, try to get in before the afternoon.
Don't expect a 100% super smooth flight like you would get on a 777. Turbulance that would make the water in your glass shake a bit on a big heavy will toss your glass across the cabin in a small plane. Granted, the cabin isn't that big, but you get the idea right? It's possible you might get smooth sailing, but be prepared for more entertaining bumps in the road if the weather gets "interesting".
Pack light. Should be obvious, but small planes tend to have small baggage holds. Unless you're the only ones on the plane...
6 seater right? Do you know the model of the plane? Single or twin engine?
Most importantly. enjoy the flight! You can see soooo much more from the cabin of a small plane, you won't want to land...
-Josh2
beechcraft bonanza (they've been in production since the '40s)
i figure if we have to go down, there isn't much to hit in Kansas. most of the state is a natural runway lol
I had a couple of really bad experiences flying commercial about 20 years ago, and was ready to throw in the towel. A friend who operated a small airport convinced me to take flying lessons to get over the fear. He was right.
After a few hours playing around in a Cessna 172 I got to like flying again. The biggest problem I had was trying to get it to stop flying. Those things don't like to get back on the ground.
FWIW, the workers compensation rate on general aviation pilots is half that of truck drivers in CA.
But just in case something goes wrong, can I have your car?
Greg,
You'll love it! I am getting my license right now in a little Cessna 172(solo next week!) and small planes are a hoot. You fly lower, see more...life is good. They are noisier inside and you'll experience a few more bumps if it is rough but they are still a blast.
I agree with others, I would worry about the pilot more than the plane. If trust them, have a great time!
MW
I used to do a lot of flying in a Mudry Cap 10.
Like that except yellow with blue stripes. Little french aerobatic 2 seater. Very differnt flying then Jets. If the pilot has much experience, I find small planes many times more enjoyable then jumbos.
I learned to fly in that Cap10. But I have ot been up in a prop plane since 1993 (the year I went to college).
Zach
Private Pilot since '68 ..... I haven't died yet ... noisy, but a hell of a lot more fun that a commercial airliner.
Go enjoy Rubberboy!
Ah man, you erased the hackers attempt!
My ex girlfriend flew airplanes alot. I absolutely hated it. Unless wew were going somewhere I had no interest in getting in these things. Even still she really had to twist my arm.
THey are extremely noisy so you have to wear headphones and even still you whole body rattles and it's just a miserable experience.
Of course I simply hate to fly so I may be biased.
Also 2 planes we had flewn in did break on other pilots and had to crash land. No personal experience with crash landings.
You ain't lived until you've chased an elephant under a bridge in a Cessna Super Skymaster, and there were guys fishing off the bridge! I'll admit to being a bit unnerved ..................... The Cap'n
Small planes are a blast. 4 hours will get you a little squirmy though. I wouldn't be concerned about saftey unless there's bad weather involved.
Oh yeah, stay out of the "slow speed, no wake zones" ( I love buzzing the beach!)
Bad Bad Bad ....... FAA 500' horizontal & 1000' vertical clearance (AFAIR)
Make sure you have a relief tube with ya!
Forgot to ask, who's the pilot....Elliott or Waldo?
If you have never flown in a small airplane before, the very worse thing you can do is fly on an empty stomach. I learned that from an Air Force flight surgeon about 40 years ago. (Trust me on this). Have a good meal and keep a barf bag handy just incase. If you start to feel a little queezy, have a fresh air vent blowing cold air on your face and try to focus your eyes on a distant object on the horizon. Get some foam ear plugs. They protect your hearing and allow to hear conversation better. They also help with the fatigue factor on a 4 hour flight. Keep your seat belt fastened ALL the time. I make a living flying great big airplanes and used do it flying really small airplanes. Your going to have a great time. As far as turbulence goes, I wouldn't worry unless the airplane is upside down. The airplane can take much more abuse than you can. (Trust me on this one also.) Have safe, fun flight.
Cheers, Elliot
A 6 seater isn't a small plane...try two seats, one behind the pilot (his is the other one) and your 914 has more hp.....then put it on floats.....moose spotting
Nuckin' Futz if you ask me
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Ever drive your 914 on a sunny day, top off, on a choppy dirt road with no muffler for 4 hours without a radio and no piss breaks?
Make sure you bring sunglasses. Have fun, be safe.
My Nephew flys private jets and twin engines, he has logged may hours in a high
traffic area and has had no mishaps. (knock on wood) He flys single engines for
fun, he taught me in a 172. I love it. A six seater should give you some room to
to at least move your legs and arms. It beats driving that far for that long, and
the view is great.
Just my .02 .......
Enjoy your ride. The bonanza is a good airplane. I agree with the others in that the pilot will make or break this trip for you. It will be like the first time you had a run at the AX course.
Make sure your tummy is full and your bladder is empty.
My friend is a pilot. We flew in a rented Cesna once. Door fell of during take off. What a joy!
Another time, my mother flew on a puddle jumper out of Chicago to podunk South Dakota. Front landing care wouldn't go down, so they assumed the position and had a crash landing (complete with sparks, fire department, etc.). All were okay.
Flew with another friend in a Cesna 182 and electric went out. Fun landing at night with no landing lights.
Why do you ask?
Just make sure the pilot has the same number of take offs as he does landings.
I used to fly/own a Cessna 172. It was alot of fun...never felt unsafe. The only reason people have a hangup on small planes is that some of the general aviation pilots are not as experienced as the major airline pilots...therefore more mistakes are made by inexperienced general aviation pilots. Some don't fly for years and then get current and fly "rusty". I agree with the other comments made about the pilot's experience and that small planes can make a safe unpowered landing just about anywhere (in daylight). Don't worry...have a great time...enjoy the ride!
I got my pilot's license back in 1988. I absolutely love it, and so does Betty. She sits in the back and screws with the trim by leaning forward and backward just to see me crank on the trim wheel.
Oh.. and I KNOW about the glide ratio of a Cessna 150. Two days before I took my flight test for my private license I got to be the first person to land at Ft. Worth Alliance airport. The left mag on the 150 performed a dramatic self destruction, and in the process tore off the two plug wires from the right mag to the left cylinders. And that Lycoming wouldn't run on just 2 cylinders and 2 plugs....So I ended up greasing the plane onto the graded dirt where the runway was being built. I landed at the south end, and the construction crew had just started laying rebar at the north end.
When I stopped the construction foreman comes roaring up in his pickup and shouts at me "You can't land here, this airport isn't open yet!". Hopped up on adrenaline I shouted back "If I had any choice, I wouldn't have landed here."
The construction foreman drove me to the office trailer, and I called the flight school and told them what was wrong with the plane. One of their mechanics flew out in another 150 with a pair of Mags and wires, plus tools. He installs the mags, fires it up to check it, and says "Ok, you can fly it back now." I replied, "I am not a test pilot, you fly it back." I flew the OTHER 15o back to the home airport.
Unlike a commercial airliner, you can land a light plane just about anywhere. You will have a blast on the ride.
Here's the plane I want... http://www.napanet.net/~arbeau/swift/
Think of a 914 with wings. Two seats, handles well, cool looking, but it has an underpowered, air cooled flat 4. Most are customized with bigger flat sixes.
The owners are just as passionate about these planes as we are about a 914.
WTF?
Small planes are safe. The nice thing about small planes is the glide ratio.
Lose the engine, glide on down. In a commercial plane, they lose the engines, and they drop like a rock.
Dad flew military planes for 25 years and small ex-drug planes for another 20 years. He put down a number of shot up or crapped out military planes but only put down one small ex-drug plane when he was flying for the State of Florida. That plane lost the throttle and he had to put it down in the glades.
Seems the A**hole mechanic checked the "grease the throttle cable" box during maintenance without doing the job. The FAA found the cable sawn half way through and locked into a throttle bracket after 2 hours of flight time OOOPS! somebody lost their job.
I have ridden in small planes all over Alaska and have no fear. Won't fly with my Ex- brother in law though. He gets drunk, overloads the plane and hits the tops of the trees on takeoff. Three times now......
Isn't the saying that there are old pilots, there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.
If you want religion, fly into or out of Telluride, Colorado's airport in a small plane. It's the third highest elevation airport in the world (9475 ft.).
The plane may be in top shape and the pilot first class but if your wife is a nervous flyer I wouldn't subject her to four hours in a Bonanza or any other light plane.
THe guy who taught me to fly was a WWII fighter pilot. He taught me the first commandment of flying:
Maintain thy airspeed and thy altitude lest the ground cometh up and smite thee.
Great stories, I grew up in SE Alaska and up there it was like taking the bus. If you went anywhere it was either by boat or plane...mostly Otters and Beavers, Cessna 180s and Grumman Goose aircraft. I love them, and yes I have been on a dead stick event....less comfortable. I used to fly to Baja with a guy who didn't like to stop at Lax for fuel and so he was iffy to get to Loreto...after the second dead stick landing there (the end of the runway is the sea of Cortez) we agreed that he would not pass up LAX anymore if he wanted to live. Enjoy the sights and sounds...what the hell...you drive the car equivilent of a small plane....Jim
Hi,
I am a professional pilot who teaches in the big simulators and in the small aircraft. My apologies for the lecture that is about to follow..
Beech Bonanza is the Mercedes(when they still made reliable cars..) of the single-engine piston aircraft. A great plane, and sounds like TROJANMAN and his family will have a great trip. However, I´d like to correct couple points that have been made earlier in this thread:
1. People often refer to the excellent safety record of aviation as a whole, without knowing what the difference between the accident rate of transport aircraft and general aviation. The accident rate of general aviation on par with motorcycling. The good part(for general aviation) is that, where as in motorcycle accidents in 75% of the accidents the bikers personal behaviour wasn´t the fault of the accident, in general aviation it is the other way around. 75% of the general aviation accidents are pilot induced. So, a good pilot will make a lot bigger difference to the risk of flying a general aviation aircraft, than a good biker to riding a motorcycle.
2. The glide ratio of a general aviation aircraft is usually less than half of a medium jet. For example, Boeing 737 has a glide ratio of 22 to 1, where as Beech Bonanza has a glide ratio of 10 to 1. But, as far as forced landings go that´s enough. The important bit is that a general aviation aircraft has a low stall speed, and can be landed in a small clearing, or if there isn´t one available, in low enough speed that the people inside have a good chance of surviving.
Based on what TROJANMAN has posted, sounds like the pilot involved knows what he is doing, and knows how to deal with a passenger afraid of flying (very important to try to take all the pressure off a person afraid of flying). I´m sure the trip will be a great one.
-Jani
You know, I flew around Belize, Guatemala and Honduras in a small plane that was all too likely used to run drugs around South America at least a time or two, and I got to ride shotgun with the pilot.
Some of the instruments were falling out of their mounts, dangling by the wires that they were connected to, and the rest were rattling around. Then the radio fell into my lap and the pilot yells at me "Don't touch that!", as I try to tuck it back into its cubby. Then I told him that I was going to flight school back in the states, and that kinda' put him at ease. At least he didn’t look at me so sternly when the radio fell into my lap again.
I don't know if I was confident that this guy knew what he was doing (being sort of a crazy French barnstormer, I'm sure he knew every rivet in his plane), confident that I could fly if something bad happened to our crazy pilot, or maybe it was the adrenaline, but it was actually an okay thing. I wasn't as worried as some people would be, I think.
Maybe these things I say aren't comforting, but you should take comfort in the fact that your ride will be a thousand times better than this flight of mine
Made it Forth and Back from Arkansas safely, and even got to watch my TROJANS hang 50 on the Little Pigs. It was a pretty great flight. We were delayed a few hours, as the cluds did not leave Denver as early as forecasted.
Turns out our pilot had been flying since he was 6, and solo since he was 17. I blew chunks on the way out , then quickly learned that Dramamine is my friend My 3 year old thought it was pretty funny.
On the way back I sat shotgun, and everything was rosey. Even got to take control for a little while.
Front seats are the best! I always try to put the passenger afraid of flying in front, and teach him/her to fly a bit. Sometimes though, even the calmest of persons get sick, due the motion of the aircraft. In eleven years I´ve had a single case where I wasn´t able to get the situation under control before the passenger started faxing. The guy was really keen to fly, but unfortunenately when he started feel sick, he felt he would lose face if he´d confess it to me. Made my job a lot more difficult, and the 15 min it took to get to the ground was too much by 15 seconds... After that my passenger briefing has emphasised early warning, and I haven´t had a problem in ten years.
P.s. How did your wife like it, if you don´t mind me asking?
-Jani
He is instrument rated, but did not want to chance it flying with others. IFR was a conversation we had on the way home as we corkscrewed through a clearing in the clouds.
Been there and done that bro. If thw weather is bad, its not a good idea to fly small planes. They fly by blips and don't need much visiuals anymore and can get the runway in the fog. If it happens to go down, hey, falling Xthousand feet to your death isen't a bad way to go. LOL
You and your wife should take seperate flights for the kids if ya got some.LOL
The bonanza is a great airplane. They have been building them since 1947. I used to fly charters in one a looong time ago.
Elliot
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They call the Beach Bonanza the "Doctor killer"...not because it was unsafe...but because rich doctors with no common sense, little skill & experience would take this high performance plane and get in over their inflated heads.
My dad was a pilot, when we were kids he'd take us up for rides in little cesna's, much to my mothers dismay. So it wasn't that often. I've recently been up for some joy rides with a friend who is a pilot. Once in a Grumman Tiger, lot's of fun, loud though, had to wear the headphones. Did some 0g push overs, 90 degree turns. Scared the wife, but it was fun.
Then he brought me along on a "test drive" where the company he worked for had a Piagio turbo prop pusher for a week. Lap of luxury, it's a limo with wings, and FAST, barely need half the runway at Burbank.
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Call me silly but I grew up with family and extended family that were Navy fighter pilots and have a great respect for seasoned carrier qualified pilots as opposed to purely private pilots with no prior military training. I always ask how many hours of flying and how many in the specific plane they are flying before I get into a small plane. I have been a passenger in old biplanes, P-51 Mustangs, a variety of small Cessna's, a bunch of small turbo props even jumped out of a small plane at 10,000 feet with a parachute and I'm still here 44 years later!
I agree its less about the plane and more about the pilot as mentioned above. The pilots familiarity with area that you are flying is important as well. I had a hair raising flight in a Cessna 208 Turbo Prop with a couple of Mexican national pilots in Southern Mexico. The plane was quite capable, but they made some bad choices with weather to the point where I was uncomfortable with margin of safety flying through a mountain pass. We made it down safely, but I'll never forget that flight.
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