How many types have I flown? Some oldies of interest perhaps!
When one has been active in the aviation scene for 53 years (good grief!), one is bound to have flown many types. I still get asked by the younger chaps what types I have flown and what were one's favourites. Some one worked in, but most are aircraft that one flew for fun, or trying out a new type on the field or, in my case, odd types that I wrote a pilot report on for a magazine article. Back during the 1950s to '70s some of we really keen chaps used to sort of "collect" types. You might only do a few circuits and a bit of airwork in a type and never fly it again. Some I got to hand-fly when dead-heading (positioning) in other company aircraft, or when employed by a Civil Aviation agency, on the jump-seat and with fellows you knew. Bear in mind that the industry was much smaller then and far more relaxed about such protocols. But it was nice to be able to hop into the right seat (and even the left if the skipper needed a pee), and be hands-on from perhaps FL120 until a fair way along the cruise segment. Of course I was in the 5,000 to 10,000 hour bracket back then and very current on Vickers Viscount and then Fokker F-27 (like yesterday or that morning!) I have annotated those aircraft accordingly. This is still just a WIP as I reflect back over aeroplanes, people and places. Just for fun, I have given each type a rough purely personal grading using a number from 1 - 5. 1 indicates that I thought the machine was truly 'orrible and 5 means that I just loved that particular aircraft. Here and there I have added a + sign if I was particularly fond of a type. Some of these may interest readers of an earlier era. Have never flown a hang-glider but, oddly enough, am getting interested lately as they are advanced enough to do some thermalling. I don't know what Mrs dakota67 will think of that idea! Been in a hot-air balloon but as a pax.
This is still WIP as my memory is a tad hazy. Not of interest to most readers but I am finding it somewhat nostalgic casting my mind back.
Many of the Austers and a couple of its parent Taylorcraft (3) and the post-war Taylorcraft Topper (2). DH-82 Tiger Moth (3). DH-83 Fox Moth (4). Miles M-14 Magister (4). Whitney Strait (2). Miles Messenger (2). Miles Gemini (2). Percival Proctor (2). Piper Pacer (3), Tripacer (4), Colt (2), PA-18 (4), J2 (1), J3 (2), PA-28 (4), Arrow (4), PA-32 (4), 24,23.38. Callair A-9 (3), Aeronca Champs (3). Cessna 120 (3), 150/152 (2), 170 (3),180 (4), 182 (4), 185 (5), 205 & 206 (4), 210 (4), 336/7 (4), 402 (4+), 188 (4+), 177 (4). Beech Baron (5), Queenair (4), Kingair (5). Fletcher FU-24 (various engines), PAC Cresco. Avro Avian. DHC-1, DHC-3, DHC-3, DHC-4, DHC-6, DHC-7 (cruise only) DHC-8. DC-3/C-47 (5+), Vickers Viscount. Fokker F-27. ATL Carvair/C-54E (climb/cruise). Lockheed 18 Lodestar. Bristol 170 Freighter. Douglas DC-6B. Lockheed L-188 Electra. BN-2 Islander. Transavia PL-12 Airtruck/Skyfarmer. Grumman Traveller, Tiger and Cougar. Beech Musketeer. Tipsy Belfair. Meta-Sokol. Mooney M-20. Victa Airtrainer. Chrislea Ace. Rallye. CAC Ceres. Diamond DA-42. Gippsland GA-8 Airvan. Yak52. Antonov AN-2. Emeraude.
A whole lot of gliders from early Rhonlerche. Favourite single-seat was Libelle and, amongst the older two-seaters, I have an affection for the K-13. Did a lot of towing also; mainly in South Australia, a wonderful gliding environment.
Various homebuilts and microlights from early Druine Turbulent on...
Spent many hours battling my way towards an Instrument Rating in a range of those dreaded torture machines; the Link Trainer. But also many happy, if somewhat busy, hours in a Redifon Lockheed 1049 Constellation simulator. No motion and no visual capacity, but rather challenging for a lad who was upgrading from the DC-3 onto the Vickers Viscount (it was used a generic four-engine trainer; particularly for instrument approaches and zero-vis. take-offs).
Never got to crew the jets due periodic eye problems but rode extensive jump-seat on many from B-727 and DC-9 onwards. Good grief, how boring. Still WIP as memory banks clear...............