MRebel wrote:Hi all,

I'm defiantly a lurker but I do check in from work almost every week day to see whats new and learn a little bit. I bought a C-140 6 months ago and have loved learning fly backcountry.

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Sierra7 wrote:Hi all,

Decided that today would be a good day to finally stop lurking and instead register and post something for the first time. After the intro by Bigrenna (well said) I think there is no better thread to start from.

So... I'm Martin, from Innsbruck/Austria and a VERY low time pilot. Started my PPL training last fall and finished in the summer. Did it with the local flying club which is quite large (Aquila A211, DA-40, Dynamic WT9, and now also a DA-42 TwinStar, total of some 15 planes) but has not a single taildragger... Most of the planes have glass cockpits, even the Aquilas which they use for training. They have many CFIs and many planes (flexibility) and it was the most affordable training around. Also, it doesn't hurt that the airport is close by and training on an international airport has some advantages (and many disadvantages).
BUT... the reason I (finally, after putting it off for many years) started into this was always taildragger and bush flying. Flights (as a passenger) in Alaska and Iceland have added to the desire just about as much as lurking around BCP a lot.

So naturally, I was looking for some opportunities but even though there are a couple of SuperCubs (and even a Maule) based out of LOWI, nobody is providing training in them. But then, through an old school friend I found the right plane, including an instructor who would introduce me to this plane and taildragger flying! And so, yesterday was my first flight as PIC on a taildragger, a beautiful 1951 SuperCub. It was converted from a military L18C and is powered by the 90hp C90-8F without starter and alternator.

Returning from a photo flight in the dolomites. Looking to the West, beautiful weather yesterday, though in the far distance the front is already visible that moved in during the night. Due to that also some turbulence at ridge level. Also notice the gliders on the grass, as I have been told, LOWI is one of the very few airports with international airline traffic and glider traffic right next to each other.


After our 1-hour flight. View to the Southeast.


The plan now is to get some more taildragger training and going to smaller (grass) strips and fly around the mountains as much as time permits (not too much unfortunately). Also hope to get somewhere up north again as soon as possible, even if not as PIC.

Thank you all for all the info I could already soak up through BCP. And also often a welcome change on many office days