My First Commercial Pilot Job: Ferry Pilot

[@davidmangold1838]

My first flying job was the summer of 1974. I ferried brand new single engine Cessnas domestically. Each had not flown-they merely had .2 hours run up on the tach, so I was a test pilot! No engine problems🤞. Ferrying was a good gig. I got about 400 hours that summer. Fast forward, flew 40 years major airline, 28,000 hours and retired. After retiring at age z65, I had a Cherokee six for 4 years. Sold it and bought a 1947 v tail bonanza. Sold it recently, done with flying at age 71. Enjoy your flying!👍🏻

[@royson345]

Welcome back man, really enjoy your videos!

[@NC0Q]

Sweet! Hope you find time to vlog your ferrying adventures. Came for the Mooney, stayed for whatever happens next. Can’t believe how quickly time has passed. Don’t stress about making videos; keep it fun for you, and it’ll be fun for us. I’m so glad you get to fly. Be safe!

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm working on the next ferry adventure video now, but since I never filmed it with the intention of making a video, the quality seems sub-par for what I want. But I'm going to push through and just make the best I can, because the story is pretty ridiculous.

[@boogerwood]

Love this! Please share more. For one, it showcases a different career path for a pilot. And two, we get to see some fun adventures and some awesome aircraft.

[@kasm10]

Awesome. He’s back!

[@rogerd9150]

There you are! You have one of the bestand most interesting channels on YT. Glad to see you back.

[@AverageAviator]

That seems a bit of an overstatement, but I really appreciate the support!

[@christopherm7702]

Congratulations on the new business and welcome back. I miss your Mooney adventures but also glad you moved on to better things. I thought you had quit the channel, because I had not gotten any alerts from your more recent uploads. Hope see more content from you soon!

[@AverageAviator]

Hopefully ill be able to do more video's like the Mooney cross country ones, but now with all kinds of different aircraft instead of just the Mooney. It's been two years, but I intend to keep making videos as long as I can.

[@hughjarse4205]

I've missed your videos, sir. Welcome back and congratulations on the new gig.

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks for the support!

[@ramonj.hontanon7720]

Congrats on the new gig. Looks like a great fit. Thanks for putting this together. Keep them coming!

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks for the support! I'll definitely try to keep making videos on all the adventures I've had over the past two years.

[@mrsaskriders]

Very interesting. Aviation, you never know what is going to happen next 😮

[@albertolopez77]

Great to see you back! Thought at one point you were going to fly banners. Looking forward to see more of your videos.

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks! Banner towing was the goal at one point, however, I kind of stumbled into the Ferry business and I think it is working out a lot better than I could have hoped. Life has a way of doing that I guess.

[@matthewehansen]

Congrats on the new career and keep the content coming!

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks, I've got a little bit of time but a lot more motivation now, so hopefully it it will keep coming.

[@paratyshow]

👍✅ Been missing your videos Travis👏Love to see more of your adventures.

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks! I'm working on the next one already! I've got two years worth of adventures saved up. Unfortunately I didn't film them specifically for youtube, so I'm going to have to cudgel some videos together, but I think the stories will still be worth telling.

[@kevincrocker8206]

Whoa! Nice! Love the stories, keep it up

[@christophermetcalf4720]

Man this is amazing! I liked and subscribed and am now four videos in. I have been giving some thought to doing this.Looks like alot of fun. Any advice on getting started other than just going and doing it?

[@downwindchecklist6567]

Very nice video. Interesting you still enjoyed it in spite of all those challenges. Maybe it is actually overcoming the challenges what motivates you. Ferrying planes about sounds like fun, and if you can even make a living from it, then even better!

[@AverageAviator]

Overcoming challenges is definitely a motivator for me, and ferrying aircraft absolutely provides a good bit of challenge.

[@flyerjack1548]

Looking forward to more!!

[@fillywinks]

I was wondering what you’ve been up to. Cool vid

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks! Its been a lot. 2 new airplanes, 2 new pilot jobs including many ferry adventures. Hopefully ill have to make some more videos!

[@ClearedAsFiled]

New sub....great story and video...looking forward to more adventures with you....

[@auralharmony]

You are a resourceful dude!

[@jaredstoll2169]

yes make more ferry videos

[@AverageAviator]

Will do!

[@fighterbomberMiG27]

I love your voice, it's could be definitely great for Voice Over for any video. My respect and Sub to you

[@caseyhutson5392]

Glad to see you back! I’m curious how you work the insurance on new-to-you planes? I’ve done a couple ferries for Stinson’s, but I own a Stinson so the insurance piece was pretty easy. Usually open-pilot policies require a certain amount of time in type. So curious what type of policy you hold, as I like to do these kinds of things but want to stay covered. Thanks!

[@JB_Photos]

Congrats!

[@AverageAviator]

Thanks!

[@davidspeyers5740]

Thanks! Enjoy the content.

[@arivicente4912]

👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@7lampsministries471]

I like your channel bro

[@TimKirkmt]

great video, I started following you when you took your mooney (loved the "rat" look btw) around the country. Id be interested to know what you needed to do legal wise in terms of being able to ferry aircraft? Welldone, and fly safe...

[@AverageAviator]

That "rat" look was out of necessity, I couldn't afford to paint it haha. Legally, ferrying is an odd corner. You don't need a commercial certificate to take an airplane from one airport to another. However, if you are getting paid for it, technically you do, so legally the only requirement is a commercial certificate. I didn't even have my instrument rating when I started ferrying. The hardest part is breaking into it because of insurance requirements, and I've found that I get way more jobs from word of mouth now than advertising. But legally, the barrier to entry is very low.

[@TimKirkmt]

@@AverageAviator thanks for replying. yes i remember you saying about the reaosn wht you didint paint the mooney. good luck with the venture, and thanks agian for the reply

[@mattvanwolput4868]

How do you jump into a unfamiliar plane and be comfortable with its characteristics? I understand the run ups and checks, but the feel and differences in handling? Is it riskier than it seems? Thank you sir!!

[@thomasaltruda]

How was the 4 cylinder skybolt vs the monster 6 cylinder version?

[@AverageAviator]

I've now got decent time in 4 different Skybolts, 2 - 200hp 4cyl and 2-250hp 6cyl. My opinion is the light 4cyl ones fly better and are better for competition aerobatics, whereas the 6cyl ones accelerate, climb, and maintain energy better, but are not as balanced nor as graceful (if that's the right word) to fly acro in. The 540 Bolts climb like crazy and are fun in their own right, but when they get upside down, the nose just wants to fall through and seek the earth because they are typically nose heavy. The higher wing loading of the 540 Bolts also means faster landing speeds, less slow speed maneuverability, and higher energy required for everything all around. The 360 Bolts still have great performance, and mine was light enough to land within 1000ft and claw its way around the top of a loop at almost 0 speed, and the 540 Bolts just wont do that. So it really comes down to what type of flying you want to do and how much fuel you like burning when deciding between the two.

[@thomasaltruda]

@@AverageAviator I’ve flown one of each also (20 years ago) I and that 6 cylinder one was a BEAST! But the 4 cylinder one was a delight. I haven’t flown the 6 cyl one much to remember the qualities, thanks for the opinion.

[@BellyUpFishGarage]

What FW-190 is that you're flying at the end of this video?

[@AverageAviator]

That's a whole other video.... that's my second airplane. its a WAR FW-190 60% scale replica of the WWII fighter. It was such an awesome airplane to fly.

[@BellyUpFishGarage]

@@AverageAviator You need to do a video on that! I'd love to find one for sale.

[@piperpainter]

Make more videos!

[@16-BITFPV]

Seems dangerous to just jump in and fly other people's clapped out junk around. Big brass.

[@waynevanhardeveld4707]

Yeah those Boeings are mad sketch