Interesting week - kind of off topic

[hoosier1]

Hi Joe,

Your eye getting better? Hope so. I just got bifocals and am having a hard time adjusting. Especially with photography.

The D7000.... I just looked that up. Good choice!! Let me know how you like it.

I am not checked-out on multi-engine, retractable gear planes. I was only VFR as well, but my plane was instrument rated so I taught myself how to fly IFR (and that came in handy a couple times when weather snuck up on me).

The 150 or 152 is a great plane to start with and to own. It's maintenance costs (insurance wise) are comparable to owning a boat, and if you find one that just had is major overhaul, you can fly for years without having to be subjected to the very high cost of an engine rebuild.

And yes, it is nice to fly with someone whom you know would help you out if you grew ill suddenly. I can talk to her like I do the rest of you. That is a luxury for me.

When are u going to the land down under?

Rich

[Joefnh]

Hi Rich, my eye is doing somewhat better today and i can actually focus now. The last time this happened it did take a few days to fully recover.

The D7000 is beyond incredible. Much better than my D300, even with the smaller pixels the dynamic range is incredible. It rates at 100 -6400 nominal ISO and has to Hx modes that will go up to 25600 ISO. I have jut been learning its functions this week. It is about 25% smaller and lighter than the D300 and on this model it is weatherproof / dust proof with a magnesium body.

I am checked out on the 150 & 152 and 2 years ago did get IFR certified. At Hanscom AFB where I work we have a flight club with 8 planes that the club for a fee we timeshare our flight time. Although I have not been up for over a year now and would need / want to go through some remedial checkout flights.

I will be heading down under on April 16 and staying for about 2 weeks. I will be looking at housing choices in Brisbane and meeting with my future bosses at QU. The second half of the trip I will be up visiting with Gabes trying out some of her world famous MC cuisine and we have a handful of day trips planned including some fossicking. That should give me plenty of great scenery to try out the new camera.

--Joe

[Gloria]

I agree with Joe. It's great that you have a mother-surrogate looking out for you when you travel. It keeps the wife from getting jealous of all that time with another woman, too. Having her as a friend and a pilot - it doesn't get any better than that.

I still wish you could eat a little better while you're working. Weighing 138 lbs with a 5' 10" frame is pretty light. I hope you can add some weight eventually. I hope I can, too, but I seem to be stuck at 97-98 lbs. But I'm 5' 2" so it's not that bad.

Gloria