Hangar Flying

The times you actually NEED IFR to get somewhere I think fall somewhere below 10%.  But it's great to have that ability when necc.  I also believe, if you think the weather is gonna be hard IFR,  pack it in and wait. Usually it won't be that long. Those times seem to be less than 5 % of the time.  So . ..for the other 95 % of flying, it's well worth it to pack it in that 5% of the time.   I still very much enjoy night flying although I can't say I've done any in an EZ.  Still reworking mine.

I plan to use Navs and strobes to be visible, which again, is better at night.   I guess I'm one of the guys who is comfortable flying at night.  I do try to minimize the risk though.  Always looking for highways just in case.  At night they're harder to find, but I watch for vehicle lights below. Also keep more alt. at night.

Glennbob

Well,

I guess that's one pilots opinion.  I had quite a bit of VFR night flying before I ever got my IFR rating.  It's doubtless safer, . .but far from required.  Many nights are clearer than the days because of the cooling.  Flights are much smoother and of course performance is enhanced because of more dense air mass.  IFR is great, but far from required for night flight.

Clouds can sometimes sneak up on you.  I remember one time when the lights below dissapeared.  Then I knew I had to decend and they reappeared.  This was very infrequent.  Most times you can see the clouds, or see that you can't see and that means clouds.  Best to be up on the weather, but I would not for a minute forsake night VFR for lack of an IFR rating.  And I am IFR rated.

Glennbob

Thanks Drew,

This is some info that many including myself may find helpful ! !

Glennbob

How about pics of the plane, . . not the vette.  How bout a panel pic ?

Glennbob

Drew and gang,

Here's a FREE way to check your tach and I know it works cause I've done it.  

Must be done at night.  Taxi near a ramp light or hangar light that is flourescent.  I'm not sure if the high press sodium work or not, but with our elect service at 60 cycles, the prop will shadow and " stand still " at any rpm that is a multiple of 60.  So . . .1200 rpm,  1800 rpm, 2400 rpm you will see the prop " stopped ".  It's a cool way for free to check your tach and it works ! !

Glennbob

I would have to agree with Fionapple ?

I bought a " Flying " plane and I too am buried.  Although, I've made a bunch of progress.   I've essentially lost 2 years of flying and I passed up the $40 k  finished plane he was talking about.  It would have been a far better deal than the one I chose.

But, . .when I'm done, . .this will be my bird that no one will know better than I do ! !

Glennbob

Goodness ! !    

One must be carefull to assess what's important in life.   If you'd had the EZ for 5 years already,  sure you'd say it was great,  but it's not the most important thing in your life. Because you're on the outside looking in,  it SEEMS drastically important, but once you have it, . .it'll fade, . .just like everything else material in life ! !  

There have been some good suggestions posted.  All very good advice I'd say.  But be careful for what you wish for. You might get it and some of the important things in life might suffer.  It's all gonna burn someday anyway.

Family, friends, and especially God are the only things that are truly important ! !

Personally,  I'd check out some of the 3/4 finished ones out there.  That'll give you a great head start.  It may cost a little more in the long run, but you won't have to pay for it all at once.

Best wishes,

Glennbob

Dear Mikey,

DON'T  CASH  IN  THE  401 K.   THAT'S  THE WORST THING  YOU  CAN  DO ! !   DON'T DO IT  ! !   YOU'LL   PAY  TAXES  ON  THAT  MONEY  THREE  TIMES ! !   DON'T  DO  IT ! !     First,  you'll pay taxes on the money when you draw it out, . ( because it was not taxe when it went in),  2nd, . .you'll have to pay it back with money that HAS been taxed ! !, and 3rd, . .you'll pay taxes on it AGAIN when you pull it out in the end.   DON'T  DO  IT  ! ! !    YOU'LL   BE   SORRY  ! !

The key to finding a good easy is . . . . P  A  T  I  E  N  C  E  ! ! !   Take your time, . . don't leap at what looks like the first bargain.   It's  O.K.  and even good to get your ducks in a row so that when it shows up,  you can make the move,  but don't rush it.  I rushed and it has so far cost me two years of  NO  flying,  because the bird is not properly done and I'm having to re-do most of it.   Take your time.

As for the funds,  scrape together what you can,  and see about perhaps getting a line of credit on your house.  Maybe a 2nd mortgage.  That way it will be tax deductable and you can get a better fixed long term rate.   Then you can fly now and pay later.

One other possibility is to see if there is anyone in your area that might be willing to go into a partnership with you.  That can be a great deal because you share all the costs and pay only 1/2 of what everything would normally cost you.  Besides this, . .you can afford twice as much airplane.   It is critical that you get the right partner though.  I've seen a few that worked out great ! !  There are a couple dudes from out east at the show every year.  They seem to be having a great time in their partnership.  Make sure everything is spelled out on paper first though.  I was in a partnership and it was a great experience.  I had a great partner. He didn't fly much but enjoyed being partners too.

Good luck.

Glennbob