Flying Thread

[Waiex191]

Waiex191,

In favor of obtaining his degree, I suggest that your son should include complete documentation of his work to construct that airplane, maybe even minimizing what others may have added to the project.  Colleges and universities are very willing to give real credit to people who produce real products in real life, instead of just seeing their usual fare of pie-in-the-sky ideas on paper only.  The school will want to see his papers too, of course, but any practical applications of his education (so far) will score big points there.

His Master's degree is pretty much in the bag. One more semester and a 4.0 GPA. He has also been working as a teaching assistant during grad school.  He earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at age 19 already. He did document all his hours in a logbook, which may be useful if he ever wants his A&P.

Edit: he built our airplane motor age 15:

[fj1289]

Awesome!  Love it when people get opportunities like that - HUGE experience builder.   

On the parachute topic - We had a cadet we sponsored at the Air Force Academy made their soaring cross country racing team.  His first year on the team he had an opportunity to ride along with one of the competitors there.  They suffered  a rudder failed and had to jump out.  He's a 1Lt in pilot training now!

[Waiex191]

https://youtu.be/1-jkVZ2WLe0

32.7 hours, 7.3 to go.

[ribbert]

I'm at 3000+ hours across thirty years and counting . . .

No motor, no crashes, no fuel, no oil, no TBOs, no license, no inspections, no property taxes, no airports, no airport fees, no towing fees.
All VFR, and oxygen on demand.  17,999' MSL sometimes, that I'll admit.
I ride.  I fly with the eagles and hawks.  A man's gotta do something for fun, and I can't dance (due to a forgotten war).

My Moyes X2

Red, I can remember seeing Bill Moyes fly his "kite" when it was little more than a sideshow act performing at agricultural shows around the country, much of the hype centred around the death defying aspect of his flights.

The FJ and I have visited the site of the world first running take off, or foot launch at Mt Crackenback and one of our members (Urban legend) lives a stone's throw from where John Dickenson started it all.

My brother still flies at 74 and started 50 years ago (has done two flights this week alone) and his wife worries less about him hang gliding than she does about him flying planes ( he's a commercial pilot).

This was sent to me just today by a veteran hang glider, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Hang gliding is very popular here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PotjcAHTc4

Noel

[red]

Red, I can remember seeing Bill Moyes fly his "kite" when it was little more than a sideshow act
This was sent to me just today by a veteran hang glider, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Hang gliding is very popular here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PotjcAHTc4
Noel

Noel,

Well, it's flying, so that much is okay, but that is not my cup of tea.
He used a cliff launch (not a good cliff, and the launch itself was very badly done), when there was a perfectly acceptable slope launch two dozen meters to his right.  If he ever finds out that his glider has a cruise speed, his whole world will open up, maybe beyond all belief.  To each his own, I guess, but that guy is an adrenalin freak.  There is NO excuse for squeaking over two fences when all that open ground is available nearby.  Put a Frisbee out in the middle of those open spaces, and ask him to land on it.  Betcha he can't do it, with endless excuses.  What if a string of cars or trucks had been driving on that road?  He seemed to think his "plop" landing at the end was something good.  I have a different opinion, there.

I fly for scenery, and for joy.  Give me my oxygen, and the altitude to need it, and I'm a happy camper.  I'm almost as old as your brother, and still flying the Rockies.  I would bet that your brother would have about the same opinions of that video as I do. 

Here are a bunch of decent landings, some on target or close, and even a couple of noisy landings (with no damages).  This is mostly a fun gathering of the clan:

https://youtu.be/XFYSCcD7mI4?t=259
.

[ribbert]

Well, it's flying, so that much is okay, but that is not my cup of tea.... Put a Frisbee out in the middle of those open spaces, and ask him to land on it.  Betcha he can't do it, with endless excuses..... I would bet that your brother would have about the same opinions of that video as I do. 
Here are a bunch of decent landings, some on target or close,

Each to their own Red, I guess some like the thrill, some enjoy flying like birds, some like landing on frisbees.
That video was sent by a 50 year hang gliding veteran who these days flies a 'floater' but has not lost his appreciation of different forms of flying and like any sport, the extreme stuff makes the best viewing. Just like bikes where some ride like old women and some aren't happy unless everything's scraping, knee down at 100mph on every corner, or, somewhere in between where most of us live. I enjoy watching MotoGP without picking fault start to finish because they don't ride like me.

Maybe if I post about the weather next time   

[red]

Well, it's flying, so that much is okay, but that is not my cup of tea.... Put a Frisbee out in the middle of those open spaces, and ask him to land on it.  Betcha he can't do it, with endless excuses..... I would bet that your brother would have about the same opinions of that video as I do.  Here are a bunch of decent landings, some on target or close,

Each to their own Red, I guess some like the thrill, some enjoy flying like birds, some like landing on frisbees.
That video was sent by a 50 year hang gliding veteran who these days flies a 'floater' but has not lost his appreciation of different forms of flying and like any sport, the extreme stuff makes the best viewing. Just like bikes where some ride like old women and some aren't happy unless everything's scraping, knee down at 100mph on every corner, or, somewhere in between where most of us live. I enjoy watching MotoGP without picking fault start to finish because they don't ride like me.   Maybe if I post about the weather next time

Ribbert,

No offense intended, certainly, but that do-or-die cliff launch, with such casual disregard for those who would be scraping up any bad results, just set my teeth on edge.  I would not want anybody to think that video was skillful flying.  I watch the bike races too; I respect the skills involved, but I think we would both be saying something if there was a kid doing that course in shorts and a tee shirt.  A good flight can include a solid launch, a skilled landing, high altitudes, and anything else the pilot likes in between.  Racing to the bottom is just not normal, that's all.  Fear is a lousy choice, over joy.
All IMHO, of course . . .

[Waiex191]

Some very cold flying.  2.3 hours today, puts me at 35 hours total.

[Waiex191]

Phase 2! 

[fj1289]

Congrats!   That's a big milestone 

[Waiex191]

On this takeoff I held it on in ground effect to 100+ kts, made for a cool picture. 

[fj1289]

How aggressive was the pull-up?!

[Waiex191]

How aggressive was the pull-up?!

Nothing crazy. Just a climbing left turn onto the downwind. I don't have enough power for a really fast climb to pattern altitude from that speed.

[Waiex191]

https://youtu.be/IdLk2tpew4k

[Waiex191]

We are at 50 hours.  Due for an oil change and valve adjustment.
https://youtu.be/-4Aq1mwo1O0