← Back to Squawk list
  • 54

Propellers Are For Boats?

Submitted
Propellers are for boats .... That is all I could think of as I stood the throttles up for my first takeoff from the left seat of a jet, with an ear to ear grin on my face. Coming from piston twins, the performance was breathtaking. My demo flight on an Eclipse 500 made me realize I'd never be satisfied flying a piston again. This flight began mostly out of innate curiosity. With no serious interest of owning or flying a jet, I presumed there was also no way I could afford it. Determined to…

Theodore Wright
TrendsetterWeekly PickNews junkieMaxed OutEnthusiastTrusted friendHonor RollDaily PickAmateur PhotographerPromoterAltruistAnnouncerAutobiographer

Sort type: [Top] [Newest]


maxtribolet
Max Tribölet 5
Here are some photos to go along with the article. We are working on a way to embed them...

http://bit.ly/1c7ex4z

http://bit.ly/17PjM3Y

http://bit.ly/1e6ux3r
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
Ruger9X19
Ruger9X19 3
As a former Eclipse employee, it is awesome to hear these stories of people enjoying something I helped build. The original Eclipse was a great place to work, and even knowing the end of the story I would do it all over again. I hope you continue to enjoy flying them as much as I enjoyed building them.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
Musketeer1
Musketeer1 3
"Our particular aircraft had no De-Icing systems, no DME, no approved GPS, no traffic, no weather, no radar, no moving map, no FMS, and an autopilot which was little more than a wing leveler (and would often kick off at the most inopportune times)." - Sounds like an awesome machine! Congrats on the type rating anyway.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
mculshaw
Mark Culshaw 2
Great story - thanks for sharing it!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
HunterTS4
Toby Sharp 2
Great Read!....Welp off to FWS to hop in the 150....blue skies sir!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
TRWright
Theodore Wright 3
Have fun! One of my favorite airplanes to fly was a C150 with a 150 horse on straight floats ...
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
HunterTS4
Toby Sharp 2
Climbs like a homesick eagle! put some stol on it and get rid of those floats!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
akayemm
Er.A.K. Mittal 1
from a non aviator - ... like a home sick home bound eagle... !
;-p
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
flykjk
Kent Krizman 2
Congrats Theodore!! Would it be too rude to ask what Casey charged for his exceptional services?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
btweston
btweston 2
Must be nice.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
mattguthmiller
Matt Guthmiller 2
How did you fly at FL350 with no DME and no GPS?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
FRED5600
Fred Fuchs 1
GREAT ARTICLE!! GOOD LUCK
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
bebe11
william bennett 1
Most interesting story and very well expressed.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
rradunz
ronaldo radunz 1
excellent reading!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
Fullagas
Fullagas 1
" Our particular aircraft had no De-Icing systems, no DME, no approved GPS, no traffic, no weather, no radar, no moving map, no FMS, and an autopilot which was little more than a wing leveler (and would often kick off at the most inopportune times). "

Lol! Hey, it is a jet though!
I'm amazed it was certified for IFR. Is flying your twin with inop equipment even legal?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
TRWright
Theodore Wright 1
In a jet we have a document called an MMEL, which will tell us whether or not we are allowed to fly with inop equipment. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes there will be special operating considerations for an inop system or component. For instance, you may be limited to daytime flight, have to fly with a copilot, stay below a certain altitude, depart with full fuel tanks, etc. In a light piston plane, we would need to refer to FAR 91.213 and 91.205 to tell us what (functional) equipment would be required for flight (whether that be daytime, nighttime, VFR, IFR, etc.) To answer your question, yes, it is acceptable to fly a twin with an inop auto pilot. I know this might be tough to believe, but some airplanes do not have one installed at all! ;)
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
matscom
Robert Mathews 1
Wow, thanks for sharing. The most sophisticated I've flown is a Mooney on my way to a commercial license in San Jose. Now I'm 78 and have grounded myself....but the love has never left me.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
mboette
mboette 1
How is jail treating you, Theo?
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
mfbutzin
mfbutzin 1
Beautiful.....
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
philippeadn
Philippe Ardouin 1
Very interesting point of view !
I definitely have to try the Eclipse, this could let my KingAir as a good souvenir ...
Thanks for sharing
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
WigzellRM
Ralph Wigzell 1
Thanks for sharing, you were lucky to have an instructor of Casey's caliber and experience.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
akirkham
Anthony Kirkham 1
Fascinating look at real aviation for my earthbound self. Many thanks for sharing this experience.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
honzanl
honza nl 1
No, propellers are no longer for boats too....Dutch engineers have copied the propulsion of dolfins: http://vimeo.com/54086735 (a 50% fuel reduction!)
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
LordLayton
Leighton Elliott 1
Just like boaters say "at least I'm on the water" . NOOOICE RIDE Max! I'm jealous!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
LordLayton
Leighton Elliott 1
I'd like to take a spin in that new ICON and have the best of both worlds!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
paliughi
ron paliughi 1
Nice story. Great job. No DME seems a little unrealistic in a jet,, you must be good and fast doing internal arithmetic. I would have trouble with that. Are you sure you didn't have an ipad!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
TRWright
Theodore Wright 1
You know I always have my iPad! Yes, the 1.0 version of the airplane has a much higher pilot workload than the later versions. I should mention that Eclipse Aerospace has 'completed' the airplane, and the new 550 is a very impressive and capable jet.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Parent•Report
LordLayton
Leighton Elliott 1
Just for shits n giggles. I owned a 1988 hydrostream 20' vegas st modified air entrapment tunnel V with a 200 Merc black max with a Quicksilver laser II 25 " prop and I had more fun actually "Flying" that boat up and down Lake Joseph, Muskoka Lakes Ontario at 84 mph. I have also about 8.5 book hrs on my Dad's Comanche 250 a 63 PA24 250 about 30 yrs ago and had the then known as "pinch hitter course" before ground school. My Dad liked to come in too hot and wallow over the runway too far @15% flaps,where I landed it 3 times at Full flaps and about 8 knts slower. I guess everyone had to figure out their own comfort zone with a Comanche lol. I love flyin in the air as much as the water! I love that new ICON for the best of both worlds!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
stephenlkearney
Stephen Kearney 1
An amazing airplane, especially if you need to get places fast. Most of my flying is for fun so saving time isn't the goal. For me nothing beats a sunset flight over the Golden Gate and the cost is so small ($25) I don't give it a thought.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
dodger4
dodger4 1
They're all planes. The engines that drive them are hardly a big deal. Think "money, perks, and benefit package"...
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
N650DD
N650DD 1
Great story! i am also typed in the ea50s it is quite an accomplishment.Unique type rating to say the least.
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report
mdawson250
Mike Dawson 1
Real airplanes have either Merlins or Radial engins. They make real airplane noise.
Jets are time machines!
Reply ↓•Permalink•Report

Login

Forgot password?
Don't have an account? Register now (free) for customized features, flight alerts, and more!
Join FlightAware
Did you know that FlightAware flight tracking is supported by advertising?
You can help us keep FlightAware free by allowing ads from FlightAware.com. We work hard to keep our advertising relevant and unobtrusive to create a great experience. It's quick and easy to whitelist ads on FlightAware or please consider our premium accounts.
Dismiss