Jay,

Sounds like it's time for you to get your Commercial ticket. Not that
you need it for the type of flying you do, but at least you can learn
and become proficient with some new maneuvers like Chandelles, Lazy
eights, turns on pylons, accuracy landings, etc without hurting Atlas.
Also, you are certainly receptive to learning more about flying, so why
not study for the Commercial written in your spare time and expand you
"database"? I think you'll find it very enjoyable since you can do it
on your own time. You'll find the commercial ticket is fun and
"relative" easy to achive. And heck, your insurance rates might come
down as a result too??

Best,

Bryan

Jay Honeck wrote:

During primary training, many moons ago, I was growing frustrated with the
sedate nature of our flying, so I asked my flight instructor (Bob -- a guy
with 20K hours in every known flying machine) when we were going to get to
the "fun stuff"? He didn't know what I was talking about, so I told him I
wanted to see what these things could actually *do*...

At which point he smiled that crooked smile of his, and proceeded to do a
wing-over with a recovery out the bottom, going the opposite direction! I
was whooping and hollering for more, but he just went back to our lesson for
the day....

Nowadays, Mary and I are very cautious in our Pathfinder, rarely exceeding
45 degree banks, and never pulling more than mild G turns. Mary hates steep
banks (except in a Super Decathlon -- then all bets are off!), and the most
rambunctious thing we ever do are "Up-Downs" (as the kids call them), which
is a firm pull up with a steady push-over at the top that induces negative
Gs in the back seat.

Just curious -- what do you guys do with your spam cans? I've seen video
from inside a Cessna that shows a guy doing some pretty radical maneuvers,
but in real life what's the most you push your aircraft?