Flying |
As of July 2006, the first flight is looming on the horizon. There is a lot left to do on the airplane, but I don't want to get caught unprepared when the airplane is finally ready to go. For various and sundry financial reasons I have not flown as pilot in command for about 10 years. Clearly, that must change if I am going to make the first flight. So, last January I began flying a Diamond Katana DA-20 with instructor and RV-7A builder James Jula. I am now current in this aircraft and am very happy to be back in the air again. About 2/3 of my time is in Cessna 152/172 aircraft, with the remainder in 2 and 4 place Pipers. The Katana is a low wing, two-place tricycle gear aircraft with a non-stearable nosewheel, flown with a stick. It is a bit more expensive to rent than the more familiar planes, but by flying the Katana from the right seat I can get comfortable with the configuration of the RV-8A: stick in the right hand and throttle to the left. My intent is to fly as much as possible until the RV is nearly ready, and then to take some RV transition training with Mike Seager. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, there will be pictures here of an RV flying! |
The Katana, flown from HIO to the airstrip we live on, in our back yard and ready to go. |
The Oregon Coast, one of the many great places to fly in the Pacific Northwest. |
