Why You Should Keep Flying
 

As many of you know, I am learning to fly for fun and have no desire to have a career flying for Mesa or Pinnacle, or even my beloved Alaska, for that matter. However, my real life is so busy that I have thought more than once that I needed a NASA diaper or at least an empty coffee can in my office because there has been no time for personal stuff. And needless to say, I haven't flown in a long time and still have only 15 hours in my log book. Still haven't soloed either, nobody has cut pieces of clothing from my body.

I've forgotten everything, including my aviation alphabet. I was on the phone last week talking to someone. He kept asking "was it B or E?" I said one of them is B as in bravo and the other is E as in ... as in ... Couldn't think of it! Mind went blank. All I could think of was E as in eggplant. :)

Good Morning Vagabond. How was Sea Fair?

Back to the subject....

And from memory, so I don't know for certain how many are right without checking

First, Military

Alpha
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrot
Golf
Hotel
India
Juliet
Kilo
Lima
Mike
November
Oscar
Papa
Quebec
Romeo
Sierra
Tango
Uniform
Victor
Whiskey
X-Ray
Yankee
Zulu

Second, Law Enforcement (LA Sheriff anyway)

Adam
Boy
Charles
David
Edward
Frank
George
Henry
Ida
John
King
Lincoln
Mary
Nora
Ocean
Paul
Queen
Robert
Sam
Tom
Union
Victor
William
X-ray
Young
Zebra

Have a nice Sunday. Looks foggy up there though.

11Fan

I did not do the Seafair routine this year - just watched it all on TV. :) The fog, btw, dissipated in no time.

I polled my young nephews and cousins regarding the alphabet. Definitely some generational thing going on here.

Apple
Baby
Cat
Dog
Eggplant
Frog
Goat
Horse
Ice Cream
Jay Jay the Jet Plane
Kite
Larry
Mom
No Way
Okay
Pig
Quack
Raisins
Squid
Teeth
U Turn
Vinnie
Watermelon
X Box
Yowza
Zoo

must... hold.... back...

As far as the rest goes flying is fun and always will be! Of course you should continue. You started for a reason. Think back to why. Sent a few goals for yourself. Start small and accomplish them one at a time. At some point everyone felt like stopping for a bit. It's natural as it's a big undertaking.

There are very few things that allowed me an "out" in life when things started wearing me down. One was hunting, dove/geese/qail/deer, or fishing for trout. Then I started flying and it's just as enjoyable. The FBO life of flying is great. You meet interesting people and make friends there. Next thing you know you're pulling 6g's in a jet fighter :D.

After teaching all my students I always found one thing in common. They all started because they has this urge to do it and thought it would be a blast. Then they realize it wasn't. Or at least to them it wasn't. Studying isn't a blast and then you have the stress of landing hard or stalling out. It's not till after you finish with your PPL or even get that area solo in that it all starts coming together then you are allowed to look outside and enjoy the view. Once you get the feel for it and quit having to stare none stop at the altimeter and attitude indicator you find you basically the "National Geographic" style scenery all around you.

Keep in mind there are A LOT of things out there to do in aircraft. You're working on your foundation. If you decide to get your PPL great. When done go get a few lessons in a glider, ride with a bush pilot, hope in an aerobatic plane etc. Meet and greet people with fun aircraft and you'll get rides. I've flown several experimental airplanes that each time revived why I love to fly. I sit reserve and commute in each time and still love what I do. I miss farming and being out in the country more but as I get more and more days off I'm sure I'll find my way back there.

Duck

Don't forget about the new Sport Pilot catagory. Less to know, less to prove, but less priviliges as well. It's something that those who want to "fly for fun" should take a close look at.

I just realized how many spelling and grammatical errors I have in my previous post lol. It was late night when I wrote that and just kinda did it on a whim.

de727ups has a great point. You could fly J3 cubs and other fun little planes with the Sport Pilot license. Just stick with what ya know and most importantly stay safe!

I was driving home from flying the Apache last evening, at dusk, and a two seat ultralight flew over my head at 300 feet. At first I thought it was a big bird. After regaining control of my car, I thought...that looks like fun...

Duck, did you just realize the English errors? ;) I understood it all. Now THAT is the scary part. But I appreciate your comments and will continue to fly once things settle down to a routine.

de727, if you can arrange an ultralight flight out of Pangborn, I will meet you halfway and go with you. What do you say? Between the two of us, I think we'll survive to regale our friends on the forums.

You'd be better off going up to Arlington and check out a place that does instruction in them. I'll keep my eyes open for you.