Highlights after fifty years of flying

[Cat Driver]

This forum needs some more action so I thought I would share some of the different things I can remember about flying.

First flying lesson: July 23, 1953.

Longest non stop flight: Ninteen hours and ten minutes, 1968 (PBY)

Longest paved runway: Fifteen thousand five hundred feet, Harare Zimbabwe.

Longest water crossing: Dakar Senegal to Natal Brazil, 1998 (PBY)

Highest wind for take off: Seventy four knots off the water at Port Harrison PQ. 1968 (PBY)

Highest x/wind on landing: Fifty knots nintey degrees, Resolute Bay 1971 (DC 3)

Highest temperature for take off: Fifty one degrees C. Jeddah Saudia Arabia 1999.

Lowest temperature on arrival: Sixty four below C. Mayo Youkon 1971 (DC 3)

Most remote landing site: North end of Borden island High Arctic on sand beach, 1971 (DC 3)

Most frightening experience in flight: Caught in sudden Harmatten sand storm in the Sahara Desert.

Highest reported thunder storm cloud tops: Seventy four thousand feet in ITCZ south of Panama.


Most forbidding terrain flown over: East coast of Greenland.

Most boring day: Today.

[I'd Rather Be Flying]

Wow! That's an impressive list. We've all had some memorable moments in flight; I guess after many years of flying that's what you're left with: memories and experience.

Thanks for sharing.

[grouchy]

enough about the good times Cat, tell us about the low lights.

[canadian_bacon]

Shortest distance from the top of a 50 foot obstacle on take-off: 2 feet
Greatest distance needed to stop on a 2500 ft runway: 2495 feet
Closest distance to another aircraft without hitting it: 100 ft
Number of times a baby has been born onboard: 2

[N2]

Cat most of us could only dream to have the experiences that you have had during your career. The type of flying you do sure makes the airlines look boring!

[Maverick]

Cool! You have more northern stories?

[Cat Driver]

Yeh, I know what you mean.

The most boring job I ever had was the Twin Otter milk run on floats Vancouver - Victoria.

The most exciting was Africa in the war zones, especially Luanda Angola it doesen't get much more dangerous than that.....especially after you land.

African survival hint:

Stay away form the "night fighters " ( African whores )

We even had Mig 21's scrambled on us in Dire Dawa, Ethopia, the same jets shot down one of the Lears belonging to a company I was working with a couple of weeks later.

I hope to give Africa one more go before I expire. I've been there seven times.....

But look at the bright side of this...these deep thinkers in TC are protecting all the young guys from people like me by making sure I don't get to do flight training.....

Just imagine all the bad info I would give to young pilots wanting to fly for a living.....

Cat Driver:

[oldtimer]

Cat Driver
Maybe you can help explain what happened. Flying an old Fairchild F11 Husky (CF-SAQ) with an R985 and inertial starter. Had a second switch beside the starter for the booster coil. To make a short story long,the boss,Hank Parsons told us stories of when he flew a Bellenca Pacemaker with a P & W Hornet engine. He said he used to prime the engine, crank the prop just over compression, get in the cockpit and crank the old "wind-up" booster coil and the engine would start. We all thought "Tell me another one Hank." Anyway, one day I was stuck out in the bush with a starter that would not engage. Just spun over, electric or handcrank. So remembering Hanks story, I tried and guess what. One hell of a big bang, a few chuggs and the stupid engine fired and ran. Back home, everone said it was impossible. I said "I'll show you. 2 years later, I was still trying to prove my point. Could never ever duplicate the feat. Any suggestions. : bang head

[loopy]

Impressive list of accomplishments Cat. makes my relativley "young" career of mostly turbine driving seem dull.

[oldtimer]

loopy
Flying turbines is dull and boring,Thats why everone flies turbine equipment. and that is one small reason that there is such a supply of pilots. We are not killing off the old ones at the rate we once did. An engine failure in a Beech 18 is a hair raising experience. In the Kingair 350, I fly, it is more ho hum. just watch that sucker go. I Know a lot of older pilots that quit in the late '60 and '70s because their nerves could not hack it. Nowadays, it is nice to just jump into that nice new EFIS machine and relax while you leap tall buildings in giant steps. I find a hard day flying relaxing. Some people like Cat Driver thrive on adrenalin but most of us just want to die peacfullly in our sleep at an old age. Either that or at age 90+ be shot by a jealous husband.

[ahramin]

I resent that oldtimer. Even when i get to 90 i plan on defenestrating myself before he gets a shot off. Getting shot is just poor form.

Respectfully

ahramin

[Cat Driver]

Oldtimer;

I was thinking about your comment.

I guess some people are more prone to being addicted to either chemical substances or high stress situiations...me I am a multi tasker in the addiction field, was addicted to danger, booze, gambling and pussy. I have quit drinking and gambling.

Also I need something to keep my intrest up, for instance I don't find hanging around home and having my wife suggest that maybe I should put the garbage out or fix some appliance she just broke all that exciting.

When I get trapped in that rut I get to wondering how the mercenaries I worked with in Africa are getting along and envy their exciting life style, so it is only logical to me to accept the fact that I need some excitement to keep my intrest up. Like anything else that life style can become an addiction and one that is hard to break.......

My biggest problem is I still think I'm twenty and do not have enough intelligence to even consider doing anything different.

Besides I like true up front corrupt people like we deal with in these shit hole countries, they have class and a reason for their behaviour....Our local home grown variety don't have enough balls to really be take a chance in the real world...


Yeh, I guess I'm not very cultured but what the f..k I never pretended to be.

[Cat Driver]

Oldtimer :

That is an interesting trick to start an engine.

If you prime an engine and dump some fuel int the cylinder by rotating the engine and getting it stopped just at TDC and then engaged the start coil with the mags on, it seems possible that the high tension voltage would fire the primed cylinder, once it gets a kick over by firing it should have enough inertia to continue to the next firing position...

I've never done it myself, but I can see it would be possible.

[Flying Low]

Very interesting stuff Cat!

Longest flight without potty break: 6.7 (geo survey in a C206).

Most takeoffs and landings in a day: 35 (7.2 hours towing gliders in a PA12).

Total time flying 200 AGL or below: 800 hours (geo physical survey and seeding)

Number of 180 degree turns: Thousands (geo survey and seeding)

[ahramin]

Sorry but after that last one i just gotta:

Longest day: 45 glider tows (10 hours)
Longest flight: 500 km in 10 hours (glider)

And as for Cat Driver:
Mine's bigger

Hope everyone is having a good day.

ahramin

[Driving Rain]

Most takeoffs and landings in a 3.9 hour period 101. (100 water 1 land) before lunch. Most takeoffs and landings in 1 day 136 which isn't even close to the record of 225 in one day done by two Croation pilots!
Worst accomodation a surveyor's tent at -48 C at LG 2 P.Q. in the winter of 73. Longest time spent without a bath and wearing the same clothes 7 days LG 2 P.Q. in the winter of 73.
Cheers Pete

[Right Seat Captain]

Just imagine all the bad info I would give to young pilots wanting to fly for a living.....

Cat,
I wish you could teach me some of this 'bad info'.

[ahramin]

I have to admit it is great info ... if your ears don't fall off first

ahramin

[Cat Driver]

Hey... Driving Rain.....

I beat you I did 140 pickups in one day...but it took me 11.3 flight hours with ferry flights for fuel...

And we did it in a PBY..you guys cheat with all that power in those Turbine 415's.

Right Seat Captain>

You just hang in here and I'll educate the hell out of you.... gives me something to do.

As far as TC and the instructing thing goes that is simple...since those pricks decided I can't instruct with an Operating Certificate, hey no big deal I will instruct anyone any time I feel like it and they can kiss my ass...

When I feel like slumming all I have to do is walk pass 800 Burrard St in Vancouver and think of a few TC types who work there, and if I feel the need to be in the company of a higher class of people I just walk around where the pimps and drug dealers hang out.

Yup you just hang around and I'll educate you.

I'm suprised they haven't failed my medical with some trumped up problem ...their favourite is informing you there is a problem with your latest ECG...thats an easy one.

So you hang in there and the Duke, Driving Rain, myself and some of the other old timers will give you an education no flight school ever could...

Oh, by the way you will have to forgive me for being so afraid of TC.

. .

Fixed wing license #AA38841

Helicopter License # DO38841

( just in case TC wants to find me. )

[justplanecrazy]

Hey Cat,

Gotta say I'm jealous of the experiences that you've gone through, thats quite the resume'.

I'm friends with a fellow that flew Hueys in Vietnam. He is Vietnamese but flew for the US. His boss didn't like him so he gave him the death penalty (or so he thought) by sending him into the medevac unit. You're life expectancy was nill in the Medevac unit. I can't believe some of the stories that he tells me. Unlike most vets, his aren't and don't need to be doctored. He's been documented on CBC and in countless magazines. When the war was ending he flew his family to a Carrier and then pushed his chopper off the side to make room for more. After the war he went on to heli-skiing, logging and north pole adventures. He's been shot down 4 times, landed on the North Pole 3 times, and is still smiling. I never get tired of his storytime.

Whatever happend between you and TC if you don't mind me asking? Sounds like they've got a pretty big hate on for you!

[Cat Driver]

Justplanecrazy:

Yeh there are some really awsome guys in the flying business, the most interesting are the mercenaries who fly for money generally they are ex military guys who just don't know any other life.

I met a couple in Luanda one day who really got me into the world of the mercenary. If they had not got out of their Herk when they did I would be dead, a few Africans had cornered me and were about to slit my throat to rob me right on the ramp where we were parked, my crew were to far away to help me but these two guys came around the airplane with a uzi and I lived to see another day....I learned more from these two than any other guys on how Africa really works...

Maybe some day I will tell the story for something to do...in the mean time the Duke is a far better story teller than me and he has been there and done what he writes about.

The TC thing is quite simple, I refused to take crap from one of their bullies and they are trying to show me who is in charge.....

Fu..ing dreamers they wouldn't last the weekend in the real world.

Hey I got to go my wife wants me in the hot tub to play the Trident Submarine game with me.

.

[Panama Jack]

Well .,

I sure enjoyed your post and your stories. I've travelled around a bit, by now mostly flown turbines, interested in your stories but happy with my ho-hum lifestyle.

Maybe they'll make a movie about you one day.

[Leaky Float]

Thank you all for your lists of accomplishments. I, comparatively speaking am a greenhorn, but in reading the plethora of experiences I did not see one in particular.
Wording this very carfully, several years ago (I know, the statute of limitations has not run out yet) a friend an I "may" have been flying a float equiped airplane over several square lakes (with perkilators in them) and both of us "may have" looked at each other and smiled. "You thinking what I am thinking?"
"Yeah, think it's possible?"
"Well it looks big enough doesn't it?"
Long story short, a month later there "may" have been a strong north west wind (the sewer ponds were north and south with a long diagonal to the north west). I can honestly say, that they are big enough to land a small float plane in however I conclusevly deny that I was the one that did, nor had anything to do with, accomplishing the dirty deed...no punn intended. bootyshake
Mabe in a few more years the info. "may" be more straight forward.
Yeah, I know before I, indirectly of course, get pummeled with critisizm, it was, and will continue to be, stupid.

[Mitch Cronin]

Leaky Float! Yikes! Man I hope like hell you plugged those leaks before that stunt! Or if not, I hope the maintenance folk made you pump the suckers out!

Egad... What on earth would possess a man to do that? Picture perfect would have been a sudden stop with the two of you ending up swimming in that yuk and a man with a camera to record that for all to see.

Mister . ., sir.... I humbly suggest you keep on typing... The only difference I see between your story telling and Duke's is that he's doing it and you're holding back... His stories are raw and told without the well honed skills of a good writer... that's partly what's made them so damned good to read... Yours would be just as interesting and told in your own style, as if you were talking to your shrink;)... I'm betting you'd be surprised how many of us would love to read them.

Cheers... and please do consider more typing.

[Mitch Cronin]

Sorry... I shoulda said... We've yakked a tiny bit before... I used to be "Griffon's Friend"... but I had to re-enlist here for some reason... (I'm still his friend, but he won't bite me for borrowing his name)