Clubhouse Grille (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***) (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION ***)

[BIG STU]

4 hours ago, nitram said:

If you ever want to get rid of it Stu, I'll be glad to double your money.

Seriously if I go over there and find it you can have for postage-- Wait until after the Holidays-- Reason I said that was last year WRXer Richard 77 sent me 2 persimmon drivers for a Get Well/ Christmas present. He mailed them from Indiana on Dec 2nd 2020. They arrived here Jan 7 2021--- He was worried they were lost or destroyed and he wanted to surprise me which he did--- Yep I would rather have someone like you have it and hit it and enjoy it rather than it sitting in the building collecting dust

[Soloman1]

Well, it’s Friday night — time for another brandy and cigar.

 

I don’t talk about things to name drop. but only to share some things about some of the people I’ve been privileged to know in golf. I guess this happens when you get older. If you find it annoying, I’ll stop. Just say so.

 

I read that Judy Rankin is retiring from her announcer job. I always thought she was a class act. I’ve never met her, but I’ve spent time with Peter Kostis and Frank Nobilo.

 

I first time I met Peter in the early 1980’s. I met him and Davis Love Jr. in south Florida when I was playing a lot of golf a few years earlier and in some really fun big money games then. I had played with Moe Norman and many Hollywood types, like Evel Knievel, Dean Martin, Joe Namath, etc., and Peter was trying to get me to play more draws than fades with my irons. He actually got a little mad that I didn’t want to do that as my stock shot.

 

I met him again a few years ago and we talked about that time. Whatever you think of Peter, he was, and is, a very sincere guy. He just wants people to play well and hopes to make make people better. He really is a gentleman. And he can still hit a ball pretty well…

 

Davis Love was the father of Davis Love III. He died in a plane crash soon after we met. Davis was a very underrated and understated teacher. I was a smoker back then and he, quite comically, had quit smoking. Well, except for the cigarettes he bummed from me as we worked together. 🙂

 

I was lucky to have both Peter and him working with me at the same time. Peter was insisting that I hit a draw 6-iron into a green that was the target, and Davis quietly said to keep hitting the high fade into the green, while he helped me with some visualization that helped me a lot. I was about a plus 3 then. Good enough for money games and some minitour things, nowhere near good enough for the big show.

 

One of the nicest people you would ever want to meet is Frank Nobilo. Dinner and conversation a couple of years ago with he and his lovely wife was a pleasure. I won’t betray a trust about some of our conversation about his job, but suffice it to say that the politics of television is a mine field. Classy guy, has his own charity event that’s not public knowledge and a man who is always searching for knowledge.

 

He and Peter and the late Davis Love Jr. were good people. I hope you will take my word for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2021 by Soloman1

[Conrad1953]

1 hour ago, Soloman1 said:

Well, it’s Friday night — time for another brandy and cigar.

 

I don’t talk about things to be name drop. but only to share some things about some of the people I’ve been privileged to know in golf. I guess this happens when you get older. If you find it annoying, I’ll stop. Just say so.

 

I read that Judy Rankin is retiring from her announcer job. I always thought she was a class act. I’ve never met her, but I’ve spent time with Peter Kostis and Frank Nobilo.

 

I first met Peter in the early 1980’s. I met him and Davis Love Jr. in south Florida when I was playing a lot of golf a few years earlier and in some really fun big money games then. I had played with Moe Norman and many Hollywood types, like Evel Knievel, Dean Martin, Joe Namath, etc., and Peter was trying to get me to play more draws than fades with my irons. He actually got a little mad that I didn’t want to do that as my stock shot.

 

I met him again a few years ago and we talked about that time. Whatever you think of Peter, he was, and is, a very sincere guy. He just wants people to play well and hopes to make make people better. He really is a gentleman. And he can still hit a ball pretty well…

 

Davis Love was the father of Davis Love III. He died in a plane crash soon after we met. Davis was a very underrated and understated teacher. I was a smoker back then and he, quite comically, had quit smoking. Well, except for the cigarettes he bummed from me as we worked together. 🙂

 

I was lucky to have both Peter and him working with me at the same time. Peter was insisting that I hit a draw 6-iron into a green that was the target, and Davis quietly said to keep hitting the high fade into the green, while he helped me with some visualization that helped me a lot. I was about a plus 3 then. Good enough for money games and some minitour things, nowhere near good enough for the big show.

 

One of the nicest people you would ever want to meet is Frank Nobilo. Dinner and conversation a couple of years ago with he and his lovely wife was a pleasure. I won’t betray a trust about some of our conversation about his job, but suffice it to say that the politics of television is a mine field. Classy guy, has his own charity event that’s not public knowledge and a man who is always searching for knowledge.

 

He and Peter and the late Davis Love Jr. were good people. I hope you will take my word for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep the stories coming! I enjoy hearing about the various people in and around the game from

someone who actually knows or knew them.     

 

Did you ever meet John Derr by any chance? 

 

 

 

[Conrad1953]

Must see TV for moi tomorrow. Michigan State v Ohio State followed by Arkansas at Alabama.  Crunch time is upon us.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Conrad1953

[Soloman1]

I never met John Derr, but I wish I had!

[Conrad1953]

Funny John Derr story......

The Tale of John Derr, Joe DiMaggio, Marilyn Monroe and The Masters - Pinehurst Resort

[Fellaheen51]

On 11/20/2021 at 12:50 AM, Conrad1953 said:

Must see TV for moi tomorrow. Michigan State v Ohio State followed by Arkansas at Alabama.  Crunch time is upon us.

 

Well, surmise your early must see TV lasted for maybe an hour.  Total annihilation.  The Spartans were never in the game, was over by the first quarter.  I had a small measure of optimism prior to the start, hoping they could score some points and at least keep it close into the second half.  Their vulnerability in the defensive backfield was fully exposed by Stroud and company.  

 

The Buckeyes were bigger, stronger, faster and more skilled than than MSU.  How many passes did the D Linemen batt down?  Sheesh.  The talent gap is readily apparent.  If the Spartans want to strive for higher expectations, Ohio State remains the benchmark in the Big Ten.  Serving notice that the Buckeyes are ready to ball against any team in the country.  TCB next week against the Weasels. 

 

A real test of HC Mel Tucker's skills as a people manager to put the debacle behind them.  And focus on the last game against Penn State.  A win gets them into a respectable bowl game against a quality opponent.  

 

BTW, congrats on the closer than expected Tide win against the 'Backs.   Rivalry game next week, although doesn't seem like Auburn will present much of a problem.  The SEC 'ship game will be must see TV.  

 

The committee will be twisting themselves into all kinds of contortions to continue keeping Cinci out of the Gang of 4.  With the Ducks loss, wouldn't surprise me they jump UM over the Bearcats into 4th place in the CFP.  Still YTBD on the field with two weeks left.  

[BIG STU]

On 11/19/2021 at 11:25 PM, Soloman1 said:

Well, it’s Friday night — time for another brandy and cigar.

 

I don’t talk about things to name drop. but only to share some things about some of the people I’ve been privileged to know in golf. I guess this happens when you get older. If you find it annoying, I’ll stop. Just say so.

 

I read that Judy Rankin is retiring from her announcer job. I always thought she was a class act. I’ve never met her, but I’ve spent time with Peter Kostis and Frank Nobilo.

 

I first time I met Peter in the early 1980’s. I met him and Davis Love Jr. in south Florida when I was playing a lot of golf a few years earlier and in some really fun big money games then. I had played with Moe Norman and many Hollywood types, like Evel Knievel, Dean Martin, Joe Namath, etc., and Peter was trying to get me to play more draws than fades with my irons. He actually got a little mad that I didn’t want to do that as my stock shot.

 

I met him again a few years ago and we talked about that time. Whatever you think of Peter, he was, and is, a very sincere guy. He just wants people to play well and hopes to make make people better. He really is a gentleman. And he can still hit a ball pretty well…

 

Davis Love was the father of Davis Love III. He died in a plane crash soon after we met. Davis was a very underrated and understated teacher. I was a smoker back then and he, quite comically, had quit smoking. Well, except for the cigarettes he bummed from me as we worked together. 🙂

 

I was lucky to have both Peter and him working with me at the same time. Peter was insisting that I hit a draw 6-iron into a green that was the target, and Davis quietly said to keep hitting the high fade into the green, while he helped me with some visualization that helped me a lot. I was about a plus 3 then. Good enough for money games and some minitour things, nowhere near good enough for the big show.

 

One of the nicest people you would ever want to meet is Frank Nobilo. Dinner and conversation a couple of years ago with he and his lovely wife was a pleasure. I won’t betray a trust about some of our conversation about his job, but suffice it to say that the politics of television is a mine field. Classy guy, has his own charity event that’s not public knowledge and a man who is always searching for knowledge.

 

He and Peter and the late Davis Love Jr. were good people. I hope you will take my word for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My old man was friends with Mr Love II back when he was the pro at Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte NC and head of the Carolinas PGA Section. I only met him a couple of times and I was a kid then. Never met DLIII he was a younger kid back then. And when DLIII had gotten to be big and great player they had moved on. I did meet quite a few of the older big names when I was a kid through my old man. Guys like Dutch Harrison Doug Sanders even Arnold Palmer. Billy Casper and my old man were friends. Some of the guys that are on the Champions Tour now I touched base with back in the Mini Tour days. My old man always spoke highly of Mr Love II

Now early NASCAR guys I knew quite a few of them--- Our course was like 4 miles from Charlotte Motor Speedway and a lot of the guys played golf when the races were in town. I do not know how much you guys know on 60s 70s NASCAR. I know Joe Weatherly did not really play golf but hung out with the guys. He always used those little shorty leather golf gloves to drive in. He always called my Step Mom like a week before the races at Charlotte to make sure she had ordered a Dozen gloves for each hand so he could stock up. He was killed in 63 but there was a pair of his goves in the display at the Hall of Fame in Darington. I played quite a bit of golf with Buddy Baker growing up and played golf some with David Person  Bobby Isaac and Donnie Allison.

Edited November 21, 2021 by BIG STU

[scomac2002]

10 hours ago, Soloman1 said:

I never met John Derr, but I wish I had!

 

After reading @Conrad1953's link I can see why!  😏

 

And here I thought that you were speaking about wanting to meet John Deere... 🚜

[Conrad1953]

4 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

Well, surmise your early must see TV lasted for maybe an hour.  Total annihilation.  The Spartans were never in the game, was over by the first quarter.  I had a small measure of optimism prior to the start, hoping they could score some points and at least keep it close into the second half.  Their vulnerability in the defensive backfield was fully exposed by Stroud and company.  

 

The Buckeyes were bigger, stronger, faster and more skilled than than MSU.  How many passes did the D Linemen batt down?  Sheesh.  The talent gap is readily apparent.  If the Spartans want to strive for higher expectations, Ohio State remains the benchmark in the Big Ten.  Serving notice that the Buckeyes are ready to ball against any team in the country.  TCB next week against the Weasels. 

 

A real test of HC Mel Tucker's skills as a people manager to put the debacle behind them.  And focus on the last game against Penn State.  A win gets them into a respectable bowl game against a quality opponent.  

 

BTW, congrats on the closer than expected Tide win against the 'Backs.   Rivalry game next week, although doesn't seem like Auburn will present much of a problem.  The SEC 'ship game will be must see TV.  

 

The committee will be twisting themselves into all kinds of contortions to continue keeping Cinci out of the Gang of 4.  With the Ducks loss, wouldn't surprise me they jump UM over the Bearcats into 4th place in the CFP.  Still YTBD on the field with two weeks left.  

 

I fully expect the Buckeyes to jump over the Tide to #2. That was an impressive win over a #7

ranked team.  Having watched all the Alabama games this year I see us as having made a lot

of mistakes on both sides of the ball but somehow winning 10 of 11 games. If we're gonna have

any chance against Georgia in the SEC ship we cannot make so many mistakes. 

 

Our defensive backfield also gives up far too many big pass plays. Offensively; dropped passes,

fumbles and sacks. Last year's team put games away early. This year's team produces lots of

nail biter games; including the loss to A&M by a last second field goal.

 

We may still make the playoff but my gut is now telling me it's gonna be Georgia v Ohio State in

the Natty game.

 

Can you imagine the shock waves if Cincy does get in and then wins the Natty? It can't happen,

lol.

 

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, scomac2002 said:

 

After reading @Conrad1953's link I can see why!  😏

 

And here I thought that you were speaking about wanting to meet John Deere... 🚜

I am quite fond of John Deere even though I am not a Farmer---- But I did make quite a bit of money hauling them to the Farmers

[billh17]

 I just watched the video Tiger released of him hitting irons....the man looked pretty good....

swing  did not have that "tiger torque" and push/twist on the left leg, but his swing and tempo were

very smooth and controlled. Looked pretty darn good ! Said the rehab was the most painful thing he has been  thru. 

Edited November 21, 2021 by billh17

[BIG STU]

Well believe it or not I did play the shootout yeaterday---- One of my old scramble partners called Friday night--- I left it as depends on the temp Saturday morning-- Well it was 43* here around 8:00 and my wife said go you need to get out just do not over do it.  I had been working on the mental side of revamping my game lately along with wholesale equipment changes. Ended up with 2 of the original team members. Was a blast. I had decided to play my game and not get too aggressive or swing hard. we all hit from the same tees so I hit first because I am usually the fairway finder. Hit the driver really well and never missed a fairway. Shocked myself I actually was up with those guys on 2 hits. Mainy like 10 to 15 yards behind them which I can handle. Iron wise even with the TMs ( which aint jacked) I was like 2 clubs behind them generally but hit some good shots. Our problem was we did not make many putts and squandered quite a few opportunities. I decided when I played I was going to use it as a experimental learning opportunity. Learned a couple of things--- One I do not need a 24 or 25 hybrid the 5 iron can handle that and the 7 wood can take over from there. I also do not need the ZING LW for the traps. They had settled down some and were not as fluffy. I had done another slight mod to the PM 56 anyhow and I hit some practice shots before the event in the practice area and it did fine. I also hit about 5 balls or so with a Big Bertha Titanium driver. Now it is 8* and I can not elevate it any more but that was not the purpose. I was using it for striking on the range and the RCH 90 graphite did not hurt my back any. Sorta like I used to do with persimmon. I figured if I could hit that thing in the sweet spot then the M-6 was a no brainer. I think it paid off. Really we had a fun day and I was pleased with my game other than putting. But then again I had not practiced putting any the last couple of weeks.. Yeah we only shot -4 and I think 8 or 9 won it.  I think my revamped game plan is going to work for me. In all honesty I think if I had to have played my ball on my own despite my bad putting I would have broke 80. But the most positive thing I did the whole 18 with no type of pain meds. Ate after the round and I was not stiff getting out of the chair-- This Am no stiffness and pain-- In fact went up the main steps at church today going into the building and did not use the wheel chair ramp--- One of my Deacon buddies remarked that I must have not played golf yesterday--- i told him I did play in the shootout. Joined up with my buds after church and played 9 and hit it decent today and putted better--- Nope am not sore of stiff either now. So I guess the total revamp is working

[billh17]

I watched the video again,  he released it today and it already has 4.5 million views !

[Soloman1]

I'm going to play golf tomorrow. I'm not sure I can remember my grip. The lovely and charming wife is riding along and will prepare cocktails during the round. Says that she may put polish on her toenails too.

 

81°F (27°C) and a slight breeze. There's an old pilot trick to convert C->F and F-> C. Aviation calculators use °C, so we have to convert quickly.

 

F to C is divide by 2 and subtract 14. 81°F divided by 2 is about 40, minus 14 is about 27°C.

 

C to F is add 14 and double. 27°C plus 14 is 41 time 2= 81°F.

 

Anyone here fly?

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2021 by Soloman1

[billh17]

35 minutes ago, Soloman1 said:

I'm going to play golf tomorrow. I'm not sure I can remember my grip. The lovely and charming wife is riding along and will prepare cocktails during the round. Says that she may put polish on her toenails too.

 

81°F (27°C) and a slight breeze. There's an old pilot trick to convert C->F and F-> C. Aviation calculators use °C, so we have to convert quickly.

 

F to C is divide by 2 and subtract 14. 81°F divided by 2 is about 40, minus 14 is about 27°C.

 

C to F is add 14 and double. 27°C plus 14 is 41 time 2= 81°F.

 

Anyone here fly?

 

 

 

I use to, many years ago...in my other life. I got as far as soloing in a cessna 172...lol

You guys will remember the guy firing all of the Air Traffic Controllers way back in 1981.

I was among those . Worked at Cleveland International Airport , Tower and Radar Facility

at the time.  And the Union movement/middle class in this country started a long slide downhill with that happening. Lots of water under the bridge since, but still a big burr in my saddle, The lies and distortions and half truths  put out by the feds still po's me too this day .Anyway,  if she is going with you, you are a lucky guy.! Even if she is going to polish her toenails . Actually, maybe especially

if she is gonna polish her toenails ! Tell her we all said hi !

[miamistomp]

 

[Soloman1]

billh17: I’m sure you remember well when you first soloed.

 

That great feeling as the 172 wanted to climb out with no one else in the plane. I know this is heresy today, but I think we were better off when then industry was regulated.

 

My father flew the mosquito with a pathfinder squadron in Europe. He was Canadian and the pathfinders flew about 40 minutes ahead of the bombers out of England to mark the targets at night with incendiary bombs. Pretty hairy stuff.

 

I have an uncle who was a naval aviator. He graduated from the USNA in 1932. The congress was having a squabble then about funding (Great Depression days) and he and graduates from West Point were sent packing and not commissioned for another year. The first and last time it ever happened.

 

He was a line officer for a few years, then went to Pensacola in 1939 to fly. He was on a escort (jeep) carrier at first during the war. They were oil tankers converted to small carriers.

 

He flew F6F Hellcats and was at Tarawa and other places. He eventually was the CAG (Commander Air Group), the commander of all aircraft, on the USS Lexington at the end of the war.

 

He eventually retired as an Admiral. An amazing guy (I lived with him with several years in the early 1960’s - my parents were having some, uh, problems…) who had a great laugh and lived every day with a smile.

 

He took me up in a J-3 Cub and that fueled my love of flying.

 

Speaking of the 1960’s, I was living with him in Washington DC, near the Sheraton Park hotel and Rock Creek Park back in the days you could walk at night on Connecticut Ave. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the JFK assassination. I remember it vividly. It was also my mother’s birthday.

[billh17]

Soloman, I agree that we were better off in those days, in a lot of different ways. 

Our generation grew up with out the front doors ever being locked. If you saw a police car, you spoke to them, because you knew them. You knew your mailmans name. It was an entirely different way of life.

The only bad aspect of growing up in a small town was everyone knew everyone.  Coludn't  get away with anything as a kid !  Sounds like your father and Uncle had a very interesting life ! My father was a tank commander and was wounded in fighting during the Battle of the Bulge. He was still getting pieces

of shrapnel out of his legs 50 years later. He had 6 brothers and they all made it back. That was a miracle.  Different times back then.

Edited November 22, 2021 by billh17

[billh17]

The last conversion i saw was subtract 32 from the F temp

multiply that number by 5

divide that number by 9

by the time it got that far, i already lost interest !  I like your way much better !

[nitram]

I received my drivers license and my private pilot's license on my 16th birthday. My mom's cousin was a founding member of the Amelia Earhart society and I had two uncles who were pilots and owned planes, including Stearman 75's that were crop dusters. They all used to take me up and I was 8 yoa the first time I "had the stick" on a Stearman. Hell, I couldn't even touch the pedals but I flew it straight and level (or so they said).

 

I joined the CAP in high school and they paid for ground school. My intention was to become a USAF pilot but a fight the first night of JROTC camp cut that short although my ASVAB scores said flying is what I should pursue for Uncle Sam. So I enlisted in the Marine Corps instead. Yeah, I showed them LOL. I ended up with about 300 hrs. in 172 & 182's and my instrument rating before I graduated high school.

 

After I was assigned to Camp Pendleton I was able to fly more Cessna's and PA-28's and after logging 500 hrs. I was able to begin working on my multi-engine, mostly in Cessna 310 & 421's and Comanches. Being able to fly came in handy on those 72-hour liberties as it was only a 3 hour flight to Las Vegas.

 

When I was a State Trooper I requested and was assigned to the aircraft division the last 3 years I was there, again flying 182's. Mainly flying lazy circles stop watching cars from 3000 feet at 80 knots and an occasional emergency medical run with a rare blood type or anti-venom, a manhunt, and looking for missing persons. Pretty boring stuff really but I loved to fly and it was a great way to build another 2400 hours and complete my multi-engine behind the yoke.

 

I bought myself a Super Cub for my 50th birthday and absolutely loved it! I'd fly the DW to one of our favorite restaurants that was a 2-2.5 hour drive and fly there in less than an hour. We'd go get the grand-daughter 100 miles away and be home in less than an hour. But I sold it two years ago as I had it for 8 years and didn't put 500 hours on it. I was gone all the time for work and too far away to make flying the plane back and forth reasonable. And I'm having a harder time now passing the physical. I'm due for a renewal and strongly considering dropping to the basic med. I still haven't decided and had pretty well made my mind up to just let it go altogether but my boss has a new SR-22 and it's quite fun to fly. We'll see.

 

 

 

 

[Soloman1]

58 minutes ago, nitram said:

I'd fly the DW to one of our favorite restaurants that was a 2-2.5 hour drive and fly there in less than an hour

 

Ah yes, the $100 hamburger.

 

Great stuff. 310's and 421's are great birds. I also had a multi and instrument rating. I had hours in 150 (the old 150 with the emergency brake flap handle), 172, 182, PA-28 also, Comanche, Baron and even some yoke time in a King Air, and that was the biggest thing I ever flew. This was back in the steam gauge age. Heck, RNAV was space age technology...

 

Flying was out of the question while I was in Japan. GA was ridiculously expensive, so that was the end of that. Cirrus does look like fun to fly, from the videos I've seen. Cheers!

[BIG STU]

I have flown a little but do not consider myself a pilot by any stretch--- I had 2 second cousins who were pilots both crop dusters and Air Force Pilots. I have flown with both of them some in a Sterman and a Modified Cessna. Also flew some in a J 3 Cub that one of them owned

 

Actually owned a airplane for a short time--- When I first got out of the Navy and living at Granddaddys old farm in Eastern NC I was big on military auctions. Went to one in Cherry Piont one Saturday. The way they did those in those days you put a bid sheet in an sealed envelope for a item. Now I had bid on a couple of old Navy Pick Up trucks and did not get them---- As a joke I placed a sealed bid on an old Cessna O-3 Bird dog. I think it may have been $50 maybe $100 at most. No one bid on it so I got it. Now it was disassembled and had not been in the air since Korea. I did manage to go back home and get a truck and trailer and go back and get it. I did get it back to the farm and assemble it. I bet a FAA inspector would have had a heart attack. It did have a lot of structural rust. Even though I was young and stupid I was not stupid enough to even imagine it would fly. Looking at it I figured the tail would break off or it would break in two. I did manage to get the old Continental engine to turn over and run. It ran roughly but it ran. I was scared if I revved the engine would maybe have enough power to take off. I took a chain and tied it to the big oak tree beside the shop. Got drunk one day and was revving it up and it did teeter todder wheels a few inches off the ground. The old gal wanted to fly. Ended up getting the cylinder heads glowing red and it went to detonating. It never ran again for me. I had gotten restless by then and wanted to either go back to Charlotte or Florida. I sold it to a friend in the crop dusting business that my cousin knew. This guy sorta had an aircraft junkyard and had a bunch of stuff. I think he gave me what I had in it and paid me to take the wings off and take it to his place on the other side of the county. Two weeks later I left Eastern NC and never went back except to vist the Old Man and to his funeral. Do not know the fate of the old bird. But I can say I briefly owned a airplane or what once was one

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, nitram said:

I received my drivers license and my private pilot's license on my 16th birthday. My mom's cousin was a founding member of the Amelia Earhart society and I had two uncles who were pilots and owned planes, including Stearman 75's that were crop dusters. They all used to take me up and I was 8 yoa the first time I "had the stick" on a Stearman. Hell, I couldn't even touch the pedals but I flew it straight and level (or so they said).

 

I joined the CAP in high school and they paid for ground school. My intention was to become a USAF pilot but a fight the first night of JROTC camp cut that short although my ASVAB scores said flying is what I should pursue for Uncle Sam. So I enlisted in the Marine Corps instead. Yeah, I showed them LOL. I ended up with about 300 hrs. in 172 & 182's and my instrument rating before I graduated high school.

 

After I was assigned to Camp Pendleton I was able to fly more Cessna's and PA-28's and after logging 500 hrs. I was able to begin working on my multi-engine, mostly in Cessna 310 & 421's and Comanches. Being able to fly came in handy on those 72-hour liberties as it was only a 3 hour flight to Las Vegas.

 

When I was a State Trooper I requested and was assigned to the aircraft division the last 3 years I was there, again flying 182's. Mainly flying lazy circles stop watching cars from 3000 feet at 80 knots and an occasional emergency medical run with a rare blood type or anti-venom, a manhunt, and looking for missing persons. Pretty boring stuff really but I loved to fly and it was a great way to build another 2400 hours and complete my multi-engine behind the yoke.

 

I bought myself a Super Cub for my 50th birthday and absolutely loved it! I'd fly the DW to one of our favorite restaurants that was a 2-2.5 hour drive and fly there in less than an hour. We'd go get the grand-daughter 100 miles away and be home in less than an hour. But I sold it two years ago as I had it for 8 years and didn't put 500 hours on it. I was gone all the time for work and too far away to make flying the plane back and forth reasonable. And I'm having a harder time now passing the physical. I'm due for a renewal and strongly considering dropping to the basic med. I still haven't decided and had pretty well made my mind up to just let it go altogether but my boss has a new SR-22 and it's quite fun to fly. We'll see.

 

 

 

 

Had a bud of mine who was a SC State Trooper ( now retired) that trained as a spotter for traffic. For some reason or the other SC never got its Air Traffic Enforcement off the ground ( pun intended) and he spent his career in typical traffic enforcement. 

[nitram]

It takes a lot of money to initiate and support an aircraft division, even single engine props. When I was in the aircraft division we had 6-182's spread out across the state and the cost was estimated at $700/hr ea. when the prop was turning . Add in a King Air 350 and that cost was over $2000/hr. Later on (after me) they purchased two Hughes OH-6 Cayuse' from military surplus and I can't imagine what the cost is/was to operate those things but it's not inexpensive.

[billh17]

 Great stuff guys, This group has a vast level of experience in Golf, Racing, Law Enforcement, Trucking,

and now add Aviation and Air Traffic Control...who woulda thought it !!

Most of us also are married to the same woman for a long time ! Have no clue what that shows we are good at !

[nitram]

Not to change the subject but has anyone heard anything from Divot License lately?

[BIG STU]

2 hours ago, nitram said:

It takes a lot of money to initiate and support an aircraft division, even single engine props. When I was in the aircraft division we had 6-182's spread out across the state and the cost was estimated at $700/hr ea. when the prop was turning . Add in a King Air 350 and that cost was over $2000/hr. Later on (after me) they purchased two Hughes OH-6 Cayuse' from military surplus and I can't imagine what the cost is/was to operate those things but it's not inexpensive.

I think in SC now the only Law Enforcement agency that has aircraft is State Law Enforcement Division ( SLED) and they have 2 helicopters. I do not know what kind or type but they do have the latest equipment like infrared technology etc. I know growing up in Charlotte NC in the 60s and 70s the CPD had a chopper called Snoopy. Kinda like one of those you see on MASH. I do not know now since they consolodated both the county and city PDs about 10 years ago. 

[BIG STU]

35 minutes ago, nitram said:

Not to change the subject but has anyone heard anything from Divot License lately?

Come to think of it I have not nor have seen him posting in other threads

[Conrad1953]

Never flew myself. My dad got his license and took me up a few times when I was a kid. Had

a few friends that were pilots and we would sometimes rent planes and fly to Vegas or go

joy riding out over the ocean in SoCal back in the mid 70s. I remember a Piper Cherokee and

a Cessna 150. 

 

Had a roommate during my college years that flew private jets. He was ex military. Invited me

to go with him many times but he was an on call pilot and his flights were always on very short

notice and in the middle of the friggin' night so I always bowed out. 

 

One of my flying friends hated his job as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas and at 26 years old

managed to get into the Navy and then got to fly fighter jets from carriers. LOL, I remember him

telling me how small an aircraft carrier looks from high up and the pucker factor the first few

times landing on one. He eventually went on to become an airline pilot and moved to northern

New Jersey. We kept in touch for many years but eventually fell out of touch.

 

Finally, my mom's younger brother did something that could probably only happen in America

and only in a particular era in America. At 14 years old he left home and got a job at TWA

washing the planes. From that job he worked his way all the way up to Airline Captain at the

same TWA. My mom was so proud of him. I remember as a kid, her taking me with her many times

to have lunch or dinner when he would be laid over at LAX.

 

He was hijacked once BITD when hijacks to Cuba were happening.  A stewardess on that

flight behaved heroically and the story made the LA Times and his pic with the stewardess

made the front page. Of course, that news clipping was famous in our household for years.

He eventually was promoted to a management job, which he ending up hating, and went

back to flying. Sadly, he passed away from colon cancer at only 45 years old......and TWA

has been gone for a long time.

 

The only thing I ever did was jump from a plane; once, at Elsinore Paracenter in SoCal in

"78. I did it just because and it was only a static line jump,,,,but it was fun. Jumped out of an

old DC 3 with about 35 other first timers. Once we got up there the instructor told us it

was safer to jump from that old plane than land in it; no one chickened out.

 

I'm not sure if I ever would have jumped again. For me it was kinda a one and done thing

but I had an open mind. In 1980, though, a good friend died in a skydiving accident and

I just never went back.