Feb 2011 Laura N (Texas)
Laura & her 1954 Piper Pacer (Purchased October 2010)
Ladies, awesome website! It’s great to see such a fun, spirited and talented community of women. I’m happy to finally be a part of this group.
I’m an Air Force pilot that has been flying for about 14 years and finally got my tailwheel endorsement this past October when I bought my first plane, a 1954 Piper Pacer. Â It was originally one of those flying milk stool types, but was beautified several years ago when the third wheel was moved back to where it belongs. Â I went with the Pacer because it is an affordable way to haul toys on a camping trip and because taildraggers are just too darn cool. Â As a professional pilot, I also wanted something that would be different from my day job and still challenging. Â I love having to use a little extra skill to keep everything pointed in the right direction.
I started out flying and instructing in gliders during college where I also got my SEL rating. Â Since then, I’ve spent most of my time flying jets for the AF–T-37s, T-38s, and F-16s.
Ann Elsbach
Posted at 12:53h, 09 FebruaryHi Laura!
How cool that you have flown T-38s! One of my former tailwheel students is now an astronaut who, of course, flies T-38s. He let me (try to) fly the T-38 sim. at Ellington. Good grief that thing is fast! I zoomed up and zoomed down before I could get any semblence of control. I did manage to land the thing once by using visual rather than the instruments other than airspeed. Blew us both away. 😉
My astronaut friend has three tailwheel aircraft: a BC12 Taylorcraft (what I got him rated in back in ’81), a PA15 Vagabond Cub (close to a Pacer), and a C-180.
A Pacer is a great choice. So glad you have joined the Ladies Taildraggers group. Where in TX do you live? Maybe I could visit you next time I’m out to visit my friends there. Cheers! Ann
P.S. When Steve, my buddy, was assigned his first mission, he wrote me “finally something with more than 65 hp”. 😉
Susan
Posted at 19:59h, 08 FebruaryLaura!
Welcome to LLT!! Great to have you on board! Love your Pacer — it’s really beautiful! If you ever get up to WPAFB in your work plane give me a shout… we’ll go for a spin in the Waco! 🙂
Cheers!
Susan