It's funny, but when I saw "Albatross", I was thinking of the Grumman amphibian! But I doubt if there are any of those currently in private hands.
Me too! .. There seem to be plenty for sale at any time so I can't imagine why there wouldn't be? I'd have one in a heartbeat given the right timing of funds, training and opportunity.
It's like the Ferrari, can get into one for 100 to 150 to buy but fuel and maintenance are a little pricey Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I have a bunch of questions about the L-39! are you a jet pilot otherwise? how hard to fly? level speeds? range nm and time? gas burn?
I didn't find maintenance too expensive. However, getting good/safe maintenance requires a specialist shop and access to that type of service should be a deciding factor in whether one of these suits you. Lots of quirky bits and the Ivchenko has some specific issues. I think they are great aircraft. Easy to fly, comfortable and so pretty. Underpowered, but OK because 200 gal/hr is good fuel burn for a military jet. It could kill you if you let it so consider getting out when age starts to slow your cpu. Nice thing is that, unlike some other small jets, it doesn't actually want to kill you. Mine taught me I don't like jets. Gone. That's just me.
Here are a couple of quick I-phone pictures I snapped of my step father's MU-2 last week when we were out in Sandestin for the 4th of July weekend: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Cargo bay was full and being readied for takeoff with a baby stroller, car seat, and other folding baby gear sitting atop baggage. Then a few incidentals that hadn't been picked up yet. You better believe it was HOT! Like I said, I snapped the pics really quickly with the phone.
Do these count? My basement is my hanger. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
those have to be enjoyable, I did gas RC for awhile, but was harder than actually flying. nerve racking everything happens so fast, did like the aerobatics though.
You are right, I have a sloop soarer and it is fast, I sweat until it lands. This 11 1/2' beauty floats and is very graceful. I flew gliders several years ago and found it very difficult to feel a thermal, had to rely on the instruments. With these planes you can easily see when it enters a thermal.
The sailplane that I flew last had an audible variometer that let you not only know that you had caught a thermal but let you know how strong it was by the pitch of the signal, the higher the pitch the faster the increase in altitude. Nothing quite as exciting as soaring in the North Cascades in eastern Washington on a hot day. A sailplane easily out climbed a 200HP Cub tow plane after the tow to 1500 ft.
