Originally Posted by
Stetson20
It got me thinking back to the days before becoming a pilot when I felt the same sense of wonder and excitement, followed by the sheer joy of flying early in my career.
Stetson20
Glad you had an Ah-hah moment!
After 13 years of hand flying military airplanes with no (or crappy) autopilots and steam gauges (or digital instruments that look just like them) I'm flying my first glass cockpit airplane. Years of conversations with airline buddies warning me of automation complacency and atrophy of basic flying skills now make sense. And now more than ever I have come to appreciate my GA flying. Never before has it been so obvious to me that the soul of aviation lies in little airplanes with a round engine, no engine, tailwheel, skis, or floats.
If anyone out there has had the passion fade I strongly suggest getting back into GA flying. Get a tailwheel endorsement, seaplane rating, or glider rating. You'll be a happier pilot with sharper flying skills for doing so.