Into the wide blue yonder...
The picture is of my brother Richard, and one of the planes he flies. That one in particular for a skydiving center. He must like that shot, since it's the one he uses in his blogger profile.
(Which is where I lifted it)
Some decades ago, when I was in the Army, they had this program wherein they would match $2 for every $1 you contributed to a personal education fund. At the time, it was my intention to use that money to get flying lessons. Unfortunately, when I got out of the Army, I was told that the money couldn't be used for that purpose. So, I just took what I'd invested, and spent it. Since then, they have changed that policy, but too late for my original plan. C'est la vie.
Rich is also an instructor pilot, and has been offering to give me free flying lessons for quite literally years now. My other brother (William) has acquired a plane, in which he tells me I can get those lessons from Rich, so long as I pay for the fuel. Such a deal! I can scarcely turn it down.
So, thanks to Bill and Rich, Jack will finally get his pilot's license.
All the helicopters I flew in the Army don't count; my "stick time" was strictly "off the books"...
posted by camojack | 21:24
17 Comments:
I was more fortunate for another reason, my deal was $100 a month for one year ($1,200) and in return I was to get up to $12,000. Then I used quite a bit of it, with a 60% reimbursement for each flight at a Veterans Administration approved flight program. Now here's the kicker - you could have used that money at a VA approved college with a flight program, but not for flight only. Since the jobs where you can fly 'real' airplanes usually require a college degree for consideration of employment, thats pretty much what you need to do for a flying career anyways.
Rich:
Hey, Bubba! I did manage to take advantage of a different educational program while I was still in the Army, which is when I went to school (at night) to get my FAA Airframe & Powerplant ratings...but you probably knew that.
Guess I will come over and say hi. It's lonely down at the cafe.
Rich doesn't drink and fly ,does he?
Oh, and Hi, Shelly. You just came over to look at the cute guys ,like I did. I may be old but I can still look.
Never drink and fly - but I've been known to fly and then drink. The old standard is "eight hours from bottle to throttle"
Getting your pilots license sounds like fun. You are lucky to have folks with the planes to use and skills to teach you. General aviation is so expensive. Getting my pilots license has been on my to do list for a while. I jump from planes for now... Then I think how am I going to fly some where for a weekend. The places that rent planes generally want to have it flying while you got it. not fly 2 hours. Have fun for a few days and then come back . 4 hours on the hobs , but the plane is gone for days. Guess I ought build my own plane that would be a fun thing. Was down in Florida jumping and a guy at the airport had a Long EZ (ie the Burt Rutan composite kit plane) that was a slick looking plane. He said he spent $30K on the kit, 30k on a engine and 30 k on instruments. 90k for a fast plane that supposedly can’t stall. But the is a lot of $$ seen some spruce tail draggers much more reasonable. humm...
Ms. RightWing, Ink:
Hello! I'll come visit the "cafe" in a bit.
Barb:
What cute guys? [Plural]
Rich is only one guy. [Singular]
Rich:
To paraphrase the (other) saying:
"Don't drink and fly; you might spill your drink".
Anyway, I prefer draft beer.
(No bottle)
cave_nate:
Maybe we could build a plane together, you and I.
We've both got "mad skills".
(And, I do it for a living...)
mig:
You're right about it being risky out there...
I heard something about "cute guys," and I just HAD to come over and check 'em out! Yeah, baby, yeah [Austin Powers voice]!!!
camojack, cavemanjack, casanovajack, and now...hmmm...airmanjack..flyboyjack...aviatorjack...I've got it!!!
BIRDMANJACK! :-)[teasing, of course!] Have fun, and BE CAREFUL, YOU!!!
'da Bunny:
How 'bout "hijack"?
Nah, better not...
"hijack"...I think NOT! Unless you're thinking of converting to "islamofascism."
You "bike," you hike, you're a "caver," and now you're going to fly...Jack, are you thinking of becoming James Bond?
'da Bunny:
Really now, what kind of "007" would I be if I didn't ski, too?
Cool... You get to learn what it really means to Fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants...
So it's true then! Rumor had it you liked the "View From Above"... Watch out for high-flying hawks.
Regards...
JR:
Oh, I already know about "flying by the seat of the pants"; I had extensive helicopter lessons in the Army...but they were all undocumented.
Hawkeye®:
Yes, I do enjoy a higher perspective...
Kajun:
14 and 17 are pretty close; start at one corner and do a slight diagonal...or maybe not.
Kajun:
Perhaps...but that's not what I'd be learning in.
I'll just have to be careful...
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