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D. Porter
Sergeant First Class

Gender: Male
Location: Ventura, CA
Registered: Apr 2012
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Posts: 84

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Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 10:09 PM  

Posted Tuesday, April 17, 2012 @ 09:54 PM

Hi guys
I should introduce myself as the soon to be new owner of Sam's RF4. Only moving a few hundred feet from his hangar to my rented hangar, staying at SZP.

In my excitement to finally be getting an RF4D I overlooked the need for a glider rating to legally pilot it, so that's next on the agenda now that a hangar is secured. Looks like my best options for a speedy add on rating are Estrella (Phoenix), Sheble (near Laughlin), or Skylark North (Tehachapi). They all say 4-5 consecutive days including the check ride, so I'm going to decide this week and get it done by mid-May. I think I can handle the self-launch endorsement locally, but if not, there's a Stemme at Warner Springs.

Anyway, hope we can meet in the future. Minden this year is possible but might be better if I at least fly the RF4 before committing! Oh, and I won't be posting any Youtube videos like Sam's for awhile.

Don

UPDATE: (May 16, 2012)

Got back from Payson, Arizona yesterday with my add on glider rating and self-launch endorsement. After a lot of indecision I concluded that doing the training in a motorglider would be the most efficient way of getting the glider rating and SL endorsement at the same time. I went with SkyKingSoaring.com and got it done in five days of training and the check ride on the sixth day. Very impressed with Russ at Sky King and his Diamond Xtreme turbocharged motor glider. Being able to do touch and go's for training instead of towing really made it easy to get a lot of flying done.

So I plan to fly the Fournier in the next week, and feel a lot more confident about it now after my experience in the Diamond. I'll keep you posted.

Don

[Edit by D. Porter on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 10:17 PM]

dannparks
Sergeant Major

Gender: Male
Location: Parkside Airpark, Battle Ground, WA
Registered: Oct 2006
Status: Offline
Posts: 391

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Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 @ 12:17 PM  

Hello Don and welcome to the world of Fourniers. Thanks for the post and update. I'm in the same boat about getting a rating and was thinking about Payson as well. How many hours a day did you fly, and if you don't mind me asking, how much did the whole thing cost?

--------------------
Dann Parks • RF4D #4051 N2188 • now flying!
Pictures at: https://picasaweb.google.com/111628310900713778468/RF4D_N2188?noredirect=1

D. Porter
Sergeant First Class

Gender: Male
Location: Ventura, CA
Registered: Apr 2012
Status: Offline
Posts: 84

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Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 @ 01:37 PM  

Hi Dann,

Russ at Sky King Soaring only takes one student at a time, so you get his undivided attention. We started at 0800, and flew 3-4 hours a day split between morning and afternoon sessions. There was a two hour lunch break with a dedicated 2 hours of ground school in the afternoon. Russ has a house in the Payson Airpark for the ground school, so all very convenient. You can access the motor glider yourself for solo time.

My cost was $2600 + $400 for the examiner's fee, for a commercial add on rating. I was current in tailwheel but not in tricycle gear and that cost me a little time in checking out in the Diamond. I'm guessing that a private add on might be $500 less. I came away feeling like I got a good value for the level of training and personal attention I received. If anything, I was over prepared for the check ride and oral. I believe Russ has a 100% pass rate out of 20 students recommended for the check ride.

Hope that helps.

Don

[Edit by D. Porter on Thursday, May 17, 2012 @ 02:05 PM]

Jorgen
Captain

Gender: Male
Location: Lund, Sweden
Registered: Apr 2007
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Posts: 833

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Posted Monday, May 21, 2012 @ 06:07 AM  

Congratulations Don,
well done. Keep us posted on your progress with the 4- and bring your camera!

I have fond memories of when I first flew the RF 4 at Bicester in the UK. Previous owner James first took me up in the left seat of a Jodel to "-...allow me to prove my proficiency in a wooden Frenchy" as he put it. I felt right at home in the 4, as I recall the gear in-and-out procedure was what demanded most attention. My advice is not to touch the gear until you are 300 ft up- you need to change hand on the stick which might cause some oscillations that are best done at some distance from planet Earth.

May the 4's be with you/ Jörgen

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