After the checkride: Go old school

Walk the vintage aircraft flightline at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and you’ll be astounded at the quantity and variety of historical aircraft on display, and the dedication and loving care required to preserve them. You’ll also notice the rapid technological advancement that took place during aviation’s “golden age” as aircraft design, materials, and performance enjoyed unprecedented gains.

But the best way to become enveloped in aviation history is flying these rare aircraft, because it provides insights into the machines—and especially the people who built, maintained, and operated them.

Flying behind an OX-5 engine, it’s an article of faith that the clattering, grease-throwing collection of parts will hold itself together. Wrestle a Ford Tri-Motor around a traffic pattern and you’ll come to appreciate the physical strength and stamina required of early airline crews. Fly cross-country in a Stinson Detroiter and you’ll gain respect for the navigational and piloting skills that aircraft of this era demanded. Fly an early Piper Cub from a dewy grass runway on a summer morning and find out why flying captivated the imaginations of pilots 75 years ago, and how it can do the same today.

Best of all, hands-on experience with vintage aircraft puts you in touch with talented people committed to preserving aviation history and preventing things such as fabric covering, aluminum welding, hand-propping, and stick-and-rudder flying from becoming lost arts.

Your First airplane

Mighty Mooney

Speed and efficiency in a tidy package

Lovers of Mooney designs are so fervent they’ve coined their own term for the condition: Mooniac. These fans are on to something. Mooneys are fast, sleek, and very efficient. They also have a distinct look. Have you ever seen an airplane with a backwards tail? That’s a Mooney.

The best value for money is the Mooney M20C or M20E. They’re not the biggest model, and by no means are they the fastest, but the M20C/E are strong performers with simple systems that provide great performance for a good price.

All but a handful of Mooneys ever built carry the M20 moniker, which was the twentieth of Al Mooney’s designs. But there are big detail differences between the submodels. The M20C/E are among the earlier versions, with a shorter fuselage. Mooney has also produced a medium and long fuselage. The difference comes mostly to the rear-seat passengers, who fit quite snugly in the M20C/E and other short-body models. The other fuselages offer a more comfortable experience, but also cost more.

Tips from PIC

Rotorhead

Adding a helicopter rating when you already have a bunch

Q. I hold a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multi-engine ratings, and an instrument rating. I would like to start training in helicopters with the goal of adding that rating at the private level, if I can. How can I do that?

A. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to obtain a student pilot certificate to train in helicopters. You already hold a commercial pilot certificate. When you are ready to solo, your instructor will provide you with a logbook endorsement to act as pilot in command in solo operations. This is endorsement number 70 in Advisory Circular 61-65F “Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors.”

You must carry your logbook when you fly and you may only solo with this endorsement; no passenger carrying is permitted.

As a commercial pilot, you may add the rotorcraft helicopter rating at either the private or commercial level. If you add at the private level, then all the helicopter-specific time listed in FAR 61.109(c) would be needed. If you add at the commercial level, all the helicopter-specific time in FAR 61.129(c) would be needed.

There is no minimum number of hours to solo, except this caveat: Many helicopter students fly the Robinson R22, which is subject to the provisions of Special Federal Aviation Regulation 73. Basically, you will need a minimum of 20 hours dual before you can solo this helicopter, regardless of how good you are or how quickly you learn.

Questions? Call 800-872-2672.