Why Do We Fly?...Everyone once in a while I will get that question from someone and it always makes me stop for a second--if the person asking the question is a pilot then there is normally a discussion comparing the reasons that we got into flying and why we continue. On the other hand, if the person asking the question is a non-pilot then my first reaction is to take this person on a short flight somewhere and share the awe-inspiring wonder and sense of calm that only comes from being at the controls of an airplane!
Why do we fly? Is it because we started young as the result of a family member or family friend being an aviator and the "bug" is still with us after all these years? Is it because a friend took us on a flight for a $100 Hamburger and we just thought that was the coolest thing ever? Is it because we went on a flight with someone and decided right on the spot that getting a pilot's license was top priority and nothing else mattered until that goal was reached? Is private aviation a business tool that makes the operation of our company more efficient or opens up new markets for our products or services? Does the ability to fly make family vacations more exciting or give us options for vacation destinations that would otherwise not be available?
It could be one of these, or more likely one or more of any number of other reasons why flying is a part of our life. Whatever your personal reason, think about the sheer joy and passion that you have for it and consider ways to share it with others! For all you flight instructors out there, you get this opportunity frequently with your students. While we have all gotten caught in the "routine" of flight lessons (instructors and students alike!), take a moment every once in a while to remind them how special this ability is and how unique these experiences are. I often do something as simple as pointing out rush hour traffic on the freeway and saying to my student how lucky we are to be up here and how virtually everyone down there would trade places with us in a second! Even finding a favorite landmark and flying over it to get a "birds eye" view is a favorite thing for pilots to do--especially new ones who still marvel at how their home looks from the air or their favorite golf course or fishing hole!
One of my absolute favorite things is to take young children flying every opportunity I get. Sometimes it is my son and some of his friends for a $100 Hamburger--their favorite is flying to the McDonalds along I-44 near Vinita, Oklahoma...yes, I said flying to the McDonalds!! It is touted as the world's largest McDonalds and actually stretches across the interstate similar to a bridge. The absolute best part about it is that there is a perfectly good airport less than a 2-minute walk away! The kids are always amazed that we can actually fly to McDonalds and you never know what kind of a seed you have planted in their young minds...the possibilities are endless!
Another way of sharing with kids is to take a group of Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts flying...many FBO's or flight schools will donate rental aircraft or provide highly reduced rates for this type of community activity. Just one trip around the pattern could be all it takes for an 8 year old to become as passionate about flying as any of us and they will always remember you! By giving your time and ability to these type groups and becoming involved in similar activities, you will be giving back to aviation in ways that are incalculable for generations to come.
So, why do we fly?? Whatever the reason, share it with others in any way that you can and your flying will take on a completely different meaning than it already has for you. ...Let's Go Flying!
I have been curious about flying for many years and have always thought it would be possibly one of the most thrilling things anyone could do.I have always thought it must be very expensive to learn to fly though. Is it affordable for anyone to do? How long does it take to become a pilot? The story about taking your sons friends to McDonalds is very cool! I imagine you did enspire some, if not all of them to become pilots. What enspired you to fly?
ReplyDeleteGreat questions Scorpio! While there is not an "easy" answer, I will do my best and hopefully answer your questions. Let’s start with the amount of time...this fully depends on how frequently a person can fly. More frequent lessons means less time for a number of reasons. Most important of these is that by flying more often you will be able to retain what you have learned and "build" on these newly learned skills before they are lost as a result of "disuse". By eliminating "disuse" with more frequent lessons, the amount of time can be greatly reduced! I have seen people who fly several times a week finish in as little as a month. I have also seen people who fly once a month never finish, so the message is to fly frequently once you have made getting a pilot’s license your goal. As for cost, it is DIRECTLY related to time because the two main variables in flight training (airplane rental and instructor time) are both based on time! You should be able to find a good training airplane and instructor COMBINED for around $90 per hour...shop around and remember that all instructors are not created equal! Get references and don’t go with the cheapest instructor either...a good and experienced flight instructor can reduce your overall training cost by as much as 60 or 70%!!! Experience counts and even if an experienced instructor costs you more per hour, that person can help you reach your goals in far fewer airplane hours!
ReplyDeleteAs for how I got started, it was on a quick flight up the coast in Charleston, SC. He was a friend from my military days and we were going to play golf...little did I know that I would become hooked on flying and 6 months later I was a pilot!!
Happy Flying Scorpio!!