The Steel Guitar Forum

Any SR-71 Blackbird pilots out there?

...would love to hitch a ride with you. ...or is the plane now retired?

Rick

Hi Wayne..I earned my pilot licence in 1994 and I fly mostly cessnas...I am not current right now but I think it is time for me to do get current again...man a lot of steelers are pilots..I have now earned my 100 ton Master Captains licence and I charter fish in the Florida Keys in the winter....Does anyone want to come down and fish just bring your steel I will show you some fishing licks in trade for some good steel licks..
Thank You
Jim

Ray,

The Gann book is an excellent read. If you can find it get "Wager with the wind" the Don Sheldon biography, he was an AK bush pilot. His story is amazing!

I almost got rid of my old Harley but I decided to keep it in the shed out back and use it as a paint shaker.

Damn son, if they made airplanes would you fly in one? LMAO

John Drury
NTSGA #3

Rick, the SR71 is retired, unless we need her again...

Jim, hows the grouper fishin'???

I have flown several times down to Afghanistan from Uzbekistan as a passenger on C-130 acft. I love it... Especially the assault landings.

Wayne Baker

Oh no!, Not C-130s, this is where I spent my Air Force days. Can you beleive this plane has been being built for over 50 years, and used continuously since its inception?
I have built several steel guitars from C-130 parts while serving in the Air Force.
Some of these steels probably cost over $100.000.00 I'm sure the C-130s were better than the steels though, I hope some of these parts found there way back into the skies.
Anyway, I owe a debt of gratitude to Lockeed for helping to launch my steel career, but they don't know it!

Hey all you steady hands out there on the rudder stick I just wish I had my Cessna 172 and maybe my Cessna 150 back man I loved that little plane, But look out for the weather those mountains come up fast with those trees all around can't miss!

I learned to fly in the late 60's in a 1946 Taylorcraft. Haven't been doing much flying lately but I'd like to!

Let me throw my (pilot) hat in the ring...I'm past doing it for fun......I do it for a living!!!!! For over 33 years. 22,000 plus hours. My only advice is to have an instructor who will really teach for flying's sake and not just for the money. It is as all have mentioned...Fun!!! I have spoken to Johnny Cox and Ernie on this subject...So go for it and keep the clean side up...

JD<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jack Dougherty on 29 January 2004 at 09:16 PM.]</p></FONT>

I gave up flying a good many years ago. I have a friend who is a jet-liner pilot. He says if you can't get into the cockpit at least twice a week---STAY AWAY! He calls the Cessna 150 the Doctor Killer. I do use my Captain's License from time to time. It is a 100 ton Ocean License which I must get approved every 5 years. I take parties out sometime (if I know the group well.), and have taken out fishing parties (Shriners, usually) on the Miss. Gulf Coast. The U.S. Coast Guard has gotten tough on issuing licence since I got mine in 1974 , but I still have to be tested. HJ

Joe Klein,
Hey,
What was your tail number on the 1946 T-Caft. Mine came from Forida.

Johnny Cox.

Steel guitar Fly-In sounds like a great idea!
But would you all let me know about 2 weeks ahead of time so me amd my airplane can get an early start.

I quit flying back in the late 80's due to medical. I've had Cessna 150, mooney super 21, skylane, turbo 210, and a barron. My favorite was the skylane, which I believe is the safest and easiest to fly of all. It would take off with about anything you could squeeze in it..I still have a yen to get in one and buz around. This would be a dang good steelers plane because it would have no problem carrying all that equipment.

Reading your posts has sure brought back some great memories. Thanks........Earl

I got my private license in 1970 and have been flying ever since. I have a Piper J-3 that I have owned for the last 30 years. Have it hangered here in Prescott, Az and fly about every week. Had a story published in the Reader's Digest in 1992 titled "The Man Who Made Me Fly." The J-3 is quite a fun airplane don't you agree Roy. You should have kept yours, they're getting to worth a lot of money these days.

Flown a couple of times.


fred

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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

I'm surprised that Bryan Adams hasn't gotten in on this thread.

Hey Guys! I just came across this thread and thought I would join in. Hope you guys don't mind!! Yep! Steelguitars and Airplanes. Those two go together just great! Like peanut butter and jelly. Ha-Ha
I have been flying for 39 years and I am still currently flying. I personally own a Piper PA-24 Comanche. I started out owning a piper J-3 cub with 3 guys in a partnership. We bought that bird for $900. We had our local aircraft mechanic help us with her as we had to do a recover Job on the fusalage and then repaint her. I ended up putting 500 hrs on the J-3. After the J-3 I bought a Cessna 172, next was a Piper Cherokee 235, then a K-35 V-tail Bonanza, a Aztec PA-23 twin, then a Comanche PA-24-260, and now I own a PA-24-250. I have 2000 hours plus and paid out of the pocket for all my tickets. I wasn't a pilot in the service (But would have liked to have been) The wife and babies came along and prevented the military from getting me. (My fault)-Ha-Ha. I am currently a Commercial/Instrumented Pilot for single and multi engine land aircraft. I love to fly and anyone interested in taking a look at my bird, I would be glad to send them a pic. Johnny Cox! I promise I will still fly over to see you and Joan even if you did move to Texas. Ha-Ha

Great Thread
Ken Latchum
President MASGA<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ken Latchum on 05 February 2004 at 06:34 AM.]</p></FONT>

Air Force crew chief on T-33, F-86, F-100.
Started on my private license in 1963. Rated for Single Engine and Gliders.
Loved the soaring and used the SEL mostly for business trips.
I have not flown for 12 years, so guess I am done with it.

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Allen Harry
Zum SD10
Nashville 1000

Wow:
I didn't know we had so many pilots.
I received my license in Sept. 1954.I have owned a piper tri pacer, Cessna 172, 182 and a T-50 twin.also a Luscomb 8-e, V-77 Stinson , a Bellanca Cruisemaster,and a 195 Cessna.
I am now building a J-3 Cub radio controlled model with a 108" wing span. If if was a little bigger I would get Seymour to test it for me.I just bought two push pull Emmons too.It don't get no better than this
Bud
I never made a parachute jump, as my wife told me ,"Never practice something you have to do right the first time "
Maybe that"s why I don't play " Witches Brew :

Started flying in 1957 and between the Military, State of Michigan, Corporate, Air Taxi, and flight instuction, have accumulated over 18000 hrs. Have owned 3 cubs, 2 Stinsons 108-3's, 2 Mooney M-20's, 2 M-18's, a Cherokee, and a Skymaster. ASELS,AMEL,Heli, CFII, CFIME.

Flying is like playing the steel (and anything else you pursue), in that how much success you have depends to a large extent on aptitude. Lack of aptitude does not mean you can't learn to fly---it just makes it much more difficult.

Good luck,

Jerry Johnston

Started with no talent--still have most of it.

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i've got a commercial ticket with insturment, multi-engine and flight instructor rating...started this in wyoming in 1969, wow! love this thread....BA<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bryan Adams on 05 February 2004 at 12:01 PM.]</p></FONT>