Simviation Forum

Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 1:56pm

Flying Trucker Offline
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An Old Retired Rocking
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Good afternoon all...

FSX and Vista
HDE Clouds
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Location: Ganglers Lodge "CEG8" Northern Manitoba, Canada
Aircraft: deHaviland DH82A Tiger Moth
All Freeware right here at Simviation

A person must be fourteen (14) years old to solo a powered aircraft in Canada and many have just done that. One has to be sixteen (16) years old to hold an Ontario Drivers Licence I believe.

I chose Ganglers Lodge to represent our home here as it has a landing strip with an approach over the water, several docks for boats and seaplanes, a home and several outbuildings. Much the same as we have but a little different layout. I will no longer be King of the Castle here in four (4) days as we are moving and our eldest son and his family will move in.

Seven and a half decades later I still remember that day, my first solo in grandfathers Tiger. I did my solo five months closer to my fifteenth birthday, much later than my older brothers and sisters, but in the same aircraft and same location.

The takeoff was quicker than expected being alone, I remember my dad telling me as he climbed down from my last circuit, remember I want to see five (5) good one's and may God go with you and I sure don't envy God. He laughed and walked away.

Climbing out something happened, I don't know what it was but the little Tiger turned into a Nieport 17, a SE5A and I became Billy Bishop of the Royal Flying Corps or was it Raymond Collishaw of the Royal Naval Air Service, no no wait, I was George "BUZZ" Beurling of the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force and grandpa's little Tiger with her deHaviland Gipsy Major inverted 4-cylinder inline of 130HP was a mighty Spitfire.

There I was the center of attention, grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, my brothers and sisters, some relatives and friends and I was on final approach.
Everything went fine right up until good old mother earth hit an airpocket (low pressure area) during orbit.
It wasn't a big bounce...okay it was... Grin

But the other four landings were hum dingers.... Wink

On final...

Comments and advice most welcome...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #1 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 4:40pm

SeanTK Ex Member

Great shot! It looks like a fun strip to operate out of!

The soloing details can be interesting in the US as well. I soloed a Cessna 150 (yeah...I know...a measly little windup piece of junk...) before I could drive in a car by myself (according to the driving laws of this state).
I suppose driving a car is the more dangerous of the two though.... Grin

P.S. I think the 150's vertical stabilizer depended more on the duct tape than the existing metalwork. Yes....there was duct tape.... Shocked

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Reply #2 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 7:09pm

Flying Trucker Offline
Colonel
An Old Retired Rocking
Chair Flying Geezer

Gender:
Posts: 11425

Hi Sean...

The 1962 Cessna 150B was one of the Cessna's we owned before all the children came along.
I believe it was 1964 before the rear window came along and then 1966 for the swept back tail, prior to that I think they were all square tailed/square fin.
No back window and manual flaps. Darn good little performer and rugged as all get out.
We just out grew her that is all. Wink

Thanks for the comments... Wink

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #3 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 8:05pm

SeanTK Ex Member

They're definitely tough little beasts.

To my great surprise, I found all the details and a photo of my solo bird online!
Thanks for posting this topic. I would have never known that this page existed.

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N63610.html

Looks to be in a little better shape than I remember it! Grin

It was a pretty good little plane, but nothing compared to what you've been around.

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Reply #4 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 8:28pm

Capt.Propwash Offline
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Let's get a little mud
on the tires!
KCHS, Charleston, SC, USA

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Quote:

They're definitely tough little beasts.

To my great surprise, I found all the details and a photo of my solo bird online!
Thanks for posting this topic. I would have never known that this page existed.

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N63610.html

Looks to be in a little better shape than I remember it! Grin

It was a pretty good little plane, but nothing compared to what you've been around.

I cant see the duct tape on in it. Could you get a little better of a picture? lol just kidding I'll take your word for it. Tongue

The thoughts and expressions contained in the post above are solely my own, and not necessarily those of Simviation.com, its Moderators, its Staff, its Members, or other guests. They can not, are not, and will not be held liable for any thoughts, or expressions, or posts that I have made, or will make in the future.

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Reply #5 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 8:55pm

SeanTK Ex Member

I don't think they wouldn't bothered with a pic of it in the state that I remember it in. Obviously the duct tape was a short term temp fix, so it's probably gone now!

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Reply #6 - Jun 22^nd, 2010 at 10:18pm