Pilots and Guns

[2@low8]

I’ve noticed quite a few screen names that are aviation related. I am a pilot and I have a Piper Cherokee that I use to get to nearby cities that have IPSC, IDPA and skeet matches because there are none where I live.

I was wondering how many of you gun enthusiasts are pilots, what do you fly and do you use your piloting skills in the pursuit of your shooting discipline(s)?

 

[Matno]

My dad is a retired airline pilot, now a professor of aviation, and one of the most pro-gun people I know. He was also in the second class to get FFDO certification and was thrilled to finally be able to carry in the cockpit. (One of the captains who crashed on 9-11 was in his Navy flight squadron). Unfortunately, at the same time he lived in NYC and had to carry his gun to and from the airport unloaded in a locked case. He tried for several years to get a concealed carry permit in NYC, and he was finally told point blank by the application office that there were only 2 ways to get one: be a personal friend of the commissioner or be in the mafia!

 

[Shadow 7D]

Try flying in Alaska, a gun is part of the mandated survival pack

 

[Loc n Load]

Pilot

Been a private pilot since the late 60's......flown a lot of high wing singles, some low wing singles, and was co owner of a Piper Aztec and then a Cessna 310. Lived in Arizona and flew private commuter trips from Chandler, Az... to Tucson or John Wayne Int'l in Los Angeles or to Vegas for several years. There is a lot of desolate desert landscape out in those areas, a 357 magnum revolver, and a AR-7 survival rifle was a permanent part of my "kit" that was stowed on board all of my planes.
And during these decades as a pilot I have flown to matches, NRA conventions, Shot shows, etc.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Ok, let me rephrase, it's an inspectable item as part of the survival kit, that said
pretty much everybody shoots up here, including pilots.

 

[vtail]

I have a Bonanza that I've flown several hundred miles to meet up with some other hunters to go hunting, but that's about it.

 

[2@low8]

vtail - That’s a great way to use your airplane. A flying buddy of mine has a hunt camp in Canada and I’ll fly to his home in Wisconsin and then we’ll fly in his Skylane to the hunt camp next season. I can hardly wait - it’s going to be better than a “Hundred Dollar Hamburger”!

Shadow 7D & Lock n Load - I have also carried firearms in the course of my employment, unfortunately it was in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam June 1969 thru June 1971. Other than the camaraderie it was not a pleasant experience.

Matno - “…there were only 2 ways to get one (a NYC CHL): be a personal friend of the commissioner or be in the mafia!”

My brother had a NYC concealed handgun permit - and he was a personal friend of the police commissioner.

 

[kostner]

Am a flight instructor since the seventies but 9/11 hit general aviation hard. Spent twenty years flying over the ocean between Long Bch. and Catalina teaching aerobatics. Was a great job. Lost my medical do to Agent Orange.

 

[Hondodawg]

Beech 1900 captain = hondo
Fly cargo = dawg
Avtrip points have paid for two rifles!

 

[M2 Carbine]

I was wondering how many of you gun enthusiasts are pilots,

Been into guns just a few years longer than I've been flying.

Soloed a Piper Colt in 1960.

Went through the Army helicopter flight school in 1964 after 8 years in the Marine Corps.
Then came back to the school in 1966 as a flight instructor until 1972.
Instructed civilian fixed wing and helicopters at the same time.





1972 flew in the rocky mountains for a year.



Then flew helicopters over the Gulf of Mexico for about 30 years.







Retired with over 22,000 hours, mostly in helicopters.

Flew a ultralite plane and Powered Parachute for a few years but I've about quit now.



Still shooting though.

 

[Pilot]

I have been flying airplanes (fixed wing only) for twenty years, and have owned an airplane since 1998. My first one was a Piper Cherokee 140B which I only had a few years then I sold that and bought a Grumman AA5B Tiger which I still have. It is a four seat, low wing, single engine piston which cruises at 135 KTAS (Knots true airspeed) on 10 GPH. I've flown it all over the U.S, and was based in Colorado for several years, so got a lot of mountain flying in, which is very different from flatlander flying, a great experience and lots of fun, and challenges.

Representative Photo:



I have been seriously into the shooting sports since I was a kid, but got even more into it about the same time I started flying 20 years ago. I feel better when I have a pistol with me, which is just about all of the time unless I am going to be landing in a non (legal) gun friendly state which I characterize as "occupied communist territory".

 

[737Driver]

I started flying when i was 13, soloed on my 16th birthday and have been flying professionally for the last 14 years. Currently flying right seat on a soon to be painted canyon blue 737.

 

[wingman]

Been flying about 25 years, started late in life but love it however like most
hobbies the expense is making it much more difficult to maintain competency,
sadly in 20+ years there will be very few licensed pilot in the working class world.

 

[TenDriver]

My condolences 73 driver. Your former? MEC Chair did my IOE in the Dash 8 at Piedmont. After a few years in the right seat of the Dash, I ended up with a choice of reserve life in the left seat, or right seat at Netjets in the Citation X. Flew that thing about 550 hours before I got furloughed. Haven't seen the cockpit in over 3 years now but hope to go back soon in some form or fashion. I'm tired of being a desk jockey....

Avtrip never paid for any firearms, but Atlantic Bucks and per diem sure helped the collection grow.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I learned to fly in. 1971 Cherokee 140 Flightliner when I was 16(many years ago). I solo'd in 3.2 hours time and lost my teeshirt to the wall of pilots. Flying is a huge deal in my family, my father went from never touching an aircraft to his checkride (obtaining his pilots license) in 15 days (thanks to Greg in Fairbanks AK). My brother, uncle, and cousin all fly also.

 

[737Driver]

TenDriver,
I flew with Linden a few times in the mighty dash too, although I was a CHO based piedmonster! Sorry to hear about the furlough, let me know if I can help you out someday once I am across the fence. PerDiem has sure bought me a few toys over the years as well!

 

[TarDevil]

My last plane...


Occasionally I'd complain while riding with someone else. They'd say, "Don't like it, get out!!" So I would...


It all started before I could see over the dash, I'd fly by watching the wingtips in my Dad's plane...


Dad got me started shooting his .22 rifle, later gave me my first handgun, a Colt Police Positive, which I still own. I'm no longer active, but my best buddy and shooting partner lets me stay somewhat proficient in his C-172.

 

[TenDriver]

TenDriver,
I flew with Linden a few times in the mighty dash too, although I was a CHO based piedmonster! Sorry to hear about the furlough, let me know if I can help you out someday once I am across the fence. PerDiem has sure bought me a few toys over the years as well!

Now that you mention it, I think we've talked about that before. Aviation is a small world! Lots of gun guys in it too.

Thanks for the offer. Canyon Blue doesn't generally talk to the likes of me about employment. Around 5K with no turbine PIC. I do appreciate it though!

 

[TenDriver]

Tar, that V-tail is similar to the first one I got familiar with. '59 K Model. A friend owned it, and when his partner moved he decided to sell it for a Cessna. He abandoned that idea and ended up with a '76 V-35, 550 conversion. It was a sweet ride. My friend has since flown west, but I believe his son still flies it.

 

[TarDevil]

That one was a '69 V35A. Rescued it from the weeds at a little mountain field in NC. They're good ships, but for my business needs the Sundowner I had before it was more than adequate...and I was more at ease in the Sundowner.

 

[jungle]

A few shots from the office over the last 34 years:
















First fighter, now a museum display:

 

[Hacker15E]

Here I am combining two of my favorite pastimes: flying and shooting.

Rolling in on the moving-strafe-target at Ft Polk, LA (a train moving left-to-right with truck silhouettes strapped to the tops of the railcars).



About to pull the trigger on the M61 20mm gun, 20-degree strafe.

 

[TenDriver]

I may hate you. Yeah, I think I hate you...... I stupidly threw away a chance to fly fast movers. I kick myself in the junk everytime I think about it, at least until I see my son. Then I'm happy with the decision again.

Thank you for your service.

If that's a FedEx MD-11, one of your cohorts runs a restaurant right down the street from me. I took another Netjets friend in there, and before the food came out, he hit the men's room. About 45 minutes later he came out and proclaimed he was ready for his MD-11 oral. Cockpit poster hanging right in front of the crapper. Can't remember what that guy's name is, but he's a class act. F-14, then 18 driver before hitting the FedEx jackpot.

 

[Zoogster]

Try flying in Alaska, a gun is part of the mandated survival pack

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe the official requirement for having a gun while piloting in Alaska was cancelled after 9/11. Relating to the changes in Canadian US import and export exemptions.
Previously the US let the Canadians do certain things, and the Canadians let US citizens do certain things as a result.
If I recall after 9/11 when some things came up for renewal the US chose not to let Canadians do some of those things anymore as it related to arms, and as a result some of what Canadians allowed US citizens to do went away as well.

Previously you could even drive through Canada with a handgun on your way to Alaska if declared. In a container with a seal you were not supposed to break before arriving in Alaska.

Well since so many flights stop in Canada this made it challenging to meet the requirement to have a gun whenever piloting in Alaska.

A quick search and according to this website http://www.preparedpilot.com/info_pages.php?pages_id=7
the official date that the firearm requirement was ended was Sept. 27, 2001.
They are citing ALASKA STATUTES Sec. 02.35.110. Emergency rations and equipment.

 

[pittspilot]

Am a flight instructor since the seventies but 9/11 hit general aviation hard. Spent twenty years flying over the ocean between Long Bch. and Catalina teaching aerobatics. Was a great job. Lost my medical do to Agent Orange.

Kostner,

Where did you teach? Hart Air perhaps?

For myself, I got my pilots license before I got my drivers license. CFI-II-MEI, but really got into Aerobatics. Decathlons, Extras, and, of course, Pitts Specials. Not so much anymore.