National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Other than the idiot "Bucket Hats" who jumped in here, I still find the Sport License interesting. My medical will be up in August and, while I have no health issues at the present time, I'll be 67 by then and I'm still playing with the idea of dropping down to a Sport License. I doubt I'll ever be flying anything bigger than a Champ again, have no interest in night or IFR, so for me, it kind of makes sense. The Faa medical is not a big expense for me as I can usually tie it together with my annual physical by Dr. Proto . Just wondering if anyone else on this forum has dropped to a Sport License.

if you have a private pilot license or greater, you don't "drop" down to a spl. you never even get issued one to my knowledge. you use you current license under sp rules without a med and fly on till the sunset. bernie

Presently I have a Cessna 182 and a LSA Prewar Chief. I am 72. Have current medical. But if I ever get tired of the hassle, the 182 will probably go and the Chief will get alot more action. That is my plan and I am sticking to it.

I just renewed my third class medical in August with no problems so I'm good for two years. By that time I'll be 69 and reevaluate my options. I kind of like the fact that I can still rent a Cessna or Cherokee if I want. The Champ stays, though.

Mike

Part of what Jerry Wrote:

2. You may get a license in a trike, a glider or powered parachute in 20 hours. But that doesn't mean that you will in an airplane.

Jerry, you and many other instructors during our days at Don Scott Field (OSU) put many students through a great filght school headed up by Marvin Easter that made every hour count. I had many get their private in 40 hr., also had a few ROTC students ready at end of their 35 hr course. Yes, today it might be 30 for the SP but flying 4-5 hrs a week in the right place is what it will take.

I still am planning on a visit to meet you and to say hi to Marv.

Mike Knemeyer

Aerial,

How are things going in the flying game??? Are you still in CA.!!

Mikek

Mike K -

Marv Easter is still flying at about 84 years old. He instructs some in our Champ, but only doing checkouts or a tailwheel transition now and then. In fact, our young chief instructor is now getting his t/w training from Marv. Marv voluntarily gave up his designated examiner role just a couple of years ago.

If you remember, about the best compliment you'll ever get from Marv is, "Well, I guess you'll do."

I was never able to get people thru the Ohio State program as fast as you did. But, I didn't stick to the syllabus either - I spun even the private students, took them to grass strips; all the things that were verboten. OUS's flight school was a culture shock to me, as I already had about 2,000 instruction hours, on a gravel airport, when I went to OSU after the proprietor of the other place went bust.

My wife learned at OSU, but not from me, or she wouldn't be my wife today. She and Marv have a great time talking about how I, the senior instructor (time wise) could never really get with the OSU program.

Marv's a great ole guy,

Jerry

Consider that:MOST
Americans who flew in the Battle of Britain, were very low time pilots having flown in only 45 to 60 hp airplanes and not a lot in those. Most of them had taught THEMSELVES how to fly and lied to the British as to their time in the air. So they went from say 30 -50 hours in a 40 hp piper cub straight to a Spitfire (350 mph) or a Hurricane (320 mph.) With no transition aircraft in most cases and if there was one, very very few hours in it. 7 (seven) Americans flew in The Battle of Britain and all made a very good showing ,however early in the war the German pilot was far more experienced and much sharper. One (1) American Battle of Britian pilot survived the war. His name was Haviland. (So if a Battle of Britian American pilot taught you how to fly, it must have been him.) A sport pilot liscense should be adequate for flying an Aeronca. Its a pretty basic, easy to fly airplane, very forgiving, sort of like theModel A Ford of the air.

Had a WWII mustang pilot at our airport. Never flew before enlistment, nor after he et'd out. Flight traing through 21 missions totalled 250 hours.