Ask a Pilot!

It's a ripoff, but I'm bored and feel like posting something. Besides - I'll enjoy answering the questions.

So has there ever been anything that has happened to you on a flight that you don't understand? Or somthing that's been bugging you about what pilot's do, but you never knew who to ask? Ask away, and I'll try to answer you as best as I can!

Most amazing jew boots

For all the pot I do smoke, I'm never high when I'm flying - or drunk for that matter.

And Legato - it's actually really easy to fly... it's doing it well that's the tough part (and getting the plane back on the ground again safely).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Rock

Question: If an airplane I'm travelling in as a passenger gets kidnapped by terrorist doods and I decide to go kick their ass with a group of random guys and we succeed in beating the shit out of them and eventually kill/torture them, would it be possible for us to control the plane and safely land it, if the terror people have killed all the crew already?

For sure - as I mentioned before keeping the plane in the air is super easy, it's quite natural, you pull back, and the nose raises, you push forward, and the nose goes down. Turning the column (or stick) to the left or right will roll you in that direction, and unless you know what you're doing - you might as well just leave the rudder pedals on the floor alone. Landing a large aircraft nowadays is simple, it's even possible for the autopilot (on an approved catagory III runway) to complete the entire landing phase, from descent to rollout with no human input.

Autopilots nowadays are linked to pretty much every system, GPS, navagation radio beacon recievers, INS, barometric and radar altitude, flux-valve for determining magnetic north, etc... It's incredible at the amount of automation in cockpits nowadays.

Quote:

If you shoot a gun in an airplane with you get sucked out?

It's unlikley, but possible if you use a big enough gun, and hit the exact right (or wrong?) spot.

As for planes I've flown - I've flown two types, Cessna 172, and Beechcraft Bonanza. I've not flown anything larger yet, but I've had my systems courses on the CRJ-700.

The Beechcraft Bonanza


The Cessna 172S


This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Oh - the first time I sat in the right-seat for 172 airwork. We were practicing stalls, and I've never sat in the right seat (pilot not flying) for airwork. While we were slowing down for the first stall (large nose-up attitude), I thought for sure we were going to start dropping backwards, and go into a tailspin.

Fortunatly, it wasn't that bad - the problem was just that I wasn't accustomed to not being in control during a stall - and it freaked me out :P I didn't do anything rash though, just rode it out - and had a huuge adrenaline rush

Double Post:
Odd - I don't know why the images above arn't showing up...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

It depends on where you are, and what you want to do. I'm enrolled in a college program that gets me a bachelor of applied technology, as well as a commercial multi-IFR license. (Commercial meaning I can make money through flying, multi meaning I can fly planes with more then one engine, and IFR meaning I can fly in bad weather).

To get into the course i'm in - I had to pass the high-level maths and physics classes they had in highschool. But to get your private license, just to fly around for fun - all you need is to go through the required amount of ground school, and then obtain the required amount of flight hours, and pass the required tests.

In Canada, to get your PPL you need:
40 hours groundschool

minimum 45 hours total flight time
-minimum of 17 with an instructor
-minimum of 12 solo (no instructor)
-minimum of 5 instrument

You also have to pass the PSTAR (air law test), and PPAE (Private License written exam), and a private license flight test.

I was speaking idiomatically.