I have been sitting here degenerating deeper and deeper into becoming nothing but forum freak because there has not been any action in my PBY business.
Then in the last few days all hell has broken loose.
First, a few days ago I was informed that we will most likely get the Brazil contract with the Cat in France.
Then the Dutch e-mailed me that they may be ready to start the flight training on their Cat in May sometime.
Then yesterday I get a call asking me if I could spend the summer flying a Cat around the US at airshows, ending up at Oshkosh.
Just an hour ago one of my partners in England e-mailed me to tell me that we can't find a suitable ship to deliver a Cat from England to Tel Aviv Israel so its back to flying it there and I am to see if I can get insurance coverage for the ferry flight.....and for the first time in history one of my partners has asked me we should chance flying into Israel considering the situation there. I don't know what the f.c. is going on they never worried about Africa and the Middle East, are they getting smart all of a sudden?
Now here is why I am posting this.
How well do you guys ( unisex ) really know me?
What do you think I am going to do regarding the London to Tel Aviv ferry?
Will I turn it down?
Or will I do it?
Cat
It's either feast or famine.
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
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Cat Driver
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It's either feast or famine.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
As above, but I'd insist on 50% minimum in advance, remainder payable to the estate should the worst happen! Watch the stamps in your passport, and ALWAYS leave yourself an out. An old mercenary like you, however, doesn't need to be told these things, though...
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
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Cat Driver
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Of the four choices I will take the Tel Aviv gig first. I have never been to Israel and of course it will be a rush flying in that enviorement.
We have been negotaiting this deal for almost two years and finally I think the Isrealis are ready to do it.
Spent the last few hours figuring out the route and have decided to go down through France a route we have flown many times, then across Northern Italy and down the adriatic coast across Greece, Turkey and pick up the Israeli crew in Cyprus.
From Cyprus it will be up to the Israeli crew where and how we enter Israel airspace.
The money part is a no brainer, I always have the cash in our pockets before we even start. We split it up between us just in case something goes wrong we won't lose it all. In 1996 we let Phillipe carry all the money and he was robbed in a hotel in Khartoum, Sudan we lost over $19,000.00 USD and we learned to split it up after that. I was back in Canada and the rest of the crew were waiting for me to show up, so that is why Phillipe had all the money in a briefecase.
It will take about four days of flying plus what ever waiting time we run into to get it there.
The airplane will not move unless I have fifty thousand USD or that equivelant in Euros up front. I usually use credit cards and hang on to the cash just in case we need it.
On the last delivery I had $19,600.00 USD in cash in my pocket when we landed Suffolk Virginia, by the time I got back home and payed all the visa bills that came in I only had $2,300.00 left which I sent back to the aircraft owner. On that delivery we went through $49,700.00 in USD cash.
We never ever cheat our customers and have never had any problems with money, these contracts are always based on our reputation for never ever failing to deliver an airplane.
I think Mark was only pulling my pecker when he questioned if I wanted to reconsider flying into that mess over there.
There is no whore like an old whore and I need money as well as my excitement fix.......
It should be fun..........
When I turn eighty I think I'll turn over the reigns to one of my partners...and maybe they will take me along just for fun.
By the way even though I am supposed to be the one in charge there is no difference in our pay, we split everything evenly. It's a real partnership.
Cat
We have been negotaiting this deal for almost two years and finally I think the Isrealis are ready to do it.
Spent the last few hours figuring out the route and have decided to go down through France a route we have flown many times, then across Northern Italy and down the adriatic coast across Greece, Turkey and pick up the Israeli crew in Cyprus.
From Cyprus it will be up to the Israeli crew where and how we enter Israel airspace.
The money part is a no brainer, I always have the cash in our pockets before we even start. We split it up between us just in case something goes wrong we won't lose it all. In 1996 we let Phillipe carry all the money and he was robbed in a hotel in Khartoum, Sudan we lost over $19,000.00 USD and we learned to split it up after that. I was back in Canada and the rest of the crew were waiting for me to show up, so that is why Phillipe had all the money in a briefecase.
It will take about four days of flying plus what ever waiting time we run into to get it there.
The airplane will not move unless I have fifty thousand USD or that equivelant in Euros up front. I usually use credit cards and hang on to the cash just in case we need it.
On the last delivery I had $19,600.00 USD in cash in my pocket when we landed Suffolk Virginia, by the time I got back home and payed all the visa bills that came in I only had $2,300.00 left which I sent back to the aircraft owner. On that delivery we went through $49,700.00 in USD cash.
We never ever cheat our customers and have never had any problems with money, these contracts are always based on our reputation for never ever failing to deliver an airplane.
I think Mark was only pulling my pecker when he questioned if I wanted to reconsider flying into that mess over there.
There is no whore like an old whore and I need money as well as my excitement fix.......
It should be fun..........
When I turn eighty I think I'll turn over the reigns to one of my partners...and maybe they will take me along just for fun.
By the way even though I am supposed to be the one in charge there is no difference in our pay, we split everything evenly. It's a real partnership.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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Cat Driver
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Yeh, Youngback, I know.
But what is life unless you live it to its fullest.
Hell man you don't want me here making a fool of myself babbling on and on day after day because I'm bored to death do you?
And just suppose some poor bastard with a sam managed to shoot me down I wouldn't know what the fu.k hit me anyhow.
And just think of all the armchair experts and critics out there that will be able to say " well I guess that a$$hole finally got his. "
So you see it would be a win, win I'd go in style and give em something to really talk about.
At least no one will be able to say I did not do everything right straight up front, and at least I had some balls.
Cat
But what is life unless you live it to its fullest.
Hell man you don't want me here making a fool of myself babbling on and on day after day because I'm bored to death do you?
And just suppose some poor bastard with a sam managed to shoot me down I wouldn't know what the fu.k hit me anyhow.
And just think of all the armchair experts and critics out there that will be able to say " well I guess that a$$hole finally got his. "
So you see it would be a win, win I'd go in style and give em something to really talk about.
At least no one will be able to say I did not do everything right straight up front, and at least I had some balls.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
I would go for it. You gotta keep in mind the political situation now with the assassination of Yassin, the hamas leader. Are you planning some vacationing time there? that i would not recommend, you never know where those bombs are going off, especially this time. As for the air safety, its no way like iraq, much safer and no worries of being struck from below.
When the news breaks that Transport supplied surface-to-air missles to Hamas, resulting in a shootdown of a civilian PBY piloted by one "Charles .", the rest of the world will be greatly puzzled as the politics that led to those strange bedfellows.
But those of us here will understand
But those of us here will understand
Don’t worry about the heat seeking SAM’s. The PBY has a state of the art shielded exhaust system with over wing exits ……plus as long as you keep it on the rich side no self respecting missile will be able to lock on to 100 octane exhaust anyway! That is of course that you do not fly inverted too much 
. As a last resort the Cat’s blazing dash speed of 110 kts is sure to confuse a 600 kt missile.
Have fun flying to Israel
!
……plus as long as you keep it on the rich side no self respecting missile will be able to lock on to 100 octane exhaust anyway! That is of course that you do not fly inverted too much . As a last resort the Cat’s blazing dash speed of 110 kts is sure to confuse a 600 kt missile. Have fun flying to Israel
!Israel Trip
Have fun in Israel. Why don't you do us snow-locked drivers a favour and post some pics from the digital when you get back.
My old work caused me to hang out there a bit in the early 80s. Got close to a pair of Kfirs once, but that was in a bar! In the air saw lots of A4s and F4s at that time. Kfirs were new on the block.
I felt quite safe there despite all the guns. Unlike Africa, there is order and its a first world nation, just at war. I think I'd avoid public places if I were you. Anything that may be a juicy Humas target. Have fun.
My old work caused me to hang out there a bit in the early 80s. Got close to a pair of Kfirs once, but that was in a bar! In the air saw lots of A4s and F4s at that time. Kfirs were new on the block.
I felt quite safe there despite all the guns. Unlike Africa, there is order and its a first world nation, just at war. I think I'd avoid public places if I were you. Anything that may be a juicy Humas target. Have fun.
Cat I would stay away from the airshow routine. All those tight assed little groupies that follow the circuit looking to get laid would be hard on the old hard----I mean heart and you would come home all shriveled up and dried out just a shadow of your former self. On the Tel Aviv gig all you need to worry about is taking a 65 year old airplane across vast oceans, sharks, crockadiles, SAM missles and Isreali hookers. Much safer.
The average pilot, despite the somewhat swaggering exterior, is very much capable of such feelings as love, affection, intimacy and caring.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
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Cat Driver
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Hey, Oldtimer I did two years on the Airshow circuit in Europe a few years ago and the only tail I ever got was when the old lady showed up....actually it was the fear of her showing up that prevented me from getting some strange stuff, and of course the vows I took when I got married................................................................................
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
I remember when I was flying for an Alberta cattle breeder in Pincher Creek. They had "teaser bulls". Used them as heat detectors. A safety pin through their mahood rendered them willing but not able. Put a paint ball on their chin and find out which cows were in a passionate mood. Kinda like a pilot at an airshow..
The average pilot, despite the somewhat swaggering exterior, is very much capable of such feelings as love, affection, intimacy and caring.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
These feelings just don't involve anyone else.
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Cat Driver
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Yeh, istp:
I have no real concern about flight safety when entering Israel airspace. Especially in that the Irarel airforce is buying the airplane for their museum and will be part of the crew...........Now Angola, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Somalia, yemen, ethopia, Egypt off airways and many other places we fly are real dicey.
But believe it or not I find it very interesting and probably will never quit as long as I can fly.
I also do not like anyone making light of flight instructing, it is one of the most important jobs in aviation.............the only problem is no one has figured out how to pay the instructors what the job deserves.
I still believe that the vast majority of instructors really do try to give their best.
Unfortunately they are not suported by the very industry that relies on their profession.
Cat.
I have no real concern about flight safety when entering Israel airspace. Especially in that the Irarel airforce is buying the airplane for their museum and will be part of the crew...........Now Angola, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Somalia, yemen, ethopia, Egypt off airways and many other places we fly are real dicey.
But believe it or not I find it very interesting and probably will never quit as long as I can fly.
I also do not like anyone making light of flight instructing, it is one of the most important jobs in aviation.............the only problem is no one has figured out how to pay the instructors what the job deserves.
I still believe that the vast majority of instructors really do try to give their best.
Unfortunately they are not suported by the very industry that relies on their profession.
Cat.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Cat,
Deploy a Molson Beer Banner over the hazerdous areas you will be flying over and I think you might even get an escort. Maybe a few pallets of Ale in back for negotiation and don't forget a trusty Model 19 Combat Masterpiece!!!! We only experience life here on earth once.
Deploy a Molson Beer Banner over the hazerdous areas you will be flying over and I think you might even get an escort. Maybe a few pallets of Ale in back for negotiation and don't forget a trusty Model 19 Combat Masterpiece!!!! We only experience life here on earth once.
Athabascan Quote: "Know one knows the ways of the wind or the Caribou".
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Well it's time to drop my co.k and grab my socks, its finally daylight in the swamp.
Just received an e-mail that we have the contract to get the Cat in England airworthy and move it to Israel....
Hmmmmmm looks like I have to go back to work.
Cat
Just received an e-mail that we have the contract to get the Cat in England airworthy and move it to Israel....
Hmmmmmm looks like I have to go back to work.
Cat
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
