Suggestions please

[Gunner B12]

I have just spoiled my birthday present by finding out what it is. But it leaves me with a problem and I thought you guys may be able to help. I’ll try to keep this as short as possible but it needs some background. I first became interested in flying as a teenager when I saw that James Bond film with the autogyro in it. About 5 years later I was invited to Barton airport near Manchester to see the promotional autogyro that BA were then taking to air shows, this was where I really fell in love with the industry. The only problem at that time was I already had a young family and mortgage and there was no way I could afford to get into the industry. Some years have passed and following a divorce, re-marriage another new family and emigration to Australia, I still haven’t got into the air other than a couple of trial aerobatic flights. Anyway on Thursday it will be my 45th birthday and after being a Wannabe for about 30 years (is this a record), I have just found out that the money my wife talked me into extending the mortgage to get, is not for a new car, it is to pay for my PPL. This is where the problem comes in, my wife’s birthday is only 16 days after mine….. What the hell can I get her that can compare with this???

:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :D :D :D

[Barry Fields]

A divorce ?

[Gunner B12]

Tutu

Interesting reply but as you can see I've already tried that once and neither party got much out of that I can assure you.
:( :(

[tacpot]

My suggestion would be training towards a sailing qualification - in the UK the Royal Yacht Assocation have various levels of qualification from Day Skipper throguh Ocean YachtMaster. Next best thing to being up in the air is being out on the water.

This would give your wife a skill that she could excel in (I assume you don't sail!), plus your adventures would take on a whole new dimension...

But of course your wife would have to be interested in this sort of thing for the present to be acceptable :eek:

p.s. You Lucky Bastard

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

gunner b 1 2,

One idea if you are getting your PPL would be a Pinch Hitter Course for your wife. She would get trained to fly and land from the right seat. That way if anything happened to yourself she could land the airplane. Not much of a present, but if your life depended on it, it would then make a great gift.

To spice up that gift, how about a vacation for just the two of you on an island without Phones/TV/Children for a couples of days. Something where you walk out of your cabana and the only thing between you and the clear blue water is a hammock.

Good Luck,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.

[Gunner B12]

Tacpot

That idea has occurred to me as we live in an ocean side suburb within walking distance of a marina. I will check out the courses available but I think my wife wouldn’t want to sail she would much prefer an ocean going power cruiser as living in Perth there is so much to do on the water like trips across to Rottnest Island (about 20ks offshore I think).

Naples A C, Inc

At the moment the holiday is looking the best bet but there is no way at the moment I could persuade Mrs GB12 to leave the 11 yr old behind. So I am leaning towards a holiday on the gold coast doing all four theme parks and as she is 2 yrs younger than me, I will plan a bigger surprise for when she hits the same birthday.

I’ll probably have to spring for the pinch hitters course anyway as she “doesn’t trust those little single engined things”. In fact in order to get her to come up with me when (hopefully) I pass I will probably have to get another pilot to come along. In fact she doesn’t even like being a passenger in a car.
:D :D :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :D :D

[Barry Fields]

A new car ?

[moggie]

Personally I would go for the strangely named but very useful "Pinch Hitters" course. The real bonus might be that she has no aptitude for it whatsoever, thereby raising your stock to god-like levels!

By the way, didn't your mum tell you to never go looking for your birthday presents in the wardrobe!

[ 05 December 2001: Message edited by: moggie ]

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

moggie,

The term Pinch Hitter is from Baseball.

pinch-hit
intr.v. pinch-·hit, pinch-·hit·ting, pinch-·hits
1. Baseball. To bat in place of a player scheduled to bat, especially when a hit is badly needed.
2. Informal. To substitute for another in a time of need.

I think it fits perfectly.

Happy and Safe Flying,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.

<<Fix one Typo>>

[ 05 December 2001: Message edited by: Naples Air Center, Inc. ]

[Gunner B12]

Well the big day arrived. Birthday card contained a cheque made out to pay for flying lessons and even the medical is booked for tonight.

It’s strange how it always seemed so exciting when it was just an ambition and how, now it’s a reality it seems so daunting. Fortunately the card also came with a bottle of brandy so I will get over it. The adventure begins here!

Oh and yes Tutu as soon as I can she will get a new car. She also intimated that she has seen plans for a new and bigger house so it appears I may be building again soon.

:D :D :D :D :D :D

[Barry Fields]

chuckle - was only in jest.
I assume you live near Sorrento Quay ?

[Gunner B12]

Tutu

Close Mindarie actually. You obviously know this part of the world. I've just got back from my first lesson and although the plane may have landed, I haven't. I intend to nail this as I owe it to Mrs GB12 to bring it in for as little as possible so that I can maximise the amount I can spend on her. I've booked for Tuesday and next weekend so it's full steam ahead.

It's only just beginning to sink in just how lucky I have finally got.

Even better still is the company I work for just sold our division off and in order to cover it's country commitments the new owners will have to be more innovative so I may even get to fly with my work.

Better still as it would be travelling to and from work I can do it on a PPL (checked with CASA)

[wheels up]

How about buying her a nice new Garmin moving map GPS. I'm sure she'd love it and find it very useful around the house. Maybe she would even let you use it occasionally....

[Gunner B12]

Couldn’t resist it. Woke up Sunday to beautiful sunshine so I rang and booked another lesson for that afternoon. When someone takes up golf, they refer to their wives a golfing widows. Is there a special term for the wives of pilots???

:D :D :D :D :D :D

[moggie]

Naples - thanks but I already knew where the "pinch hitter" comes from. Maybe what I meant was it is not the sort of phrase we would use over here (and god alone knows what the Aussies would call it!). How about "Sheila's survivable crash course"?

[Gunner B12]

Maybe it would be Sheila be right!

:D :D :D :D :D :D

[charles_auty]

I thought that a pinch-hitter might be someone who sat in the RHS and pinched you or hit you if you fell asleep!! Guess I was wrong.

Not that I would ever fall asleep in the air - I couldn't even sleep on the 11 hour trip to South Africa through the middle of the night.

Cheers,

Charlie Boy

[Gunner B12]

Well

What can I say.... First solo yesterday afternoon. I think I've said this before but it's still a good description...the plane has landed but I haven't. Took me a few more hours than I'd hoped for (15) but us old dogs take longer to learn new tricks. There was also an unexpected complication (plane related) but I won't comment on that one. Can't wait for the next lesson!

:) :) :) :) :) :)

[P.O.M]

Congrats on your first solo gunner, you won't come down for a week!! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Are you flying at RACWA?, only onr of their 152's ended up on its back on 24L about lunch time. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

It apperas all were ok, <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> but was curious as to what happened.

I work at JT, but not at RACWA.

Again well done on your solo :)

[grussell]

Yeah, Mrs gb who? When you start flying you tend to forget about other things.

[Gunner B12]

P.O.M.

No I'm not with RACWA and I hadn't even heard about this incident I'm flying again tomorrow I suppose I will hear about it then.