> > > Brunnen-"just one more reason I want a helicopter"G
> >
> > Eeek... I guess I don't. There's a helicopter that falls out of the sky around here every other year.
>
> Yes, I know. Same with little fixed-wing aircraft. Every time I go up in the air patrol Cessna it seems like there's just been a horrific Cessna crash in the news. Oh well. I spend half the flight thinking I must be insane to be up there, and the other half getting annoyed that it's so long until next time I'm on the roster.
>
> Brunnen-"the weird person"G

At the risk of saying things I've said before, here is my take on aircraft:
Light planes - tops for fun, good visibility, not very fast. I've actually flown a J3 Piper Cub and a Piper Supercruiser. You have to dive to reach 100. I flew a Piper Comanche twin for about 20 minutes. That was fun too.
Helicopters _ I flew in a couple of army choppers in 1956. Maybe they are better now but those things shook too much. I've heard of metal fatigue.
Big planes with recip engines - I've ridden in two and four engine cargo planes and passenger planes. DC 3, DC 4, DC6, C97 and a twin engine Convair --- all with propellers. All great airplanes.
Jets - I've never flown in a small jet, but I guess I've flown in everything the airlines have.
(The secret is to get one of your kids a job with a major airline. I did.)
Turboprops - These are the commuter airliners. They are sort of little jets with propellers. I really like them. I once flew Knoxville, TN to Manchester NH on those little cigar planes. I went through Washington instead of Chicago and even in a slower plane I got there sooner! I've also hopped back and forth to Atlanta on turboprops.
Sailplane - Did this once. It's the best of all!
You can't hear anything except a little swish of air. Fabulous visibility. And it lands at less than 40 mph. I guess it's like comparing a sailboat to a powerboat. Can't say for sure. I've never sailed on wind power.
Once I flew to London. Boy were my arms tired!
Howard