Dudley, you are definately a wealth of information and your vast experience
comes through. I am sure that I will be keeping in touch with and
conversing with you regularly. I may even have to stop by your Inn one of
these days, that is if/when I am in Iowa. Looks like a nice place to stay.

Shane O


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
ink.net...
Only by reputation, but I believe you're in good hands over there. These
people are "serious" pilots :-)
I think if you go in and openly discuss your goals and objectives with
these people, you won't have a bit of trouble. The main thing you have to
consider in the choice of an airplane are those objectives, and your
pocketbook.
A bit of advice going in; don't over reach on the choice of airplane.
Think carefully about what you want to walk away with after spending what
you have allotted for this little side track adventure :-) Consider
tailwheel transition if it's applicapable to you. Also, the Pitts and
Extra will require some additional time to adjust to as relates to control
sensitivity.
The L39 is a wonderful airplane if you have the money. Of all the aircraft
I've flown in my career, the T38 would be my favorite, and the L39 handles
a bit like the Talon, but a bit easier on final :-))
The Waco is a wonderful experience, but won't do you much good afterward.
I wouldn't recommend the Aerobat unless price was a REAL problem for you.
It will show you the world upside down, but isn't in the same class with
the other choices. The Citabrias are ok. You will have a tired arm after
an hour, and they are much better in the vertical plane than in roll. The
Decathlon is a good choice all around. It's forgiving, it performs well,
and will go both ways for you. The Extra is a handful and requires
fingertip control pressures to fly properly. It's a wonderful airplane.
Same for the Pitts. Never flew the German job, but I don't like side by
side acro anyway :-)
Just walk in and sit down with these guys and tell them what you want to
get out of the training. They will match your experience, your goals, and
of course your wallet to an airplane and a program designed for you.
If you have the money, go for it. When you come out of it, you will not
only know something about aerobatics, but your general straight and level
flying will be greatly improved. This I can guarantee you.
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/CFI Retired
for email; take out the trash

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Yeahh, I thought you might guess that. Do you know Rich Perkins or any
of the others there?


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
ink.net...
It sounds like you are headed over to Attitude Aviation; is that right?
Dudley

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Well, that is a really good question. The truth is I have no idea yet!
I am going to spend some time talking to the instructors about the pros
and cons of each of their planes. Let them assist me in making that
decision as well as some flights to make sure I know the feel and can
be comfortable.

Here is a list of their aircraft. I am sure a couple are not acro but
most are. A couple are way out of my league and/or too expensive for
continuous training.
Citabria 7ECA (1976) $69/hr
Citabria 7ECA (2002) $78/hr
Super Decathlon 8KCAB $104/hr
Grob 115C Bavarian $95/hr
Grumman AA-5B Tiger $95/hr
Pitts Special S2C (Yes, C) $199/hr
Extra 200 $184/hr (tach time)
Cessna 152A Aerobat $64/hr
Cessna 172 Skyhawk $82/hr
Waco Classic YPF5C $199/hr
L-39C Jet $1595/hr

Shane O





"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
nk.net...
Sounds like a plan to me :-)
What will you be flying if you decide to go acro?
Dudley

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Thanks a lot for that info and welcome Dudley.

No I haven't chosen them based solely on their military background. I
have spent some time, limited as it may be, but got a really good
feeling from the people I did talk to. As the weather gets better
and spring starts, I will be spending more time over there and asking
many many more questions to make sure they are the instructors for
me.

Shane O
Clear skies, and Adrenaline Flying to all!!


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Shane O" wrote in message
m...
Good evening everyone. I have spent the last several hours reading
and catching up on the posts in this group. Yeahh that means I am
a newbie to the group. Also I am a newbie to Aerobatic flying.

Currently I am a low time 120 hour straight and level private
pilot. I started my IFR rating but ran out of money and am on the
path of reorganizing my finances to continue flying. I have
acquired the bug from other aerobatic flyers and have decided to
take the journey through this airway and see where it leads. My
goal is to start training in the coming spring/summer at a flying
school nearby where I learned my (Y A W N) straight and level. They
specialize in acrobatics and most of the instructors are
ex-military with more flight hours than I think I have been alive.
So I know they are a good choice.

Everyone in this group appears to be pretty friendly and I hope
that I can turn to you from time to time with some of my questions
and hopefully share some of my experiences.

Shane O
Clear skies, and Adrenaline Flying to all!!

You have chosen a good path to follow here, and from the sound of
it, you are positioned fairly well to get a good acro instructor.
Just a bit of advice FWIW. The military is a great training program,
and most of the pilots who come through the military aerobatic
training are pretty good, but there are exceptions, and as a new
student to acro, it will pay you to know this. Don't just blindly
accept a military background as the criteria you need for picking
your acro instructor.
Spend a little time with these pilots before choosing one. Find
someone who not only can fly, but fits in easily with you and your
personality. Acro instruction requires more "blending" of what's
projected to you by the instructor than in any other kind of flying.
You want someone who can explain in terms YOU can understand,
because in acro instruction, you prep verbally, execute the maneuver
completely, THEN review what you did, so it's critical YOU
understand before you execute. This is an "art form" that some acro
instructors don't have regardless of how well they can fly
themselves. Just be aware of this.
I'm sure you'll do fine. Let me know if there's anything I can do to
help in any way. I'm usually around :-))
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/CFI Retired
for email; take out the trash