Top Five Planes I've Flown

"Averyrm - GTI YUP" (averyrm)
01/07/2017 at 10:33 • Filed to: None

5) Bombardier Challenger 650

The largest plane I’ve flown. It’s very comfortable, but very old-school in the way everything works. Human factors meant a different thing when this was designed. Mostly only on the list because of its size, and as we all know that matters.

4)Piaggio Avanti II

Reliability for this was not it’s strong suit. It’s a hand-built Italian airplane. Read that last sentence again. I had more emergency/abnormal situations in this than any other airplane in my career. But, just look at it. Extremely fuel efficient and quiet inside, and exceptionally fast for a turbo-prop.

3) American Champion Super Decathlon

Aerobatics are fun. Extremely easy to fly, even as a tail-dragger. Anything with a ratchet strap in the seat belt is a win in my book. Plus the seats are designed so you can wear a parachute. The only bad thing was sometimes when flying knife-edge the windows would go from convex to concave making a loud bang - unnerving the first few times.

2) Lear 35

First jet I flew. Performance was exceptional, lots of fun to fly. I have a few hours in this exact one.

1) T-6 Texan

This was just such a visceral experience. Great at big, lazy aerobatics. Lots of fun to just tool around 500' off the ground with great visibility and a great noise.

Runners up: Cessna Caravan (super easy to fly), Bellanca Super Viking (just weird - wood laminate wing!), and J-3 cub (with the door and windows open, low and slow)

DISCUSSION (20)

arl > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 10:40

Hat’s off to you for flying the hand built Italian plane. I’m not a fan of flying and getting on regular commercial jets makes me uncomfortable. I can’t imagine being in an airplane not known for it’s reliability (insert Nope meme here).

The Texan actually does look like a fun plane to fly in.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 10:40

So the Piaggio is the Alfa Romeo of the skies, beautiful to look at but....

Averyrm - GTI YUP > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
01/07/2017 at 10:43

Basically. It’s like trying to have a Ferrari as a taxi. Great - when it works.

The nice thing was you could expect 1 out of every 3 days off due to some sort of AOG-worthy event (aircraft on ground).

Averyrm - GTI YUP > arl
01/07/2017 at 10:45

It’s so much easier to handle when you’re the one at the pointy end.

Take a discovery flight sometime, you get to fly a small plane for a little while for somewhere around $100. Just don’t get hooked - they get expensive.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 10:46

So your day started checking for emergency alerts from the manufacturer.

WilliamsSW > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 10:49

Yeesh- the Piaggio doesn’t sound very confidence inspiring.

I can see why the Texas is #1. Radial engine sound is best sound, too.

Averyrm - GTI YUP > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
01/07/2017 at 10:52

Oh no, they were off work if we needed something. Especially if it was August. Famous line (said with Mario’s accent), “If you no like it, why you buy so many?”

shop-teacher > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 10:52

I did a discovery flight when I was in middle school. It was awesome. Never did it again, can’t affords it.

Averyrm - GTI YUP > WilliamsSW
01/07/2017 at 10:53

Starting it sounded like an old man getting up in the morning. Ehhhhhhh, cough cough, eff, aheemmmm, ugh, hiss, rumble.

WilliamsSW > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 10:58

Yeah, I’ve never flown a radial, but I understand that the engine start procedures are a bit different, but hearing them come to life is a treat.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 11:00

That Avanti is a gorgeous plane, and I want one badly.

Only problem is, I can sort of get over reliability issues on an Italian car. On a plane, reliability is rather high on the priority list for me.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 11:03

We’ve got a couple of Italian suppliers at my job (railroads), and it’s exactly the same, reliability, technical support, the lot. Passion coupled to an ‘eh, good enough’ attitude gives beautiful but dangerous results.

Braniff747SP > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 11:37

Out of curiosity - what were you using the Piaggio for?

Grindintosecond > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 12:18

What’s the fuel burn on a T6?

I’ve flown a Bellanca 260 (pre Viking) I must say the control smoothness is very sexy, if that’s possible. May have been built weird but it flys really nice. I’d put a caravan high on the list for myself, it can really do amazing things, and a cargo net can rearrange into a hammock on a summer night waiting for the cargo.

MrDakka > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
01/07/2017 at 12:24

That sexy eurocanard

For Sweden > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 12:34

So it’s Italian

MM54 > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 12:47

Very cool - other than the usual commercial stuff (737s and embrarer 145s) I’ve only been on one other plane (owned by a friend/coworker), a mid-50's v-tail. It was neat, I can see how someone could get really into flying much like most of us here are really into driving.

Averyrm - GTI YUP > Grindintosecond
01/07/2017 at 12:54

It’s been a long time, but I want to say 30-40 gph for like 140 mph

Averyrm - GTI YUP > Braniff747SP
01/07/2017 at 12:55

I was just the pilot, flying rich people around the country. Smart people turn right when they get in the plane.

Braniff747SP > Averyrm - GTI YUP
01/07/2017 at 21:34

Well, not unless it’s their airplane...