First Flight - Just Finished!

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:

I recommend as a good argument starter, "High wing airplanes are superior
to low wing airplanes."

It's true, you know.

Jon...... Pandora. Pandora...... Jon.

Jon, put the cover back on the damned box and give it back to her.


Oh, let then argue about it. The're just doing it because they don't want to
admit that they can't handle an airplane with the third wheel in the back
where it belongs.


No no no...it's not the location of the three wheels that is important.
What makes it a *real* airplane (or more expensive come annual time)
is whether or not the wheels go up and down :-)


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

Sounds great Bryan. The first flight is a very cool experience. I was
surprised when I did mine how much of the flying I was able to do.

In order to really get the complete student experience though, you
really need to spend hours in a ratted out old C-150 or C-172. That
way, when you get in to the Katana, you'll have an even greater
appreciation for flying new vs. old hardware. :-) I remember getting
into a two year old C-172 for the first time. Still had the new
interior smell and...cup holders! It was a very comfortable
plane...good thing since it was what my brother and I flew on our first
trek to Oshkosh.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL-IA Student
Arrow N2104T

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

Congrats and welcome. I'm a software engineer too and when I learned
to fly I realized something interesting to me, perhaps to you too.

In software we're required to always be learning new stuff, pretty much
constantly. But, we never have to actually remember all the details
continuously. After all, there's always reference books and the web
for that!

However in an airplane if you gotta know it, you really gotta know it!
All the way - not something to look up. There's no pause button. Or,
for that matter there's no reboot in case of crash either.

Also, knowledge in aviation is often exercised while doing something
else. Distractions happen. (Your instructor will simulate these later
in your training.) It's also more physical and exercised by your hands
and feet.

But, your background in software will be useful. You're used to
learning and used to technical detail.

Best of luck with your training, keep us posted!

-Malcolm

On 14 Jan 2006 12:41:38 -0800, "Bryan Porter"
wrote:

Salutations All,

I just finished my first introductory flight in a Diamond Katana.
Cool...

My $0.00...free advice...

I'm not a software engineer, but I am a ham radio/electronics
geek/radar & data-processing tech.

DONT OVERANALYZE THE HECK OUT OF IT. I did, didnt help.

Have fun, learn baby steps and you'll do well.

Start studying for the written tes. I recommend www.faatest.com for
test practice. Highly satisfied customer!

FYI, I haven't flown the Katana, have flown the DA40. Similar but
bigger. When you fly other planes you may find they need more rudder
and more flare on landing...I found I could land the DA40 almost flat.

Above all...HAVE FUN!

--Don
Don Byrer
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Amateur Radio KJ5KB
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...smack-smack-smack-smack..."

PP Student - 0.5 Hours VFR! ;-)


Ah-Ha! Now a "PP Student", no longer a prospective student. Well, that
didn't take long. Welcome aboard.

Al CFIAMI