Don't forget to dream........
Who says you cant make money flying.
I will admit that initially there may not be a well paid job & even still into the career the dosh may not be huge but who says you will never get that all elusive big bucks flying job.
My dad was a Chief Flying Instructor in helicopters.
Before that he was a cop ( no guessing there is not much money there either ) yet he provided for a family with 3 kids and was paying off a house & we didnt miss out on anything important in life.
We may not have had all the luxuries that you can get with a big paying job but as kids we got other stuff like If we got decent grades on our reports we got to go up in things most others never will like,
Chip monks, Tigermoths, S300's, Gliders, Jet Rangers, Longrangers, Squirrels, Chinooks's, Huey's, Westland Whirlwinds, Cessna's, getting to do 3 day (full days too) tours on a US Aircraft carrier cause he was mates with someone that is in the US military and a helo pilot too ( gotta admit nothing like going on a carrier & being escourted through restricted areas to see !!!! most dont get to see) and the list goes on, I honestly can't remember all of them but every now & then things come to mind.
All this just to get good grades....like that's it? Well the other rule he had was as long as I gave it my best he would allow certain allowances LOL.
I grew up in and around airports & flying schools.
The smells, the sounds & sights of classroms, aircraft, soicial clubs & bars.
Students trying to pass something , classes being held Pilots & PAX returning from flights with that look on their face, that look you know cause you have been there too, having been flying in a helicopter.
I know being the son of a helicopter pilot that the path is not an easy one but...
(A) if it too easy, everyone would do it &
(2) is it really that hard if thats what your passionate about.
All my Dad ever asked of me was to get something behind me incase aviation doesnt work out or last for what ever reason.
Just have something to fall back on.
I did that and now am ready to move on with what I know I was born to do and in a month I start my career in Helicopter aviation (school starts in October ), ( last stage of my Visa permitting. fingers crossed LOL )
If I can do half of what he did and be half the pilot he was I could die being a happy man.
Unfortunatly my Dad was killed in a helicopter accident many years ago (wow 20 yrs next year).
Alot of PPl ask, and I know that flying helicopters is what he LIVED for and I know that he died doing something he LOVED and was so passionate about and he would not have chosen anything else if he had the choice again.
Regret nothing except not trying to achieve the things that you want most.
Failing is not losing, never trying is.
I know that although he may not have been able to give us everything he wanted he gave us enough & I think he gave us some things that no one else or the very lucky few would have been able to give.
The ability to dream & the knowledge that if you want it you CAN achieve anything you want.
Don't let anyone tell you that you can't especially yourself.
Time flys when your having fun, don't miss out on the oportunities whilst you still have them.
He passed something on that I have never been able to shake & I thank him for it !
The Aviation Bug.
HF