What do you love about flying?
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What do you love about flying?
Everyone, especially newbies, say they love flying.
My question to everyone is what do you love about flying?
For me it is freedom, i love nothing more than going for a hire and fly, to enjoy the view and to forget about life on the ground. No one but ATC telling you what to do or where to go. (plus no traffic lights - I hate those)!!
Also, have any of you lost the love of flying but still do it for work because it is all you know?
Blue Skies
Mike
My question to everyone is what do you love about flying?
For me it is freedom, i love nothing more than going for a hire and fly, to enjoy the view and to forget about life on the ground. No one but ATC telling you what to do or where to go. (plus no traffic lights - I hate those)!!
Also, have any of you lost the love of flying but still do it for work because it is all you know?
Blue Skies
Mike
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My all time favourite part of flying is landing, getting out, and going for a pee. After a 5 to 6 hour flight in a cramped cockpit it is without doubt one of the greatest feelings in the world!!
I think if it wasnt for the pay I would most likely go and find something else to do in all honesty tho.
I think if it wasnt for the pay I would most likely go and find something else to do in all honesty tho.
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I guess there's a limitless range of replies to this one; based on everyone's individual experience.
Just as with any career, there'll be good days and bad days. Even good decades and bad.
As for flying, purely and simply, without the utterence of the word "career", the answer is many things. The freedom, the ongoing challenge of something that you'll never perfect, but getting a kick out of it on the odd occasion when you get close. The ability to move in three dimensions and the chance to look down at the world from a different perspective to mean sea level. People crawl over each others' backs for the corner office; in the sky it's a different office every day.
I'm probably biased as I've enjoyed nearly every minute whether living flat broke in a caravan in the bush or sitting in Centrelink after the Ansett collapse, to watching the 'Southern Lights' in the Flight Levels. I posted an article on this very thing not long ago, but here it is again. So you want to be a pilot? An Aviation Blog by Owen Zupp.
As I said, to each their own and for their own very worthy reasons. This is just my two bob's worth.
Cheers
Owen
Just as with any career, there'll be good days and bad days. Even good decades and bad.
As for flying, purely and simply, without the utterence of the word "career", the answer is many things. The freedom, the ongoing challenge of something that you'll never perfect, but getting a kick out of it on the odd occasion when you get close. The ability to move in three dimensions and the chance to look down at the world from a different perspective to mean sea level. People crawl over each others' backs for the corner office; in the sky it's a different office every day.
I'm probably biased as I've enjoyed nearly every minute whether living flat broke in a caravan in the bush or sitting in Centrelink after the Ansett collapse, to watching the 'Southern Lights' in the Flight Levels. I posted an article on this very thing not long ago, but here it is again. So you want to be a pilot? An Aviation Blog by Owen Zupp.
As I said, to each their own and for their own very worthy reasons. This is just my two bob's worth.
Cheers
Owen
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A crosswind greaser in a Tiger Moth.
The feeling and sound of a radial coming to life.
The challenge of a new type.
Trying to twist the tail off a Yak 52.
The beer at the end of a 10 hour/12 flight day.
The list goes on and on..........
The feeling and sound of a radial coming to life.
The challenge of a new type.
Trying to twist the tail off a Yak 52.
The beer at the end of a 10 hour/12 flight day.
The list goes on and on..........
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.......the ongoing challenge of something that you'll never perfect, but getting a kick out of it on the odd occasion when you get close.
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How about those very occasional mornings when you rotate, the nose wheel just leaving the ground and you can tell straight away there is not going to be even the slightest ripple in the sky, smooth sailing.
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As a small boy I used to pedal across the valley to EN & watch planes from the observation deck for hrs. Wander up & down the flight line of lighties dreaming, going unchallenged I might add..........ahhh the good 'ole days!That was my first mistake getting too close to those infernal machines!
Planes used to fly right over my house whilst I sat atop my dads wood shed with saucer sized eyes, second mistake as dad used to belt me for getting up there in the first place !
I played with toy planes as far back as I can remember (still do) as my sister wouldn't let me join in with the 3 girls next door playing 'house'
,third mistake as I could have got my fingers burnt before I became a pilot!!
Finally when I grew up (debatable I know!) I got a pilots license having worked in & around planes & for many many years aviation ruled my life, not anymore though. Oh I still enjoy flying hope I always do but it's just a job these days that happens to be still connected to that boy that's still in me dreaming all those years ago!
Wmk2
Planes used to fly right over my house whilst I sat atop my dads wood shed with saucer sized eyes, second mistake as dad used to belt me for getting up there in the first place !
I played with toy planes as far back as I can remember (still do) as my sister wouldn't let me join in with the 3 girls next door playing 'house',third mistake as I could have got my fingers burnt before I became a pilot!!Finally when I grew up (debatable I know!) I got a pilots license having worked in & around planes & for many many years aviation ruled my life, not anymore though. Oh I still enjoy flying hope I always do but it's just a job these days that happens to be still connected to that boy that's still in me dreaming all those years ago!
Wmk2
How about the end of a 12 hour duty on a Sunday arvo to find the hangar locked up, watching the sun go down knowing your friends are still recovering from the night before, and you know your job still beats a 9-5 desk job any day. Love it!
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What do you love about flying?
Assuming its got nothing to do with any airline or airline aircraft?
That's easy - the freedom. Real pilots will know what I'm talking about.
Umpteen thousands of hours and yet I'll still count down the minutes to
when I take me PA18 out to a quiet patch of late afternoon sky and do a
few stall turns and wingovers and other fun stuff, and because of that of
course I'm always chasing last light back to the field.
For a mate's DH82 I literally count down the seconds like a kid who's told
in the morning he'll be let out of school early!
That's easy - the freedom. Real pilots will know what I'm talking about.
Umpteen thousands of hours and yet I'll still count down the minutes to
when I take me PA18 out to a quiet patch of late afternoon sky and do a
few stall turns and wingovers and other fun stuff, and because of that of
course I'm always chasing last light back to the field.
For a mate's DH82 I literally count down the seconds like a kid who's told
in the morning he'll be let out of school early!
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Freedom and the challenge to be better next time.
Freedom......is not free.
Success does not bargain with the price.
The challenge....today's rooster, tomorrows feather duster.
Owen...
Freedom......is not free.
Success does not bargain with the price.
The challenge....today's rooster, tomorrows feather duster.
Owen...
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Freedom.
Rotating and remembering the days (or at least I do as a kid) staring out the window of a jet and seeing the ground rush away from you and the clouds get closer and closer, imagining what it'd be like to get to do this every day (!)
Looking down on the average population and realising how lucky we are to get to see things day in and day out that the punters only wish they could.
And absolutely, the opportunity to continually increase your own precision and perfection (or at least, attempt to do so).
Rotating and remembering the days (or at least I do as a kid) staring out the window of a jet and seeing the ground rush away from you and the clouds get closer and closer, imagining what it'd be like to get to do this every day (!)
Looking down on the average population and realising how lucky we are to get to see things day in and day out that the punters only wish they could.
And absolutely, the opportunity to continually increase your own precision and perfection (or at least, attempt to do so).
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How about those very occasional mornings when you rotate, the nose wheel just leaving the ground and you can tell straight away there is not going to be even the slightest ripple in the sky, smooth sailing.
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This thread seems to have taken off a little.
You're right 'In the Weeds', there's something special about that flight at first light, or right on dusk. I know that they were my favourite times in the Tiger Moth.
"Owen...
" Thanks Jabawocky, I'm glad that you liked the article.
Cheers,
Owen
Owen Zupp
"Sunrise at Kalbarri"
You're right 'In the Weeds', there's something special about that flight at first light, or right on dusk. I know that they were my favourite times in the Tiger Moth.
"Owen...
" Thanks Jabawocky, I'm glad that you liked the article.Cheers,
Owen
Owen Zupp
"Sunrise at Kalbarri"
Freedom seems to be the common theme here.
For me it is the feeling that soon as the gear is up, all the crap, idiots, emails and superfluous bull**** at work just vanishes from your life till you land
For me it is the feeling that soon as the gear is up, all the crap, idiots, emails and superfluous bull**** at work just vanishes from your life till you land
It used to be flying very low, or the moment when you punch up through a layer of cloud, but to be honest my tastes have changed with more flying experience and now its just about getting places faster than I can in a car.
The greatest thrill for me would have to be jumping out! Specifically leaping from the ramp of a C-130 and going through the drills as the rush of accelleration and noise hits you! It's better off the ramp than the side door because you get the "big picture" effect just before you jump. Love it.
The greatest thrill for me would have to be jumping out! Specifically leaping from the ramp of a C-130 and going through the drills as the rush of accelleration and noise hits you! It's better off the ramp than the side door because you get the "big picture" effect just before you jump. Love it.
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As for flying, purely and simply, without the utterence of the word "career", the answer is many things. The freedom, the ongoing challenge of something that you'll never perfect, but getting a kick out of it on the odd occasion when you get close.
I would give 2/3rds of my pay in return for the feeling I get
when you get close