Are today's pilots big girls blouses ?

[piperboy84]

A friends 80 year old mother asked if I would take her up for a flight around Perth and Angus today, I was a bit dubious as there was quite a few dark grey arsed clouds and some vertical development and I thought it may be a bit of a bumpy ride for an elderly lady, After a full safety brief and an apology in advance that it may be bumpy especially over the glens we set off. As expected it was bumpy and at times I felt a little uncomfortable leading to the white knuckle death grip on the yoke and the "feet in the concrete" rudder work. Over the higher hills I pointed out some of the more sheer drops and mountain tops to which she knowingly nodded at the names and let slip her regular mountains hikes were to those very same points which impressed me as the extend of my physical activity involves pulling the plane out the hangar. Upon landing I was just about to remark on the rough ride when she caught me of guard with "I thought you said it was going to be bumpy today?" I said it was and she looked with an air of dismissiveness then went on to talk about her younger days flying gliders out of RMC Condor.

I kept my mouth shut after that.

[WhiskeyPapa]

I always make the assumption anyone older than I am is tougher than I am...

[Jan Olieslagers]

Assumption is the mother of all f___ps ...

And I don't really see anything wrong with the opening question: I can imagine the pleasures of being part of a big girl's wardrobe inventory.

[Localiser]

No we aren't. Far more folk were getting killed in aviation than today. Professional and recreational.

Safety First. Then there's the oft used quote; "there are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots*".


* with the exception of the old dear you took up!

[Crash one]

When I was doing the PPL navigation stuff I sometimes reminded myself of the Lysander pilots of WW2 flying to some deserted field in France guided by a torch. Not even so much as Sky Demon to help!
Reading Geoffrey Wellum "First Light" was another eye opener.
Compared to those guys I am certainly a woos.

[Heliport]

Localiser
* with the exception of the old dear you took up!


With many many exceptions, historic and current.


It's a healthy adage, no more no less than that.

[Pace]

Piperboy

We are all different and fear different things and that goes with pilots too.
i can remember flying a pilot IFR to Ireland VFR he was a great pilot IMC different although he held an IMC rating.

On top at FL080 he could not see the ground, his heart rate was fast and he didn't relax until the cloud broke up past the IOM and he could see the sea below.

Others are as calm and relaxed in cloud as visual

Different horses for different courses apply to pilots as well as the aircraft they fly! As long as you enjoy what you do and fly within your own limits thats fine.
One guy might be happy driving a vintage car at 30 mph along country lanes another might be formula one racing champion. they are still both car drivers!

All I would add to that is practice makes perfect and things you fear as a low time pilot will change with experience and immersion! If you don't push the limits you will never find what lies beyond! Is a great statement and often there is a lot beyond

Pace