View Full Version : Flying why we love it!! (Actual good news)
Douglas Mcdonnell
10th Sep 2002, 14:04
Just thought I would post a good news topic. Considering the mass of bad news both overseas and at home recently, maybe its time for some good news posts. I had the pleasure of flying with a gentlemen recently who was in his last weeks as a professional pilot having reached the mandatory retirement age. On a long sector in the middle of the night I happened to ask him what he loved about flying. He said it was seeing a sunrise whilst in the air. He had a tear in his eye and his voice faltered as he told how he would miss it. I would have to agree. Despite our current situations, we are the lucky ones.
What is your favourite part of flying?
Getting home to my family is the favourite part of flying for me.
Don't get me wrong, I love the flying I do. I enjoy getting home to the family more though! :D
It's the feeling of a group of people (controllers, mechanics, pilots) all doing fairly complex tasks to achieve an amazing thing and then carrying on their day like it's nothing special. Thats what I buzz about on the inside, on the outside I do my best James Dean.
50 Cal
11th Sep 2002, 01:02
Well douglas although I hate early mornings with a passion, popping out of the soup to see the sun just rising is something to be remembered...but just like Keg I also love coming home to the the loved one and the kids.
Slasher
11th Sep 2002, 06:26
What is your favourite part of flying?
DH-82:
* That unique smell of the DH-82s fabric during a dawn preflight
* Falling leaf onto final and rolling out at 100 feet AGL
* Dog-fighting a Pitts!
http://www.fototime.com/F05F859354ED590/standard.jpg
Now that brings a tear to my eye that no dawn in some bloodey jet can ever hope to capture!
Kaptin M
11th Sep 2002, 06:49
These days - PAYDAY !!
And as Keg said, "Getting home to my family" - and wishing that scheduling could get their act together so that I could be PRODUCTIVE when I went to work, rather than spending useless (for me and the company) time away, sitting on the ground or in some hotel room!
Talking about sunrises, I had to laugh at the wit of one of the co-pilots a couple of weeks ago - this guy is Japanese, and so sometimes the mords get wixed. Taking off at sunSET out of Nagoya and heading West, the dying orange orb again became visible as we climbed higher, he looked across at me and said "Nice sunrise isn't it captain!"
I looked back at him and said, "I think you mean sunSET."
And then I realised he WAS correct!
Coffee thanks!
11th Sep 2002, 06:58
Flying around inside the old volcano crater at Long Island in PNG. looking up at the sheer cliffs rising from the lake all around and smelling the sulphur steam rising off the rock in the middle...
Watching the Whales and their calves at the base of the cliffs at Head of Bight...(careful - sounds like I am getting a cliff fixation)...
Looking down on a DC8 from the cockpit of a Sopwith Pup replica - now that is confusing...
Flying up Milford Sound with the (more) cliffs on either side, water below and a low cloud base above placing us in a square tunnel...
Flying down the Ski slopes at Thredbo... across the Simpson Desert...the Great Barrier Reef...The Lost City... The Bungle Bungles... Lord Howe Island...yes the Trobriands...over the fireworks at Lake Albert...any beach...
Hearing the crackle of a Mustang formating on my wingtip...
Popping out of the fog to see a balloon in front of us...(yikes)...
Skimming low amongst the cloud tops...
Landing at Mataranka for a swim in the hot springs...
In fact I love doing anything in an aeroplane, and still love coming home to my family too!
The Messiah
11th Sep 2002, 07:07
Getting paid stacks to do stuff all! Sadly if I could earn this much in GA I would have stayed there.
tone-uncage-fire
11th Sep 2002, 09:38
Head to head, 1500kts closure, inside 3 miles and knowing he hasn't got you visual............. questions? ;)
Clear night, full moon, 50ft over a slightly choppy ocean....... flipping up the NVGs and doing it visually ( thinking about the Lancaster/Mosquito pilots in WW2.... wild!)
Douglas Mcdonnell
12th Sep 2002, 00:05
Good on you guys! Great to see that good things still happen in flying. And Slasher the smell of a tiger in the morning takes me back.
Toodogs
12th Sep 2002, 02:57
24,000' with a full moon at night and manoeuvering around some small CU topped overcast a few hundred feet below.
Breaking out of overcast and climbing at 2,500fpm.
Afternoon light on the side of CB's when they go bright orange and you're whizzing past at 250kts and 20 miles away.
Where else do you see the stuff we do and get paid for the privilege.
Woomera
12th Sep 2002, 14:08
Slasher
me three, good to see you round again.:D, hope life is good.
Tagneah
13th Sep 2002, 08:37
C210 very fast In Katherine Gorge. Only did it once and am not stupid enough anymore to do it again! Great fun though! :eek:
OzExpat
13th Sep 2002, 11:25
For me its :-
1. The take-off - because I'm going somewhere.
2. The landing - because I've arrived somewhere.
Now, if the "somewhere" happens to be exactly where my pax wanted to go, that's even better!
Then there's always the view out the windscreen when you get visual of an approach that's down to minimums! If the runway is straight ahead, I hope that I haven't just completed a circling approach! :D
I love it all - the sense of accomplishment that comes from giving the pax a good ride, after an on-time departure, and getting them safely to the intended destination, on time - and "greasing it on"
Enroute, if I get to see something of the places I'm flying over, I start feeling like a paid tourist. Life don't get any better than that! :) Yep, I'm a romantic at heart - I think it's a necessary trait!
Crash & Burn
13th Sep 2002, 13:36
A few of the reasons I love flying can be seen here (http://www.cosmic.com.au/whyIloveit).
It may take a minute or so to load but hopefully you'll think it's worth it!
Toodogs - you must have been on the otherside of the clouds in the last photo!
Capt Vegemite
15th Sep 2002, 23:22
Couldnt agree more Slasher
The only thing I enjoyed about airline flying were the reserve blocks.
O...watching the sunrise through my bathroom window while taking a leak.
Northern Chique
16th Sep 2002, 00:14
C&B you are right...... they were worth the short wait to see the photos...
wallabie
17th Sep 2002, 08:42
Once upon a time a lot. Nowadays the list of what I don't like would be rather long, top one being flying in Europe ( apart from Greece ). Endless ATC delays, s....y weather, abusive pax, ridiculously high cost of living. That's a definite Yuk !
Pay day is kind'o nice.
criticalmass
24th Sep 2002, 09:51
Escaping the two-dimensional earth and adding the extra dimension of height from which to savour the uniqueness of this anomalous blue-green planet.
The magnificent tapestry of colours showing tilled fields, forests, lakes and beaches. The added depth which the earth assumes as the shadows lengthen towards the end of day.
The privilege of temporary admittance to the sky with its majesty of clouds, variations in temperature and humidity, unseen areas of smooth and somewhat more troubled air.
The sheer delight of knowing that I and I alone can bring this craft I am travelling in safely back to earth, that I have the requisite skill to do so and the challenge of flying precisely, smoothly and economically.
And I only fly a microlight!
Barbers Pole
25th Sep 2002, 01:39
ah, the views, we have the best offices in the world.
Arriving downwind at 300+ kts and carving in!!
The company ;) of a gorgeous hostie on an overnight!
:cool:
Laughing our heads off at the ridiculous, beers on overnights, getting there.........and the theres sim.
Capt Vegemite
26th Sep 2002, 10:32
Yer all on drugs.
mikef
27th Sep 2002, 02:24
The time between the door closing to when it opens again!!
Also, when the passengers clap after landing. It's only happened once so far but it is sure a really nice feeling.
Crash and Burn. I'm gunna post some of those photos in another forum Reporting Points if you're interested
Douglas Mcdonnell
3rd Oct 2002, 11:30
I dont think there are too many other jobs that evoke such positive emotions. Despite our different tribes, types and goals we are still really lucky to be making a living out of what we love doing. A sentiment shared only by another proffesion. PORN STARS!!!.
CitizenXX
8th Oct 2002, 00:37
Douggy,
So somebody who is both really has it made!
Douglas Mcdonnell
9th Oct 2002, 04:39
I guess you could say that CX. It would be a funny sort of job though. You would be flat out all the time!
jetage
13th Oct 2002, 02:04
the time when you've just levelled out, in the cruise, all checklists completed and radio calls made and you have that brief moment where you can just look out the window and admire the scenery far below and far from the crap that we all must get involved in when we land and for a moment feel free.
Ultralights
7th Nov 2002, 05:25
Skimming the clouds at night lit by a full Moon!
Sunrise in an Open cockpit aircraft above fog.
and for some reason, the satisfaction of a nice flare and unfeelable touchdown, only hearing the squeel of rubber on concrete.
Hugh Jarse
7th Nov 2002, 07:09
"Track direct to short final, cleared visual approach" when on downwind at 6000', because I can.
Otherwise, RDO's.;)