8 hours ago, birdguy said:

jon b, 24 years on the 747-400.  Did you ever get bored with it?

Long haul flying is inherently very boring but I never got bored of the 747 itself no. Sure there were opportunities to go and fly other things but leaving the left seat of the 747 to fly something else was always a step downwards in my view.

 

 

8 hours ago, birdguy said:

How did you feel after 24 years on the 747?

Well, even after 24 years every time I (and my colleagues, pilots and cabin crew alike ) got off we’d always stop and pause for a moment and look back through the terminal window at her, both with a sense of pride and disbelief at her size, and beauty.

Towards the end we all knew she was due to be retired soon and so I personally for the last couple of years really savoured every take off and landing I did , knowing one day it would end.

It sadly happened all to soon and out of the blue with the pandemic starting and I still remember vividly my last flight though not knowing at the time it would be my last.
 

And that’s the painful thing, I and my colleagues never got to really say goodbye to her properly. I was just 24 years old when I started flying her, she was like my second home, I’ve not lived in any house  as long as I flew that jet.

She was familiar, powerful , safe, she could pull you out of practically any mess you found yourself in when things went wrong. Quadruple redundancy and more thrust than you’d ever wish for (almost, you can never have too much)

2 hours ago, dbw1 said:

had a 2005 K1200s bought new for 7 years. Had the only one in the province for over a year. Just got another Indian Challenger about 6 weeks ago. Fun machine. I flew round engines for awhile so it sort of compliments the flying. Love the sound of both.

I’m not familiar with the challenger , just looked up a picture, nice looking machine. I’ve been out on my K1 this evening.

Edited August 8, 20223 yr by jon b

14 hours ago, jon b said:

Long haul flying is inherently very boring but I never got bored of the 747 itself no. Sure there were opportunities to go and fly other things but leaving the left seat of the 747 to fly something else was always a step downwards in my view.

 

 

Well, even after 24 years every time I (and my colleagues, pilots and cabin crew alike ) got off we’d always stop and pause for a moment and look back through the terminal window at her, both with a sense of pride and disbelief at her size, and beauty.

Towards the end we all knew she was due to be retired soon and so I personally for the last couple of years really savoured every take off and landing I did , knowing one day it would end.

It sadly happened all to soon and out of the blue with the pandemic starting and I still remember vividly my last flight though not knowing at the time it would be my last.
 

And that’s the painful thing, I and my colleagues never got to really say goodbye to her properly. I was just 24 years old when I started flying her, she was like my second home, I’ve not lived in any house  as long as I flew that jet.

She was familiar, powerful , safe, she could pull you out of practically any mess you found yourself in when things went wrong. Quadruple redundancy and more thrust than you’d ever wish for (almost, you can never have too much)

I’m not familiar with the challenger , just looked up a picture, nice looking machine. I’ve been out on my K1 this evening.

I haven't seem a K-1 in the better part of 20 years but they always looked so far ahead of their time with low drag of that fairing. I had a C14(GTR1400) for 8 years after the K12s. very quick, decent wind protection and from a reliability aspect simply bulletproof. The Challenger was a more comfortable prospect with still decent perforrmance and excellent comfort (70 next year).....brembo brakes, upside down forks, much better tires than bagger types usually have and water cooling. 0-120kph in 3.9 and limited to 180. Compared to a sport touring machine it is a little ponderous but you adapt quickly. Almost bought a K1600B. Heading out for a solo all day ride in about an hour. I'm in cywg.

The GTR 1400 is something I like the look of , I like big sports tourers, quite fancy picking up a k1300s motorsport.

I used to have a K1200R-sport and a K16GT so do like the big K’s , ….I’d better  PM you later before we get grumbled at talking bikes and not aircraft here !

I was thinking of starting a bike thread on hanger chat

3 hours ago, jon b said:

The GTR 1400 is something I like the look of , I like big sports tourers, quite fancy picking up a k1300s motorsport.

I used to have a K1200R-sport and a K16GT so do like the big K’s , ….I’d better  PM you later before we get grumbled at talking bikes and not aircraft here !

I was thinking of starting a bike thread on hanger chat

The K1300s  felt more refined than the 1200s. Miss my 1200s but my hips and knees don't, lol.

I think a bike thread here would be a great idea. Seems a lot of pilots ride.

I'll await your PM.

Dave

On 8/7/2022 at 1:30 PM, DD_Arthur said:

I’d better check whether he’s flying 737’s or A320’s….

He’s flying 738’s and in around half an hour he departs Chicago for Austin on his second trip as first officer and his first layover.

Quite an achievement I believe 😃.

On 8/7/2022 at 4:32 PM, birdguy said:

...

Once you turn something you really enjoy as a pastime or hobby into a business or profession you lose a lot of the enjoyment.  It can become boring trying to meet a deadline or producing more or spending all your time doing it.I

This is true and in my life experience as well. I enjoyed all aspects of computers and IT that I didn't care if I got paid or not. The work itself was the reward. 

The problem with being very good at something is that you get promoted. At a certain point, it's not a choice. People's expectation of you change. You come across a "Y" on the road. Decision time. You get promoted. And then after promotions you realize after a few years that you're no longer doing what you were passionate about. You're instead managing: planning, budgeting, hiring, performance reviews, traveling, meetings, meetings, and more meetings.