Baby in a 172

[Kolibear]

M14P - Congratulations on the birth of your son - I hadn't heard. Hope everything is OK.

[Flyin'Dutch']

SD,

The Robin is fantastic for that as with the wide range of CofG allowed I used to fly quite regularly with the nipper and the missus in the back.

Flying and driving are not dissimilar and crying nippers in the back can be a tad distracting. However if yours is as most are they will enjoy it for a bit and then go to sleep.

From 2 1/2 years onwards I took my nipper in the front. She loves it.

Have fun!

FD

PS See you are in Bordeaux. Hope to do some flying from Bergerac when we are there at the end of June.

[tmmorris]

Back to the original baby... I took him to Kemble on Tuesday and he was a bit nonplussed. Looked scared (not screaming, just a bit quiet) on the way there and had to sit on Mrs M's knee - much better there. Return journey better but I think I'll leave it a bit before taking him again.

Tim

[skydriller]

FD,

Thanks for that, makes me feel a bit better about the plan, 'cause just like his dad, baby SD likes all forms of transport we have tried so far, everything from airliners to tractors - Ive just been a bit apprehensive about taking him flying in a light aircraft myself.

Regards, SD

Oh, and if you should happen to visit LFDU in Medoc, be sure and ask for the Brit club member, Ill definitely swing by and say Hi etc... if Im not away for work...

[Flyin'Dutch']

if Im not away for work...

SD,

Let's rephrase that to: 'Your place of employment' You and I both know that dentists don't have to work for a living, unlike your poor relatives in the medical world!

Without digging out map no clue how far you are from Bergerac, however if it is not to far and there are some tasting places nearby I am sure that we could 'swing by' for a drink to the airfield and put faces to names.

FD

(You lucky so-and-so to be able to work and live in La douce and such a great area to top it all; envy and green)

[skydriller]

Skydriller Junior's 1st flight with dad!!

Well, I took my son for his first flight in a light aeroplane the other evening, and as I guessed, he absolutely loved it

I took him up in the back of a Robin DR400 strapped to his car seat, with a close friend along just in case of problems. Only 20 minutes, a quick flight over the house (which amazingly he recognised!!) and a flyby of the airfield to wave at Maman before landing, apon which screams of 'More, More More!!' were heard from the back!!

So, next thing is to have a longer flight, probably with another friend along, then its me & him on our lonesome!!

Thanks to all who gave advice earlier in the year,

Regards, SD..

[benhurr]

Took my children flying on Monday.

First time for my 3 year old who slept.

First time for my 5 year old who flew straight and level.

Second time for my 8 year old who did climbs/descents and steep turns (oops!)

As it is the summer holidays we had a day in Perranporth.

Tuesday, I was awoken with: "where are we going today dad?"

Aren't School Holidays great....?

[DX Wombat]

I'm not sure why you all get worried about taking a baby flying after all you wouldn't think twice about driving with him/her over a 3,000' mountain pass would you?

[DX Wombat]

SF I forgot to say that I think that photo is wonderful. I tried to show it to our physiotherapist who helps look after the developmental care of our premature babies but as we have only an extremely ancient NHS computer and an extremely efficient NHS firewall, it wouldn't show it I hope Lily is still enjoying her flying, she's a lucky little girl to have a dad who believes in treating her as normally as possible

[skydriller]

DX Wombat,

To me the difference between a car and a light aeroplane is that you dont generally need a headset in a car to combat noise and communicate, plus if there is a problem in a car you just pull over, stop and sort it, which is not so easy to do in a light aeroplane.....

.....which is why ( I have just found out!) it is not legal in France to fly in an aeroplane with a child under the age of 2 Years without another adult sat beside the child to supervise him/her. I dont think many mothers would think twice about driving down the road by themselves with their newborn offspring in the back of the car.

Just been flying again today with SD Junior and the father-in-law, about 45mins, next trip its me and the little-un by ourselves

Regards, SD..

[klausk]

Hi,

I've taken my bigger one (almost 3 at that time) twice into the plane. The first ride was a short 20min check to see the reaction. She refused to wear headphones, but otherwise enjoyed the trip and was "oooohing" and "aaaaahing" all the time and was happy to tell my wife what we did (ehhh, have I mentioned that my wife didn't know we were going flying?).

Cool, I said, so I took her again about a month later.

I guess my daughter wasn't in the mood that day and after about 20min of flying I noticed that she was quietly crying at the back.... After that she refused to go into the plane. She wasn't scared but she told me that we had done "too many rides" when we landed.

My point is that if there is a success one time it doesn't mean you'll be able to get the kid into a plane succesfully every time.

I don't want to push her because I'm still hoping that she'll will find it interesting when she is a bit older. So far I wasn't lucky -- every time I invite her, she gives me a definitive "no, thanks".

Klaus

[LowNSlow]

On my last leave my 6-year old gave me a row for going flying when she was in school. I had to take her to the strip for 30mins of circuits. She is especially keen now that she has her own headsets (same as SF's wee lass).

[DX Wombat]

Sorry Skydriller, I was assuming (wrongly) that it was a matter of whether or not it was actually safe to take a baby up in an aircraft rather than a matter of adequate supervision.