Flying Spyders

[NancysToy]

.....The Spyder is just about as much fun as the plane was.

.....and the hamburgers are cheaper!

[spyderflyer]

i flew dustoff in Viet Nam not pilot but as crew chief

[Yazz]

GYROPLANES = the best kept secret in aviation!

www.pra.org

www.rotaryforum.com

Saw some Gyro's at a fly-in once. Looked like alot of fun. They have a very interesting take-off...

[Bootie]

noticed a lot of post make some sort of referance to aviation...just wondering. How many Spyder owners are also pilots?

I have about 4000 hours in the left seat of a few ASEL's (Airplane, Single Engine Land). I have owned a Mooney M20C, Mooney M20J, Cessna 210 and a Cessna 182RG. I sold the RG a few years back and have not been flying much since.

[Bootie]

.....and the hamburgers are cheaper!

I saw nothing wrong with the $200 hamburger

[Dochands]

No the Diamond has always had a Lycoming.

And I agree with some that the Spyder has replaced my flying. Flying is great but given its cost and hassles my Spyder is way more fun.

Now there is a group in west Texas working on a commercial gyrocopter that can take off out of your garage. That might be my flying Spyder for real. lol

[Rando]

gyroplane aka gyrocopter aka autogyro aka autogiro

do a Google search for any of the above and you will find a boat load of info and excellent flying videos!

if it wasn't for the gyro, helicopters would never have been invented!

did I mention that they are the best kept secret in aviation?

with proper instruction, they are the SAFEST way to "slip the surly bonds of earth"

[Firefly]

The only real downside I saw with the PowraChute was wind has to be pretty low to fly--- which limits the number of days of flying to far less than riding the Spyder---- ;-)

I believe you now have to have a Sport Pilot License to fly even solo - where you used to only need that if you wanted to fly with a passenger. SP License is really easy to get though.

The chutes are really really fun to fly--- nothing quite like it... cut the engine and all is still fine--and Rotax is about the most popular brand they use.

[sinkhole]

.....and the hamburgers are cheaper!

[2Gunns]

The only real downside I saw with the PowraChute was wind has to be pretty low to fly--- which limits the number of days of flying to far less than riding the Spyder---- ;-)

That is so true......I bet I only was able to fly less than a dozen times all of 2011.

[don boll]

SEL commercial all tail dragger. J3 cubs,champ,scout, 7 homebuilts. Current Sonex and N3 super pup. Spyder and Kitfox light in Phonex for the next two months. Looking for someone to fly with or g riding. Kitfox tied down at Turff soaring.
Don

[ronv]

i flew dustoff in Viet Nam not pilot but as crew chief

You folks are a special breed of cat...Have a couple of friends on this side of the dirt 'cause of you all.

Thank You

Ron

[Sarge707]

No the Diamond has always had a Lycoming.

And I agree with some that the Spyder has replaced my flying. Flying is great but given its cost and hassles my Spyder is way more fun.
Nice to hear! Now there is a group in west Texas working on a commercial gyrocopter that can take off out of your garage. That might be my flying Spyder for real. lol

I took some 172 lessons and then bought the Spyder. I really think I see more scenery driving the country roads on the Spyder than I would from the air because your Sooo much closer to what your viewing as opposed to the Big Picture from ther air!
The Spyder is Definately cheaper to operate $10 for an afternoon of riding VS $120 a hour to rent a Plane.
When the right Sport Plane gets close to my area I WILL pursue the Sport License because I just "Have to do it?"

[scudrunner]

Helicopter and SMEL-I. A stint in the Army including Vietnam, a little off-shore work, some commuter flying, National Guard, retired. Never did fly on my own dime since I was getting paid to do it. Retired, haven't been flying for about 15 years.

[SpydermanCT]

I took some 172 lessons and then bought the Spyder. I really think I see more scenery driving the country roads on the Spyder than I would from the air because your Sooo much closer to what your viewing as opposed to the Big Picture from ther air!
The Spyder is Definitely cheaper to operate $10 for an afternoon of riding VS $120 a hour to rent a Plane.
When the right Sport Plane gets close to my area I WILL pursue the Sport License because I just "Have to do it?"

Sarge,
When I was a kid I hung out at Waterford airport for almost 10 years. I was fortunate to fly all kinds of planes like a Sterman PT17 ~ Cubs ~ Luscomes ~ Tri Pacers , I did my solo in a Cherokee 180. Just like you I find myself at airports rekindling the dream. Maybe some time down the road we can find a Pitts of something aerobatic to fulfill the dream. I met Raj at the Oxford airport who runs the flight school recently and he said there is a guy there that has a Sterman and will hook me up with a weekend ride, I'll give you a heads up and we can ride the Spyders out there...... can not wait (for both the Spyder riding and the flying possibility)

[Jester]

Was an airplane driver for years, mostly in Bonanzas. Last rides were different: one had a Rotax motor, was a Grob 103 SL motor glider. The other was a Cameron N77 Hot Air Balloon. Most recently, a friend took me for a ride in his biplane. Absolutely loved it. Was like riding the Spyder in the air!!!!!!
Hold private SEL, Commercial Lighter Than Air.

[northramp]

Private, with instrument and multi engine ratings.. flying for 40 years .. spyder in hanger next to A 36 Bonanza....

[Oldmanzues]

i flew dustoff in Viet Nam not pilot but as crew chief

Still a hard job. Thank you.TET 68
Oldmanzues

[TonyMac]

Wanted to prove to myself after 20 years in Air Force that I could learn to fly. Finished ground school and took lessons at the local Aero Club in Cessna 172s up through solo, cross country, night flights, etc. Passed the FAA written and was up to practical standards on most maneuvers when work caught up. At that point I'd already soloed cross country and had proven I could do it. That and it is pretty expensive.

One thing I did get out of that training was, unless you can dedicate a significant amount of hours each month to staying current and proficient, you really don't belong in a cockpit let alone taking along passengers.

I really do appreciate the skill it takes to pilot a plane and once work slows down (retire) I want to take up a cheaper version of flying such as powered ultralights or para planes.

Cheers!

[boborgera]

i flew dustoff in Viet Nam not pilot but as crew chief

I was an RTO, In 66 might have called you a few times.
I did a lot of time in Huey's, 44 years ago man time flies.

[RTSLew]

I own and fly a Cessna 310Q (around 100 hrs /yr.) N7760Q purchased in 1991, Colemill conversion in 2004 to 300hp io/550's, garmin 530, 330 etc. Spyder is almost as much fun and a lot less expensive!

[Rando]

Any interest in a group get together for a day of Spyder Flying (soaring)?

Sandhill Soaring Club Glider Rides

[1BLACKSPYDER]

Have worked as a corp. pilot flying a 550 Citation. Did a little air taxi work. Also worked as a flight instructor for many years flying lots of different aircraft.
Still like flying the the best!!!
______________________________
2011 RSS-SE5

[wildbill6565]

My wife and I have our Private but due to cost only FLY our Spyders now!

[napper39]

lets fly