On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 12:00:14 GMT, "Cecil Chapman"
wrote:
- two runways (3100-ish feet long)
- helicopter training is available
- no restaurant on-field
But the area is surrounded by any number of restaurants.
I still give PAO the thumbs up - I can grab a quick sandwich right there
next to the FBO. Now, granted, RHV has a nearby In 'n Out which gets
bonus points I guess. But I have to drive there - it's too far to walk.
IMO RHV's management is missing a bet by not making it easier for a
restaurant to occupy the upper level of the gub'ment building there.
- airspace butts up against foothills to the east, and SJC to the
northwest. There are basically two fixed-wing corridors you can fly into
it with - "Caleveras" and "UTC" - without talking to SJC.
Calaveras, UTC are just one of the few 'corridors' as you call them that you
can fly without talking to NORCAL or SJC, if you look at a sectional you'd
see there are quite a bit more.
Nonetheless the ones I mentioned are what probably 90% of the
inbound/outbound VFR traffic use. (BTW I *have* been known to look at a
sectional occasionally, but mostly they're great for wrapping aviation
presents. )
- IMO, a boring selection of airplanes to kick the tires on, other than
having about 400% more helicopters than PAO
For God's sake, man,,,, if you find the process of flying 'boring' maybe you
are in the wrong sport?
I don't like 30 year old airplanes with scratchy radios and "INOP"
placards plastered all over the place. I prefer to spend a little more $
and fly something nicer and newer. But really, my point was that PAO has
a lot more interesting planes, both in the air and on the ground, on any
given day - to ME. Remember, I said in my post that it was MY OPINION
and MY EXPERIENCE. Clearly yours is different - no worries, but I feel
like I'm being attacked.
??? I spend LOTS of this time at this field... If, as you say, RHV has
"400% more helicopters than PAO",,,, then PAO must have only ONE helicopter,
because there really aren't that many helicopters on the field. Most of the
activity and presence is fixed-wing from tail draggers to trainers, to
twins.
My math was a little buggered. To be clear: to my knowledge there are no
rental/training helicopters at PAO, while there are three at RHV.
Oh geez,,, have you ever SEEN RHV??? there are twins, taildraggers, new
Cessnas as well as older models the field, but yes, there are also older
(but well-maintained) planes there, also.
Yawn. The most interesting plane that was there for a long time, that
you could walk up to anyway, was an old Navion that hadn't flown in a
looooong time. Beat-to-pieces 182s and Archers are boooooooring. And not
a SINGLE New Technology airplane exists on the entire field that can be
rented. PAO has four that I can think of, and even SQL has two or three.
So, if you are the kind who can
only impress the ladies with that shiny new plane and not the glory of
flight (regardless of how one gets UP there),, maybe shiny, new planes are
what YOU need,,, but they are certainly not a necessity for the original
poster who wants to learn how to fly and discover the magic of flight - for
that you only need a decent well-maintained plane, determination and 'the
dream',,, that's it.....
Whatever. And, BTW wtf is this nonsense about impressing the ladies with
an airplane? I fly for the challenge, not to get laid. That's what my
giant pilot's watch is for!
Oops wait,,, I think I just figured you out....
Nnnnnk, but thanks for playing. You don't have me Figured Out.
Here's the REAL problem you
have with RHV - unlike PAO (where the rich folks play), there are no BMW's,
Mercedes' and their ilk infecting the parking lots and GASP there are NO
nearby espresso/latte' stands ,,,, and GASP AND HORRORS, the area that
surrounds RHV is ethnically diverse! ;0)
Actually I have wondered if the "Ilk" are why airplanes and CFIs cost
more there than at RHV...
And there are TWO Starbucks in the shopping center across Capitol/Tully
from RHV. So there.
Here's what you'll find at RHV (though, of course there are always a few
exceptions); pilots driving well-worn, older model cars 'cause they are
saving their bucks for that plane they have in the hangar, or for their
flying lessons - because in the end, it isn't the fancy car, or the flash,
or the praise/accolades they are looking for,,, they just LOVE to fly. All
ya need for that is the determination and a mechanically-sound airplane,
doesn't have to be brand-new and flashy. Like that bumper sticker
says,,,,,, "Flight,,,, all the rest is just 'details'".
OK, OK. I flew out of RHV for my first four years; now I'm at PAO for
fixed wing stuff, so maybe I was just bored with RHV in general.
Criminy, don't get your panties all in a wad. None of what I said
implies that I don't love to fly. I just love different aspects of it
than you do! Jeez!
---
I'll close by mentioning one thing I forgot to mention about PAO - I'm
still not used to flying over water all the time in the pattern. With so
many airplanes typically in the air, it's difficult to fly a very tight,
"safe" pattern (in case of an engine failure or whatever), and that
water looks cold from 800'.
dB.
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