Aircrafts I have flown!

My interest for flying began when I was a boy in the early sixties. We lived near Arnborg Gliding Center, and we therefore often saw gliders and motor-aircrafts in the air above our home. It was here I got my first trip in a Danish built aircraft - a KZ7 with four seats.
In mid seventies we started a glider club in Sdr. Felding. Unfortunately that didn't last more than a couple of years. To sit in a glider is a special experience that is hard to describe. I never got my glider license so I started to take flying lessens in a single engine aircraft and I got my Privat Pilot License in 1979, and I have flown about 500 hours in different types of aircrafts.

First solo flight

My first solo flight took place on February 4, 1979 after about 10 hours of flying with the instructor. After a short trip in the air, the instructor stepped out of the aircraft and said: "You can take three landings on your own!" In a way, you get thrown in to it - like the eaglet in the picture.
It was a touching moment to be there alone in the cockpit without the feeling of security from the instructor. But it went the way it should - even after three landings - wheels and wings were still attached to the fuselage in the right places.
At that time one should have a minimum of 40 hours. 25 hours with instructor and 15 solos. Theory tests should be passed. NVHF license was necessary in order to use the radio for communication with ground control in Danish, or a IVHF license which is the same just in English.

Cessna F172 - OY-ASM

The first aircraft I was flying - a four-seater at the Herning Airport (EKHG). I also flew a two seater Cessna F150. I have flown other aircrafts of the same type, but also other types of aircrafts.

Rallye Commodore MS892 - OY-DJG

I flew from time to time in this airplane. The type is known as a STOL-aircraft which stands for Short Takeoff Or Landing. To fly this aircraft was like a rowboat on the ocean.

Beagle Pub B121 - OY-DVC

The first aircraft in which I had a share. A two-seater with a 100 hp engine. Not to powerful, but great to fly. It was approved for limited aerobatics, and I had a lot of fun flying upside down, until one of the other owners made an outside loop on the ground. The damage was total.

Piper PA28 - OY-BLA

There were different PA-28 airplanes that I rented and flew on EKHG. The shown airplane is a four-seater. A 180 hp engine with fixed propeller and undercarriage.

Piper CUP L4 - OY-ALI

The second airplane I had a share in. A two-seater with a 90 hp engine, and with the pilot in the rear seat. After two month I made a bad landing and the plane was badly damage. As far as I know the aircraft was rebuilt in Sweden or Norway.
Danish television has shown a series about two Danish girls that flew across USA in this type of aircraft to visit female pilots (WASP) from world war two.
The pilot on the aircraft was the Danish artist Simone Aaberg Kærn.
 

Piper CUP J3C-65 - OY-AVC

The third airplane I had a share in. Also a two-seater with the pilot in the rear seat. It had a 65 hp engine that you start by turning the propeller by hand. The airplane had been recently rebuilt when we bought it. It is covered with a very thin fabric that is sewn and glued onto a metal frame. It is painted several times until the thickness is about ½ - 1 millimeter. This aircraft was and still is the oldest aircraft on EKHG. It was built in 1944 - a real veteran.

Grob-109B - OY-XMW

I have flown a motor glider like this one for a couple of years. It has a wingspan of 16,6 meter (or 54 ft) and a rebuilt VW engine with 80 HP. It has a cruise speed of approx. 210 km/h (or 130 mph)

Since 1997 it is possible, in Denmark, to maintain a Privat Pilot License on a motor glider like this one. And because the fuel consumption it approximately 12 - 15 litres auto fuel pr. hour instead of 20 - 35 litres aero gas pr. hour, the cost is much cheaper. With the engine turned off it flies as a normal glider. The flying time with the engine turned off can only be logged in your personal logbook if you have glider license.

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Updatet 12. august 2009