Keeners - the next generation...

[9 lives]

I was a keener, I lived and breathed aircraft. I hung around the airport, washed and fueled planes, and eagerly accepted the occasional offer of a ride. Those rides inspired me, and led me to be who I am in aviation. Our changed aviation culture, and worse, over eager airport security, has really reduced the opportunity for keeners.

So I was delighted to hear a knock at the door, while I dined as a guest with a few aging aviator buddies at my friend's lakeside home in Northern Ontario this past weekend. A very polite young fellow was presented to me by my hostess as wanting to see my plane, which he had seen pulled up on shore. I had just started to eat my dinner, so we insisted that he join us, while I finished. He was warmly welcomed by four very experienced pilots, of whom I am surely the junior. To have found us on the other side of the lake was no small challenge for him.

Afterword, we walked down the path, and to the plane. I invited him for a flight, which he eagerly accepted. It turns out he was a holidaying American visitor, whose family came over to meet us in their boats when I landed back. Interesting that they observed the plane has a Hartzell propeller. I learned that he and his dad worked making tools for Hartzell in Ohio. I mentored him as well as time allowed, but was reassured too that my host and his buddies have offered this young man some more flying, since I have returned home. I think he'll be flying in a Harvard and Bell 47 today...

Keeners are out there, but now their freedom to move among us is limited by culture and circumstance. Look for them, and inspire them, it's a big part of how we inject more life into our pastime and passion....

[Planemike]

Fortunate lad............!! Your point is well made.

[FleetFlyer]

I fly people every now and again who pitch up and hang around at the airfield fence to watch the planes. Its some of the most rewarding flying I do. I was a keener once, walking miles to just look at empty airfields as a young lad, and later spending my student loan on a microlight.

I get a real buzz out of flying these people because I can still remember what a buzz it would have given me if someone had offered me a ride at a young age.

[thing]

I think the problem with kids these days is they would have to have a visit to an airfield timetabled in with their tennis lessons, music lessons, swimming lessons and scout activities; plus lifts to and from said airfield would have to be carefully organised and any flights would have to have the correct insurance while of course the pilot would need a full enhanced CRB check.

[Pilot DAR]

Good points Thing... but it is our job, as the experienced pilots, to engage those young people who will set aside the lessons, and get themselves to the airport. Aviation is ours to promote....

[thing]

I agree, I would have walked into the next county for a flight when I was a kid. I'm sure there are kids today who would do the same and I would have no hesitation taking them up but you don't see them hanging around the airfield fence anymore. At least I don't.

[FleetFlyer]

I've seen them at Dusnkeswell and White Waltham, and I've flown them or given them a tour of the aeroplane, sitting them in it and letting them manipulate the controls while I explain what they do.

You can tell the keeners from the spotters because the spotters tend to have cameras and frequently they're not even interested in flying so much as collecting registrations. The keeners on the other hand have that look about them that they're seeing something really special, you know, the look that you had when you were looking at aeroplanes and dreaming of flying when you were a kid.

If you're a safe and competent pilot and there is a parent around to ask, take that kid for a 20 minute hop and you could be changing a life. And for pete's sake, give them some time at the controls if they start to look like they're enjoying it.