Backcountry Pilot

[gzero offline]

My wife always thinks I'm strange,Like today I flew to Pierson Fl (2j8) a grass strip next to a paved county road with convienance store within a short 750 ft walk (they sell "Churches fried chicken).Today there was a Taco stand set up in the lot next door (I love real mexican tacos).The taco guy sees that I flew in and when I go to pay he says it's" on the house" for a ride .so gave him a quick pre flight brief and off for a half hour ride around the area .He had a great time,told him I'll stop in next week and give the girl who works with him a ride.( he's cooking chili relanos for me then).I've given rides to more than 20 strangers in the last 2 years.Guess I just like talking with people I just met .

[Portage Creek offline]

Neat, I will be near Pierson _ the fern capital of the world_ next week. Unfortlunately it will be in a car. I had a locked brake fixed in the garage between the strip and the general store.

I think you can give strangers rides in that area, and I plan to the next time I bring the cub up.

GR

BTW I am only a few miles from Skinners

[Tick offline]

My girlfriend called yesterday saying that a guy had overheard her talking about me finishing my license. He asked her if I would be willing to take him and his girlfriend out for a ride......so he can propose!! No pressure. I'm really honored and should be a lot of fun.

Word got out around the office as well. If you want to make friends in Alaska, get your pilot's license. I don't think I'll have a problem building hours come summer. That's for sure!

I think I'm more concerned about my lack of experience than they are. I hope that's the right attitude to have.

[gzero offline]

GR

ever land on the island? I look at it and buzz it but have not landed on it YET !!! . A low fly over it today and the farm animals are gone.

Sunday breakfast ,fly out of Ormond at 8 / 8;30 ,Last sun, we had a Pitts,Supercub,Chipmunk,T18 Thorp,Marquart Charger,Baby Ace,Cessna 120(me).wake up the airpark at Lafyete with a flyby over to Bob Lee and then some breakfast at Deland.Good Group,see ya Sunday

gzero

[Green Hornet offline]

My wife always thinks I'm strange,Like today I flew to Pierson Fl (2j8) a grass strip next to a paved county road with convienance store within a short 750 ft walk (they sell "Churches fried chicken).Today there was a Taco stand set up in the lot next door (I love real mexican tacos).The taco guy sees that I flew in and when I go to pay he says it's" on the house" for a ride .so gave him a quick pre flight brief and off for a half hour ride around the area .He had a great time,told him I'll stop in next week and give the girl who works with him a ride.( he's cooking chili relanos for me then).I've given rides to more than 20 strangers in the last 2 years.Guess I just like talking with people I just met .

I can certainly empathize regarding your enthusiasm about sharing flight with others but a good thread to read in connection with protecting your family is as follows:
phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1100&highlight=release
FlySafe
Bill

[z3skybolt offline]

I never fail....

...to take strangers for a ride. Been doing it since 1967. I remember when I had a single seat Pitts and my buddy had a Skybolt(two seats). Everywhere we went the little biplanes drew lots of attention, including pretty women.

With the extra seat my buddy always got to fly the good looking chicks around, while I stayed on the ground answering the boyfriend's questions. After one such flight I jokingly commented to my buddy..."you get to fly all the pretty girsl"...to which the young lady responded...."get a two seater dummy!!'

Within a year I had my own 2 seat Skybolt. She was right!

The Maule makes it easy and I seldom turn down a request. Fly lots of kids and their parents. Yes...I think about the liability...but figure that I just cannot go through life afraid of the "what if's." Might as well crawl into a hole.

have fun,

Bob

p.s. I'll be ferrying a Maule from STL to Mt. Vernon, Washington sometime within the next week or two...depending on weather. It will be around 1,900 miles via my route. Will be coming through the territory where several of you are located. Should be fun.

[skybobb offline]

I have two log books full of rides I have given, but none to top this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI

[Green Hornet offline]

This always gets down to a personal decision but it is good piloting to be informed of the ramifications of your choice(s). Remember you work your entire life to provide for your family. In this litigating society you can lose it all for giving a "Stranger a Ride". A man cannot afford to be careless with his family's security. It may not be the person who you gave the ride who will take out the law suit!

The thread below tells of a nightmare one pilot went through. He made some serious mistakes but he also set a precedent in law that a wrongful death caused by an airplane crash can become a felony.

phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2506&highlight=pilot+jail

[Green Hornet offline]

I have two log books full of rides I have given, but none to top this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI

That was an exceptional ride. Well done! Sir.

[skybobb offline]

I know you are right. I guess I must be selfish because i give strangers rides and don't think these type of things are going to happen to me. I try not to take chances or fly reckless, but I know I stick my neck out each time I give a little kid a ride. I am not the kind of person that can refuse because I could get sued.

[Oregon180 offline]

I have two log books full of rides I have given, but none to top this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI

That video made my day. Thanks for sharing!

[Green Hornet offline]

I know you are right. I guess I must be selfish because i give strangers rides and don't think these type of things are going to happen to me. I try not to take chances or fly reckless, but I know I stick my neck out each time I give a little kid a ride. I am not the kind of person that can refuse because I could get sued.

I am only throwing out information for the new pilots who are questioning the pros and cons of giving rides. I not going to judge anybody decision either way one chooses.

I was just brought up with a code about not being careless with my responsibilities. It sometimes can be a burden but that is the way it is with codes of conduct. However an exception can be made and that flight you just posted would be an exception.

I suspect like all things, some give rides all the time, some once in a while and others not at all. Life is all about choices in a Free society.
FlySafe
Bill

[skybobb offline]

I know it is a personal decision to give or not give rides. I tried to get some help one time to take some boy scouts to Owyhee Res. state airport to help with a clean up project. One guy I called probably uses this airstrip more than anyone. He told me he couldn't haul any boy scouts. If anything would happen he would loose his ranch. So I had to make two trips each way and finally found another pilot to take a plane load. It is a shame that we as a country have become so sue crazy. This by the way was a great project for all involved. Owyhee is a roadless strip so the Sheriff sent their boat down and hauled the junk to the lodge dumpster. The Oregon Dept. Of aviation sent a nice letter to the boy scouts and it was in the local paper, and the Sheriff got a pat on the back. Without me and another pilot flying these boys the 35 miles to this strip, it wouldn't have happened..

[Terry offline]

I have two log books full of rides I have given, but none to top this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI

I have seen that video several times and have to watch it again every time it shows up some where. Very cool!

[Green Hornet offline]

I know it is a personal decision to give or not give rides. I tried to get some help one time to take some boy scouts to Owyhee Res. state airport to help with a clean up project. One guy I called probably uses this airstrip more than anyone. He told me he couldn't haul any boy scouts. If anything would happen he would loose his ranch. So I had to make two trips each way and finally found another pilot to take a plane load. It is a shame that we as a country have become so sue crazy. This by the way was a great project for all involved. Owyhee is a roadless strip so the Sheriff sent their boat down and hauled the junk to the lodge dumpster. The Oregon Dept. Of aviation sent a nice letter to the boy scouts and it was in the local paper, and the Sheriff got a pat on the back. Without me and another pilot flying these boys the 35 miles to this strip, it wouldn't have happened..

How novel politicians taking credit for other peoples work, expense, and taking responsibility for any possible litigation. If anything had gone wrong you would have gotten all the credit

You and others have a lot of experience and do some good works that are very commendable.

One of the original questionnaires just got his license which we know is a license to learn how to fly. IMHO it would be best to spend a few years learning solo before taking on the heavy responsibility that you have embraced. Then look at the pros and cons relative to your situation.

[z3skybolt offline]

Hornet,

Your advise is sage and to be acknowledged. As you said we each make our own choices....thank God.

I will acknowledge that the reason I restrict my CFI to family only...is becase of the litigation. Yeah we all bitch about lawyers but our society created the attitude and it's been this way for many decades.

Wish it was otherwise. Appreciate the British system where the loser pays the fees and costs. That stops a lot of frivilous BS civil lawsuits.

Fly Safe,

Bob

[Stol offline]

I never fail....

...to take strangers for a ride. Been doing it since 1967. I remember when I had a single seat Pitts and my buddy had a Skybolt(two seats). Everywhere we went the little biplanes drew lots of attention, including pretty women.

With the extra seat my buddy always got to fly the good looking chicks around, while I stayed on the ground answering the boyfriend's questions. After one such flight I jokingly commented to my buddy..."you get to fly all the pretty girsl"...to which the young lady responded...."get a two seater dummy!!'

Within a year I had my own 2 seat Skybolt. She was right!

The Maule makes it easy and I seldom turn down a request. Fly lots of kids and their parents. Yes...I think about the liability...but figure that I just cannot go through life afraid of the "what if's." Might as well crawl into a hole.

have fun,

Bob

p.s. I'll be ferrying a Maule from STL to Mt. Vernon, Washington sometime within the next week or two...depending on weather. It will be around 1,900 miles via my route. Will be coming through the territory where several of you are located. Should be fun.

If ya get close to jackson Hole while flyin by let me know.. I might be able to get ya a hangar for the night.

[Mathew Sharp offline]

Give ride? Sure.

Take a ride with a stranger? Probably not.

Thats me though.

Matt

[skybobb offline]

I think that it is good council to young pilots that have just received their PPL. I flew over this runway a few years before I tried it. I was alone when I did that. I know I am taking a chance by giving rides to strangers but I am willing to take the chance. It is a roadless strip of about 1840' at 2680 MSL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BNXoI480BI

[Terryd23 offline]

I have two log books full of rides I have given, but none to top this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI

Skybobb -

I don't think anything can get any better than that.