Big Toys for Big Boys (and Girls)
The ClubHouse: General Discussions - Jan -Apr. 2001: March:
Big Toys for Big Boys (and Girls)
Rollerboy | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 08:33 am  What is the one thing you have always wanted, or promised yourself that you would purchase, when you were in a position to do so. Have you obtained it yet and was it everything you hoped it would be? Please remember the topic is "Toys" and things like "true love", "world peace", etc. aren't on point. |
Guruchaz | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 09:44 am  Ok, I'm taking my custom built beachside or mountainside home with private study, dance floor for get togethers and network gaming area out of the equation and concentrating on the one thing I would have fun with. That would be a private 2 engine plane and flying lessons. A short list of other items: Yacht (when I become a millionaire) Sailboat (if I don't) Lambourghini Diablo (when I become a millionaire) Saturn SL2 (if I don't or too old to drive) A "crotch rocket" (motorcycle) no matter whether I'm still young or an elderly death threat. uh huh huh! |
Lafatme | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 09:55 am  a 1966 mustang convertible, a vespa scooter, and a velvet picture of dogs playing poker. (i've always admired fine art) |
Lancecrossfire | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 11:00 am  I have wanted one nice car in my life time. (as far as a toy) First pick is the same as Guru--A Diablo. A bet out of my price range, and expect it always will be, so I don't have one. Instead I settled for a new Lexus SC300. I do have that one! Sports car model of the Lexus line. Performace that is way above average, and the luxury of the best 4 door Lexus. It doesn't turn heads from the ouside (well it does a little), although it's turned the heads of everyone I've let drive it. Difference in price between the 2 cars--about $200,000. |
Schoolmarm | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 11:56 am  Ooooo! I want a pipe organ and a house big enough to put it in!! Or maybe a Boesendorfer or Steinway concert grand piano. Of course these cost more than my house. (six figures....sigh!) I have two Steinway grands in my office, but I'd rather practice at home in my sweats or jammies ;-) A big boat is also right up there, along with a snazzy red sportscar and an inground swimming pool. How about a jet and a private pilot?? Tis great to dream! |
Rollerboy | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 01:59 pm  Why multi-engine Guru, do you live near water? Private plane ownership is very possible for the average person. I own a Turbo Lance with 3 other guys and have over 2000 hrs (single engine fixed wing). And yes, it is everything I thought it would be. What's with the Diablos? What about the more classic Ferrari Daytona? Lance, the best car I ever owned was a Jaguar XJ6L, but upkeep was killer. Still, I regret ever getting rid of it. |
Lancecrossfire | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 02:38 pm  Rollerboy, nice car! Love Jags, although don't work on cars, so I couldn't do the tinkering...and I'm not too patient about having cars in to be worked on. I looked at a couple of the jags in the process of getting the Lexus. I would have loved to have had an XK Type E. A car way ahead of it's time. (although an electrician's nightmare--those darned Lucas electronics) I've always thought the Lambourghini's are nicer than Ferrari's. I like the lines better, and like the over all look of a Diablo better than any Ferrari. I'll add that for a toy, there is one I'd like to have although know I could never get it. An Apache helicopter--full armourment of course. Just a fantasy. At least in a few months I get to go to an explosives class and spend 2 of 5 days blowing things up with every type of explosive there is! Small consolation. |
Guruchaz | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 02:48 pm  Rollerboy, I want something where if one engine cuts out then there is a backup. I may want the seats custom built with an ejection parachute. lol! I don't have a fear of flying but there are too many non-pilot errors that could happen with just a single engine plane. |
Rollerboy | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 03:12 pm  Lance, I agree re Lucas, although to imply that they are real electronics components is a stretch . I'm also with you on tinkering and things mechanical. If god had wanted me to handle wrenches, he wouldn't have created mechanics. Too bad he couldn't have made a few more honest ones. Are you military reserve or something? I share your fantasy re the Apache. I'm pretty sure we could get a Hind (fully armed of course), from the Russians, for a rock bottom price. They aren't as nimble as the Apache, but what they lack in speed and maneuverability, they more than make up for in firepower. I'm green with envy about your getting to blow things up. So which is it; military reserve, mining engineer, demolitions expert or what? |
Rollerboy | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 03:20 pm  Guru, sound reasoning. I think the plane for you is the Cessna Cargomaster. It has inline engines fore and aft. |
Lancecrossfire | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 03:36 pm  Roolerboy, point taken about Lucas--it is a stretch! LOL I was in the Army when much younger--I've always loved helicopters for some reason. I liked the Cobra as well. Also, I've always wanted to ride or pilot the SR-71 Blackbird. The explosives class if for my job--hazardous waste management. We occasionally have explosives to dispose of (which includes shipping off site). DOT requires training in this area, so I take a class that covers the training as well as the safety aspects. The class I take includes information to become a licensed explosives handler. I didn't do any of the things you mentioned while I was in the Army. While serving, I worked on nuclear and thermonuclear warheads/weapons systems. |
Lancecrossfire | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 03:39 pm  Sorry--Rollerboy, not Roolerboy Damn fingers |
Noslonna | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 03:55 pm  Better than Droolerboy, Lance  |
Lafatme | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 04:47 pm  lance, the lexus sc400 is my lotto car. if i ever win that's the first thing i buy. a friend has one and it sure turns heads down here. what a perfect car. the sc300 is just as nice but a smaller engine, right? |
Lancecrossfire | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 04:51 pm  Laf, same EXACT car. they just drop a V-8 in and change the 300 to 400 on the back. 152 pounds more and 2 cylinders--for a cost of 12K extra!! I even asked the dealer if I was missing something. He said no, it's 12K for 2 more cylinders--exact same car otherwise. |
Digilady | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 06:40 pm  Hmmm. Red Ferrari! No Lambo, they don't come in convertibles. AND a 7 year old Warmblood stallion. Imported from Germany, and well started over fences. (Gee, I could get 3 Ferraris for that fellow alone!) While we're at it, my very own Cray. Muahahahahah! A Lear Jet with pilot. Condo in Fla, Paris, Rome. Istanbul too. Oh, brand new Vette for when the Ferrari is in the shop - LOL! (Keeping Wilbur, he's family.) 100+ acres near Nashville, 30 of which fenced/ screened for a large cat refuge. OH yeah!! Small house there, large garage - LOL. Indoor/Outdoor pool. I could go on and on and on... rofl!! Nearly got the Ferrari a while back, and settled on Wilbur. My next toy will be that Ferrari... tis my next "milestone". That, and a younger version of the horse (younger = MUCH cheaper!) I'd have to hit a ton of Lottos and create a true neural puter, one which does REAL AI, to get the above. Somehow, I don't THINK so! Nossie! Can't wait to see your response to this one. |
Noslonna | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 07:26 pm  Digi can I have the lear jet pilot? |
Lancecrossfire | Monday, March 19, 2001 - 07:27 pm  You two don't fool me--you just want the pilot!! |
Rollerboy | Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 07:14 am  Come on guys, forget the Lears, for private jet transport, the Gulfstream 5 is the only way to go. I think you're right about Nos and Digi, Lance. For the 7 million purchase price, they throw in the flying lessons, so you don't need the pilot, at least for flying the plane. |
Lancecrossfire | Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 08:07 am  Rollerboy, I have a friend who used to work here on site, although being a contract worker moves around a lot. He is a pilot, and his feeling about twin engine planes is that they cause problems faster for the typical pilot when there are engine problems than a single engine does. He indicates that many pilots screw themselves when an engine goes out by the adjustments they make with the remaining engine. (when the engines are set up starboard/port) Have you heard that as well? Also, is it true that helicopter flying lessons cost more than most single engine planes? Digi, you aren't into Arabians (horses)? Geez, for 7 million they should throw in a lot more. I'd hate to see the cost for PM's on a plane like that (I should talk--I bet helicopter PMs are worse) |
Rollerboy | Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 09:06 am  Lance, I agree with your friend re multi engine planes. When you throw in the additional costs (additional purchase price, maintenance, certification costs for multi-engine craft, etc., etc) I don't think it's worth it for the average person. Of course if some bought me a KingAir, I wouldn't turn it down. Rotary wing certification is expensive, but not that expensive. I just saw a '56 Cessna 172 for sale at one of the local air strips for 26K. If that puts things into some perspective. The real cost of helicopters is purchase price. A 30 or 40 year old Bell or Hiller could cost well over 1 million. |
Digilady | Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 09:40 am  I have a friend who is ordering one of those kits for a Farrington Twinstar. It's a gyro-plane, altho it's more like a helicopter. Certification takes 10 fewer hours than for a helicopter, costs about $5000. The kit is $25,000 and for that, it comes with 49% assembled (including the engine). The top of the line Farrington gyro plane takes off vertically, and costs $140,000. Still a lot less than helicopters. BTW, the Farrington is patented to take off vertically, but cannot hover. For that money, who cares? |
Rollerboy | Tuesday, March 20, 2001 - 09:52 am  Gyro planes also have one other fantastic feature. If the engine quits, no problem. They can auto-rotate to land from virtually any altitude. Unlike a helicopter, which requires maybe 1000 ft to do so safely |
Maire | Saturday, March 24, 2001 - 08:25 pm  I've always dreamed of owning a log home or cabin, with a genuine river rock fireplace from floor to ceiling, and a covered front porch with a swing overlooking a stream or the ocean. |
Rollerboy | Sunday, March 25, 2001 - 10:23 am  Maire, I once dated a lady who lived in Three Rivers, Ca. Her whole house, including closets, bathroom, shower, floors, etc. was constructed of river rock. A large stream flowed through the back yard and we could fish the stream from the deck that extended about 5 ft over the stream. Sounds like the place for you. The only hassle was hand waxing the rock all the time. What a job, but the results were worth it. Also, thanks for talking to me in the chat rm last pm. |
Maire | Sunday, March 25, 2001 - 11:48 am  Sounds like a wonderful place Rollerboy. Thanks for sharing. I have a thing about rocks for some reason, mainly river rocks though. I like all the differents colors of them and the smoothness of them. I also use rocks as a canvas for painiting on, and those smooth ones are the best for that. I was glad to talk to you in chat lastnight - you're welcome! |
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