Why Do You Fly?

[Whirlybird]

It seems to me that there are two main reasons why people take up flying.

Firstly, there are those who are into machines, gadgets, anything mechanical. They know all about aircraft, have studied them for years, bought every flying mag there is - and finally want to have a go at actually flying them. They have no problems whatsoever with Aircraft Technical exams; they knew it all beforehand anyway. Nav and met tend to get to them though; maybe there's justice in this world after all :D

Secondly there are those of us who...want to be like birds, or like trying new things, or do things on impulse, or similar. We're into flying, but not necessarily aircraft. Books on engines and aerodynamics we view as insomnia cures, even if they're necessary. We might do well in exams, but it's by hard graft, not natural interest - but we gotta do it to be legally allowed to get up there in the sky where no-one can touch us!!!

Well, is there any truth in this? Which type are you? Or do you fly for some totally different reason altogether?

[EI_Sparks]

Are you allowed to be both?
:p

[ETOPS773]

I`m probably best described in the first bit..but also,why waste all that space up there,its fun!!:cool: ..might as well use it...until the government introduces a "sky tax"

[Evo7]

Bit of both. Not interested in the mechanical stuff (but fascinated by the physics :rolleyes: ), but mainly just enjoy the challenge. However, being up there on a clear, calm summer's evening is a definite attraction too :)

[QDMQDMQDM]

Because I have to.

[englishal]

I'm a machines, gadgets, anything mechanical one.....I really HATE sitting in traffic jams on the motorway....

BUT it also gives me a hell of a buz!

What really appeals to me is flying like in 'The Golden age'....Where you just jump in your bird, and head off in whatever direction you like...put it down in a field, fill up with petrol from a petrol station, and when you see your mate walking across the airfield on your way home, you dive bomb hime for a laugh :)

Every read Marrazan by Nevil Shute....thats my sort of flying !

Cheers
EA:)

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Ricahrd Bach's 'A Gift of Wings', or Ernie Gann's 'Fate is the Hunter' express why I fly far better than I can explain it......

SSD

[pulse1]

This is a fascinating question which I have been frequently been asked, especially by Mrs P when she looks at our bank statement.
Having gone back to flying after a break of 23 years I have thought often about it and, for me, there are many reasons. My second incarnation as a pilot has provided me with a huge buzz, first solo and especially QXC will remain fixed as delightful memories.

The paramount reason why I fly, however, is that I love controlling machines. I love driving (just as well because I do a lot), I love helming boats and flying aeroplanes.

The smoother and more effortless the operation the happier I am. I find it strangely satisfying. Because it's three dimensional, flying has got to be ultimate, and the best moment in any flight has got to be the final turn for landing properly executed. If I could afford it I would fly a jet because this provides the ultimate in smooth control - I once did military circuits in a JP5 and I found this particularly satisfying.

Looking at the ground, clouds and the satisfaction of a well executed XC are also reasons to fly. Conversely, a bad flight makes me think of giving up, until the next good one.

Other reasons why I fly are that I like being a member of a "club" with like minded people, which is also a good reason to be on Pprune.

[khorne]

Aircraft are for getting from A to B very fast. I no more feel like abird while flying than I feel like a horse while driving or feel like a whale when on a ferry.

[bcfc]

Definitely the latter at first and more recently the former - especially when I bought my share.

[sennadog]

Excellent question Whirlybird, and I definitely fall in to the second category. Like pulse1, I get a real buzz out of sailing and the similarities are quite evident.

Unfortunately, I'm very self critical so I'll never have the perfect flight but what I enjoy most is learning the different skills such as aviating and putting them together with RT and navigating in such a way that they become seemless. I get a hell of a kick out of delivering a good quality RT transmission to say, London FIS, with all the relevant information included first time - it doesn't happen that often but when it does, I feel great.

The same applies flying itself. When I do a good approach such as the one last night and almost grease it I feel like coming on all American ;) and punching the air etc.

The ground studies I found a bit of a drudge but I have found a renewed fascination for Meteorology now and also when you can let someone else experience the freedom of the skies as I did last night it just feel like I am totally alive!

Just to add that the other great thing about flying is that you never stop learning and you can never be too good. I reckon that I could have 50000 hours, be 65 and still find out new stuff.

[Grim Reaper 14]

Because people like you lot on PPRuNe made it sound like so much bleedin' fun, I thought, "I've just got to have a go at this!!!";)

[Ace Rimmer]

Why do I fly? Hmmm that’s a good one partly both of Whirly’s suggestions. I like machines…well some of ‘em the feeling of sweeping through a series of bends on a motorbike tast a’la café racer or magestically a’la hawg.

The feeling has you shut down the donkey and a boat moves under sail…the as the engine noise dies away and all that remains is the sound of water and the thrumming of the leech (until you pull the leech line). Or the chirp of the main gear on touchdown all incredibly evocative to a saddo like me.

The quiet satisfaction of a turning point or destination turning up where you expect it when you expect it – this is the same no matter if it’s the Lizard after 4 1/2 weeks alone enroute from FL. Or Dungeness power station after a 20 minute murky Channel crossing from Le tooks.

Then again as Evo said there’s not much quite like flying on a pleasant still evening going nowhere just around… throw in a few steep turns and try to hit your own wake. There’s nobody here so why not throw in a few bars of a badly sung song at the same time… climbing on Magee’s ‘laughter silvered wings high in the tumbling mirth’

Knowing that, for now, you are in complete control of your machine yet at the same time in an unforgiving environment that will rise up and smite you without a backward glance.
The look on somebody’s face when you’ve taken them for their first ride in a light aircraft and you know that you’ve just sown the seeds of another pilot

Why are my eyes brown – cause they are
Why am I left handed - cause I am
Why do I fly – cause I do

[AerBabe]

Very very poetic Ace Rimmer! :) I can't follow that, so I'll keep it simple.

Because I love machines and being in control of them, enjoy the buzz of being up in the air, the freedom, the challenge, the history. I also really enjoy the company of pilots! I've never met anyone involved in aviation I didn't like :)

Oooh, and the smell of Avgas... wonderful!

[Penguina]

I have pages and pages of waffle stored on a dusty floppy disk at home which I add to from time to time on this subject. That way, I've reasoned, when I'm a top notch daredevil aviatrix I can also be an celebrated diarist, compounding my glory! :p That says a lot about why I want to fly, but in this space... Well, I think I have a certain yen to be remarkable. Or at least do remarkable things. And flying just seems to have taken over my mind now; I'm totally obsessed!

[Miss Bigglesworth]

Ace - very profound. (We must catch up soon ! Jodhpurs permitting of course.)

Why do I fly? The sense of being in control; That weird eery feeling on a summers evening when it's calm, still and leaves you feeling on top of the world; the satisfaction of getting over those hurdles when you never imagined you would (first solo, first solo local area, first nav ex, first away landing, etc); the enthusiasm and friendliness of fellow pilots; need I go on?

[big.al]

Why? Because it's there?

Perhaps it's because I think that conquering the skies is mankind's greatest triumph over nature. I understand the physics but it still never ceases to amaze me that 300 tonnes of metal, composites, fuel and self-loading-freight can get into the air, let alone navigate itself across the globe and (for the most modern airliners) even land itself and make the tea.

I want to be a part of that. But since I'm only a humble PPL I pride myself in the knowledge that less than 1% of the population hold a pilot's licence. Hence I fly, at great expense(can't be many hobbies that are this costly) because I can. Because it's there. Because I'm far more likely to get flattened going from A to B via the A1M than going via EGNH, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, enough waffle, I still want to know what Aerbabe's bottle trick is all about....

[Wrong Stuff]

Whirly - surely you've missed off a third major motivation?? You've read Propellorhead, haven't you?

[AerBabe]

big.al :rolleyes:

[kabz]

It was either flying, or driving big trucks ... ;-)

[Fujiflyer]

Whirls,

Nice idea for a posting :)

I "got" into flying in the late 80's, when as a student, I was doing loads of parachuting at RAF Topcliffe in N Yorks. I loved jumping out of a/c ( :rolleyes: ) but loved the flight up to the altitude where one exited the a/c at, even more. :) A good whinge from the GF of the time spoilt things though, and I found it increasingly difficult to do the hobby I loved :(

From that time I became incredibly attached to the thought of PPL flying and never let go since. :p

For me flying is the best challenge I have ever had, by far. I love the freedom that it brings as well as the satisfaction of truly being able to control your eventuality. I bet nobody dares to challenge my flying now???

Fuji :) :cool:

[Evo7]

Thinking about it, that 'magic moment' bit isn't really the motivation, but it removes all of the frustration of flying (weather, soggy runway, no free aeroplanes and all the rest) at a stroke. Had one last weekend - coming back to Goodwood from Bournemouth and ducking under Solent CTA at 1500 feet on a perfectly clear, calm summer evening, yachts out on the water, IoW off to my right... :) :) :) That's what I remember, not the 101 lessons I've cancelled this year :)

I guess there's got to be something about aeroplanes though, because I've got no interest in or desire to fly anything else. Couldn't afford helicopters anyway... :rolleyes: :)

[Whirlybird]

I've been thinking about this. It's really like an addiction with me.

Once I've been flying, I feel just fine. In fact, I think it's the feeling after flying that I really really like; having flown is in some ways even better than flying. And then, although I'm always happy to fly, I'm fine...for a week, maybe two. Then I start getting restless. Especially on sunny days. I start watching the weather forecast, finding reasons why I really really need to fly to keep current. I usually manage to go flying when that happens, and that starts the whole process all over again. But if I don't, the feeling lessens. In fact, after a whole month, I almost believe I'm cured, that I don't really care whether I fly or not.

But only almost. The slightest thing - the sight of an aircraft, passing an airfield, the smell of Avgas, most particularly the sound of a helicopter, brings it all back, and I just HAVE to fly again.

And then of course I'm hooked again and it starts all over.

Is it like that for anyone else?

[Fujiflyer]

And all I want is for G-BCKT to be flying again... ;)


:p :p :p

Please......

[AfricanEagle]

Pilots are lucky people. We are lucky because we are born with a little
whisper inside us that most people aren't endowed with. And sooner or later,
or as a child looking up at that long white line across the sky, or when the
urgencies of life has been taken care of and the first grey hairs start to
appear, this little whisper becomes a breeze, and then a gust of wind and we
take to the skies. Each in his own time, each in his own way, we all urge to
be free to roam the cloud laced heavens. Some of us are content to leave
the smell of fresh cut grass for a brief flight over the countryside,
vintage cloth covered wings shining like metal from the last rays of a dying
sun; others seek the flow of rising air to sustain their long and silent
wings, following the roll of hills. For many happiness is skimming a sea of
white fluff in a tin bubble while going from A to B, while a few find deep
contentment in aerial ballet, the sky the stage for perfect figures painted
by double wings and poweful engines. For others again satisfaction is
keeping those little white needles perfectly crossed, the knowledge of
being a professional among professionals. But in all of us there is that
little whisper, that makes us special and makes us want to share the same
blue sky.

[Keef]

Riccardo, you're a poet!

I fly because I can. Simple, and yet as complex as you want it to be.

[Belgian Chap]

I started reading those Biggles books when i was 9, soon building airfix models afterwards...
Then mum & dad decided to work as ex-pats in the middle east, flying as pax became second nature, exciting, thrilling,...
The stewardesses, trying their best to keep my little brother and myself 'entertained' during the long flights, opted to send us to the cockpit, (allthough i now think they just wanted to get rid of us for a while...) and there it must have happened...
The shere impression of that machine, all those gauges, and the frienly pilots trying to explain and answer all questions that spring to a 6 & 10 year old's mind.
The spits and hurricanes soon made place for DC9, Caravelle, 707, etc models.
By the age of 13 I had my subscription to Flight International, and learned a lot as the years passed by....
After secondary school I wanted to become an airline pilot, but my parents strongly suggested that I study for a 'decent' profession first. So I became an engineer and got a job straightaway in the Construction business. Years passed, but everytime an aircraft would fly by a construction site, I'd be looking up, wondering what it'd be like to be a pilot.
On my 30th birthday i decided: it's now or never... Just do it and find out what it's like, rather then regretting never having tried...
So here I am, 33 now, passed the ATPL writtens and just a few hours away from my CPL/IR SEL.
Next multiengine/multicrew. And then look out for opportunities towards a flying career.

Regards,
Belgian Chap

[LowNSlow]

I'm another one who falls into both categories Whirl. I love taking a tired old bird and applying sufficient TLC to turn her slowly into a reasonable flying machine. I love the idea of building a kit like the new Spitfire Mk 26 but deep down I know I don't have the dedication for it. Fettling old aeroplanes is enough to satisfy the engineer in me.

Fortunately those same old aeroplanes reward me with their behaviour: whether it's taming a taldragger on a narrow undulating grass strip in a gusting crosswind or sliding down from the calm evening sky in a high, sideslipping approach with an unsilenced Cirrus grumbling at tickover, just making enough noise to get the birds off the runway as you bring the tail around, straighten up and gently alight in a perfect 3 pointer (doesn't happen often I can assure you :D).

Just hanging around at the airfield watching old aeroplanes potter around, talking to like minded people over a pint before going home, it's all part of the hobby called flying. Marvellous.

It was the hobby I always knew I'd have when I could afford it.

[Ace Rimmer]

Indeed Miss Bigglesworth as i recall there is the question of the Iron maiden bet to be paid off... mine will be a pint of Boddies. BTW how are you two settling in?

[Bluebeard]

I've always loved anything to do with aviation, but strangely GA never got me excited until I began my PPL. As the realisation sank in that this flying lark really is something you never stop learning about I am now fascinated with every flying machine, large or small. When I see even the most common all garden C150 fly overhead I wonder who is (s)he? where is he going? where is (s)he from? how good is their flying! :D

For me flying is a fantastic combination of the physical and the mental. For the self-critical frustration of a missed waypoint, a heavy landing, or botched RT, there is the always the sheer joy of a flight plan that runs like clockwork, an absolute greaser, or delivering BA-pilot standard RT at a rarely-visited controlled airfield.

Oh yes, and I love gadgets too:cool:

[Fujiflyer]

I've been thinking about this. It's really like an addiction with me.

Once I've been flying, I feel just fine. In fact, I think it's the feeling after flying that I really really like; having flown is in some ways even better than flying. And then, although I'm always happy to fly, I'm fine...for a week, maybe two. Then I start getting restless. Especially on sunny days. I start watching the weather forecast, finding reasons why I really really need to fly to keep current.


Whirls

When I read what you had said it was so close to me that it felt like I was reading something I had written myself. The only difference with me is that once I go past a month the feeling becomes more one of resignation and that of "having to accept things" as opposed to looking for the slightest opportunety to go up. My friends at work must be sick of me looking out of the window and moaning that I want to be in the sky. :D

Not long ago I had a pig of a journey back from Menorca. I did wonder what had happened to my sensible side when we (I) decided that we would go there in KT. However within an hour or so of landing I was thinking about my next trip, the next day I spent a few hours planning it (an IFR trip up to East Midlands). Sadly I have not been up since because of the engine work that is being done at present.

Fujiflyer

:) :)

[RW05]

When I was little I fell in love with aeroplanes. Desperately wanted to fly but for several reasons couldn't. By the time I got to do it I wasn't in love with aeroplanes any more. Perhaps this is what you get for 25 years working with them.
I fly because I love being up there looking down. I often feel like I'm the only one up there, even when it's a busy day on the radio or in the ciruit. I'm forever telling passengers to look at a particular cloud formation, or the way the light is falling on a hill or whatever, and forever getting the feeling that they don't see what I'm seeing.

[stiknruda]

because my life would not be so complete if I couldn't.

I love being up there and looking down, wow didn't know that house had a swimming pool!

Sure I can come - be there in an hour. But you live 3 hours away by car? Aah - I'll fly over pick, me up at Halfpenny Green if you want to see the aeroplane.

I love aerobatics and the fact that although I can not dance, I can make an aeroplane dance through the skies.

I am definetely not a gadget lover but do love tinkering on my aeroplane. I hear myself say, well actually I built it and shudder when asked if it was a kit. No, from a set of drawings. I don't think anything else I have ever done in my life is as meaningful as strapping on an aeroplane that I fashioned from 4130 tube, spruce, T6 aluminiun and Ceconite.


There are many days when I have absolutely no desire to fly, weather, inner conflict (okay hungover!), pressures of work, etc.


But on those days when I want to fly and they coincide with days I fly well - then I wouldn't swap that elation for all the tea in China!


Stik

[Tight Slot]

Bloody hell - you PPL chaps have got more posts than the average Fleet street journo..


Good to hear though, as most of the heavy metal jocks can only winge about pay and flying at night (not me of course.)

Enjoy! (even at night.....)

[LowNSlow]

Reading Fuji's and stik's posts above brought it home to me. Yes I get cranky if I don't fly when I'm home.

Worse the crankyness can be minimised by going to the hangar and doing a bit of window polishing (try getting me to do that in LNS Towers) or checking the tyre pressures or cleaning the bugs/crap off the underside of the tail feathers that I forgot the last time I aviated.

I can't imagine (well OK I can but I don't like it :D) not having the freedom that flying brings me.

I think it was summed up by taking a girl from work,when I had an IMC and a fully kitted out Aerobat, flying one summer evening.
She'd never flown before (even in big tin tubes) and hadn't even been in a car with me before.

It was a lovely summer Suffolk evening as we climbed up though a thin layer of cloud to see the sun setting richly, making the clouds glow a deep wonderful pink. She actually gasped with the delight of it all and commented that she'd never seen me looking so relaxed yet so focused before (says a lot for my work life). It took someone else's observation to turn my sight back on myself to realise why I love flying so much. Oh yes and the fact I love throwing fivers on the fire!!! :D :D

[TheKentishFledgling]

Even though I've only been flying a short while, and not even properly yet, I still love it.

I don't know what it is, but just being up high and away from everything is magical.

When it's a nice day and I cycle up to Clipgate, just arriving and seeing some of the aeroplanes parked in the hangar gives me that buzz that says "I might be going flying soon". :cool:

Also the feeling of jumping down from the aeroplane after a flight, when you can feel yourself smiling and you know you've just done something so magical you can't wait for the next time you can go flying.

tKF

Stik: quite glad you can't dance, as it's quite an amusing / scary picture :D

[GroundBound]

A little over a year ago, I was participating in one of those much-loved "how to manage people" training courses, which covered the technique of "coaching". I got teamed with the course instructor, as part of the "how to do it bit". She asked, "What do you think you will do when you retire?" and I said, "I would like to get my PPL back". She replied, "did you know your face lit up when you said that?" Then she asked "what do you like about it?"

Which brings us back to Whirly's question. :)

I said it was the "precision", and being able to do something not many others can do. But it's also a bit more than that. Its being "professional" at something, not in the monetary sense, but in the sense of competency. Putting an aeroplane where it's supposed to be, at the right place and the right time, in the right configuration. Doing it with consummate skill and grace. And then there's the sheer joy of not being ground-bound.

So, rather than wait until I retired (not so long now), I figured it would be much more sensible to do it straight away. Now, a little over a year later, with PPL in hand I am trying to do all those things with consummate skill and grace - and its bl**dy difficult!

But it's enormous fun trying. :) :)

[Carlito]

I've been interested in all things aviation since I can remember. Before finishing school I applied to an airline and got as far as the last hurdle, including medical, but didn't make it. Did about 5 hours in a C150. After that, went to uni, got a degree, got a job and forgot about flying for a few years.
Then last year, at 28 years of age, I rented "The Right Stuff". Wow, that movie inspired me. I was determined to get back in the sky. I dug out my old log book to see how many hours I actually had and guess what I found? £200! I still can't remember putting it in there. But I knew it was a sign. It paid for my first few lessons and now 18 months (and about €5000 ) later, I'm just waiting for the weather to clear long enough to do my QXC and then the flight test.
I don't think a movie has ever had such an effect on me.
Carlito

[singaporegirl]

Techie stuff leaves me pretty cold (though having flown a plane with GPS for the first time recently, I can see that I could be converted!).

I do get a buzz of achievement on the occasions (still all too rare :rolleyes:) when the aviation, navigation, and communication all seem to come together in perfect harmony.

But the main reason I fly is the same reason I dive: the ability to move in three dimensions and to have the privilege of seeing things that most other people never will. I never knew rainbows were circular when seen from the air. Ground-bound folks only get half the picture... :p

[Crossedcontrols]

A bit of both, I like the techie stuff, I like the idea you can build something in you garage more high tech than the gear from the factory, but I also like that 60 year old designs are still amazing fun Cubs, Austers, moths etc, but most of all I like flying because it's like 3D motorcycling with out the speed cameras.

CC

[Final 3 Greens]

Whirly

I fly because I don't want to crash at the end of the runway. ;)

As to why I wish to aviate, it is beyond the description afforded by my use of words, but Richard Bach sums it up well in some of his essays.

[essouira]

Why do I fly ?
Because when I was young and very impressionable someone sang "excuse me while I kiss the sky"

[Captsumday]

I am addicted - just as Whirly describes. I've become a junkie, not only for the flying bit but for the "what makes em tick" bit too. I'm even finding it difficult to concentrate on the day job which pays for the addiction!!!! :eek:

But for me there is a third significant element, ie in addition to Whirly's original two. It has been touched on only by Groundbound and Bluebeard thus far that I can read.

This third element has to do with the challenge of fine-tuning and maximising discipline over my own mind and self. To fly well requires one's mind and body to be in peak operating order and this particularly means that ones mind is trained to deal optimally with the unexpected and the emergency. I have found the associated challenge a fascinating personal growth path which is also significantly motivating.

I have found it to have benefits in the rest of my life too - I make decisions better than I used to BF (before flying that is), I am more in control of myself and my situation and generally I am more positive and direct than I used to be. And I put this down to the discipline training as well as the passion associated with the addiction.

Can anyone else relate to this too?

[Circuit Basher]

Other than the fact that I've been involved in light aircraft for 30 years now and loved most minutes of it (some of the time it's been a bit frustrating when the weather goes cack on you and you have to make a decision to pull stumps)......

Other than the fact that I used to work for the UKs largest military aircraft manufacturer and used to see some of Her Majesty's finest leaping into the sky on a regular basis in yellow primer (which looks great against some really grey CBs in half light!)......

Other than the fact that I'm an adrenaline junkie......

Other than the fact that I love seeing the sense of exhilaration on peoples faces when they first take to the air in a GA aircraft - it goes from pooing themselves to fascination.....

I love flying. If anyone said that they'd pay my mortgage and training for a year while I went off and got an ATPL, I'd do it tomorrow. I'm an old sod who probably would only be able to fly commercially for around 10 yrs, so the financial balance is tipped the wrong way.

Flying, to me, is freedom, escapism, challenge, something which I can always improve on and FUN!! :D :D