Ungrateful pax?!
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Cambridge, England, EU
After all, would we get excited at going to a stamp collectors convention?
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Norfolk
I take quite a few non-flyers flying and I always get a reaction:
generally it is - wow, I now know why you love it so much, what an experience, that upside down stuff is so weird!
or occassionally, "I'm really glad that we did it but next time take my sister".
I do have two rules and although generous with my invites (I pay) I assess the suitability of the pax before I offer. The second rule is that those that I have invited are given 3 opportunities to come flying. If they've turned down 3 trips because of personal circumstances, then they really weren't that keen at all!
Stik
generally it is - wow, I now know why you love it so much, what an experience, that upside down stuff is so weird!
or occassionally, "I'm really glad that we did it but next time take my sister".
I do have two rules and although generous with my invites (I pay) I assess the suitability of the pax before I offer. The second rule is that those that I have invited are given 3 opportunities to come flying. If they've turned down 3 trips because of personal circumstances, then they really weren't that keen at all!
Stik
Spicy Meatball
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Liverpool UK
if a pal has a fantastic collection and goes to a lot of trouble to show it to me, I'd show some enthusiasm
My experience as a stude of others attitude, is that there are generally two types of people when it comes to flying:
1) Those who are very excited about the prospect of taking the skies in one of those "little plane thingies" and would love to come flying and;
2) Those who generally show no interest at all (which is fine by me).
I reckon there will be a third though, which will be those who have said they would love to go flying, but never do.
Oh and I hate it when people say "I would come flying with you but I would rather you have some more experience first"
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Smurph Castle
Thanks to flower, 1Mclay & all; good to have a bit of solidarity from the 'right sort'! 
mazzy, I know where you're coming from and no doubt an original 19th century penny black or whatever is a fascinating historical artefact, but... I'm sorry! The boringness of most people just astounds me! They would rather be lurking around getting all excited over a new series of ER or a day's shopping in the high street when it is possible for most people (medical permitting) to fly! People just don't want to be different.
So while I have to accept on the evidence that you're right, I will never, never understand it!
But I still maintain that in the case of my 'friend', I'm liking Aussie Andy, Stafford and 18greens hypotheses the most...
mazzy, I know where you're coming from and no doubt an original 19th century penny black or whatever is a fascinating historical artefact, but... I'm sorry! The boringness of most people just astounds me! They would rather be lurking around getting all excited over a new series of ER or a day's shopping in the high street when it is possible for most people (medical permitting) to fly! People just don't want to be different.
So while I have to accept on the evidence that you're right, I will never, never understand it!
But I still maintain that in the case of my 'friend', I'm liking Aussie Andy, Stafford and 18greens hypotheses the most...
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Swindon, Wilts,UK
A slight Twist on the macho male thing. I've been helping with the PFA Young Eagles/Aviator experience flights for a few years now and I've noticed that there's a big difference in the way the Boys and Girls react.
The Girls are very open about the whole thing. Most enjoy the experience and let the world and his wife know about it, a few are scared and therefore are a bit diffident but do show proper gratitude.
The Boys all try to act cool 'n' hard so apart from the poor unfortunates who get airsick and get the living !!!!! ripped out of them by the rest there's very little response just grunts and incoherent mumblings.
This has led to a number of pilots saying stuff the ungrateful little sods I'm not doing that again.
However it transpires that on the ride home in the minibus the general and fairly loud concensus of opinion is that it was really cool. Apparently showning enthusiasm for an organised activity in front of the olds is not the done thing.
There are exceptions though, we've run a few scout camps and them little beggers have no qualms about showing their enthusiasm both boys and girls.
Mind you, the if ain't on telly it aint real factor seems to be quite prevalent these days!
The Girls are very open about the whole thing. Most enjoy the experience and let the world and his wife know about it, a few are scared and therefore are a bit diffident but do show proper gratitude.
The Boys all try to act cool 'n' hard so apart from the poor unfortunates who get airsick and get the living !!!!! ripped out of them by the rest there's very little response just grunts and incoherent mumblings.
This has led to a number of pilots saying stuff the ungrateful little sods I'm not doing that again.
However it transpires that on the ride home in the minibus the general and fairly loud concensus of opinion is that it was really cool. Apparently showning enthusiasm for an organised activity in front of the olds is not the done thing.
There are exceptions though, we've run a few scout camps and them little beggers have no qualms about showing their enthusiasm both boys and girls.
Mind you, the if ain't on telly it aint real factor seems to be quite prevalent these days!
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: CI
during my training (still going on atm) i had someone ask me 3 times if they could come up, so after great expence, i managed to talk my instructor to all someone to come up for a lesson. (a lesson where its safe or easy to have someone in the back), and even arranged a good time, all they had to pay was a £10 insurence thing, which they said no problem to. the day came, and they said, na i cant afford the £10 this time, and dont really want to pay £10 to go.
(i was thinking i told you weeks ago you would have to pay this, and you still wanted to come)
i mean i was paying £140 for the lesson, which i made at a time more to suit them, and had arranged a lesson that would allow them up in the back.
needless to say, even when they asked again i just said no.
(i was thinking i told you weeks ago you would have to pay this, and you still wanted to come)
i mean i was paying £140 for the lesson, which i made at a time more to suit them, and had arranged a lesson that would allow them up in the back.
needless to say, even when they asked again i just said no.
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Outlawed
Penguina - get him to take you along to something he likes doing (even if it's only popping down to the local Taj Mahal).
Get him to pay for everything, then moan your t**s off for the entire time.
Revenge is a dish best served cold - unlike lamb madras.
Get him to pay for everything, then moan your t**s off for the entire time.
Revenge is a dish best served cold - unlike lamb madras.
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Dublin
Pen,
That's terrible. When you go to the effort of bring someone flying, then they should should some appreciation for your efforts, even if it turns out not to be something that they enjoy.
When you actually cover the full costs of the outing, given the very expensive nature of flying, then if they don't really enjoy the experience, good manners dictates that they should fake the excitement!
The appreciation of course should not require any faking!
If it's any consolation, I really enjoyed our day flying together! It was great fun, and I learnt a lot too
dp
That's terrible. When you go to the effort of bring someone flying, then they should should some appreciation for your efforts, even if it turns out not to be something that they enjoy.
When you actually cover the full costs of the outing, given the very expensive nature of flying, then if they don't really enjoy the experience, good manners dictates that they should fake the excitement!
The appreciation of course should not require any faking! If it's any consolation, I really enjoyed our day flying together! It was great fun, and I learnt a lot too
dp
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 883
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From: Berkshire, UK
When I got my licence my father expressed an interest in flying with me. It was quite a while before I was ready, the weather was good (at both Brimpton, where I am based, and Leicester where he lives), my aircraft was serviceable and my father was available all on the same day. Anyway, I flew up to Leicester and took him bimbling around places he would know from the ground. We overflew places he used to live or work, places we used to go to walk when was young etc and were airborn for about an hour. I offered to let him have the controls but he was too busy looking at things that you would never notice when on the ground. When we landed back at Leicester I could see by the big grin that he had enjoyed it. He didn't need to say anything.
A couple of months later my sister let slip the fact that my father is having flying lessons! He is also talking about building an aircraft from a kit. Not bad for a 74 year old. I wonder why he didn't do it sooner.
Andrew
A couple of months later my sister let slip the fact that my father is having flying lessons! He is also talking about building an aircraft from a kit. Not bad for a 74 year old. I wonder why he didn't do it sooner.
Andrew
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
Just a passing thought.
Twice I can recall taking up a pax who passed virtually no comment about it, but later I heard them enthusing greatly at anybody who'd listen about how great it was. I think that in each case they were so overwhelmed by the experience they couldn't actually express themselves at the time. I think that having become familiar with and comfortable in the airborne environment we tend sometimes to forget how special it can be to somebody unused to it.
G
Twice I can recall taking up a pax who passed virtually no comment about it, but later I heard them enthusing greatly at anybody who'd listen about how great it was. I think that in each case they were so overwhelmed by the experience they couldn't actually express themselves at the time. I think that having become familiar with and comfortable in the airborne environment we tend sometimes to forget how special it can be to somebody unused to it.
G
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: south
Ungrateful PAX....
Penguina ..
Well what can I say ! I can perfectly understand your frustration
especially as there certainly was a cost to your goodself..
I bet this miserable sod has a real boring job ,something in the construction of software for papermills I would wager ! - There are those that would show their heartfelt gratitude of flying with
you at any time and treat you to a cuppa afterwards or even a night in a country hotel I should'nt wonder ! (although I'd want more than a slice of granary bread and a banana- for breakfast that is ) I would just ADORE the thought of being even asked to go flying with you !
I hope you've thawed our and caught up on the shut eye .
FFRIDAY
PS I have an asian grooved marrow and a couple of pomegranites
ready for you .....
Well what can I say ! I can perfectly understand your frustration
especially as there certainly was a cost to your goodself..
I bet this miserable sod has a real boring job ,something in the construction of software for papermills I would wager ! - There are those that would show their heartfelt gratitude of flying with
you at any time and treat you to a cuppa afterwards or even a night in a country hotel I should'nt wonder ! (although I'd want more than a slice of granary bread and a banana- for breakfast that is ) I would just ADORE the thought of being even asked to go flying with you !
I hope you've thawed our and caught up on the shut eye .
FFRIDAY
PS I have an asian grooved marrow and a couple of pomegranites
ready for you .....
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Smurph Castle
Don't worry ppruners, he's not a dangerous internet nutter...
... he's just an ordinary dangerous nutter!
dublinpilot:
I also enjoyed our day and also learnt loads from you - like, how to navigate in places like the Republic of Ireland and East Anglia and how to fly a proper deadside join without pussy-footing around in a girly manner such as I do!
strafer:
I like it! Also like the 'fainting fit' and 'unusual attitude' approaches mentioned earlier on!
... he's just an ordinary dangerous nutter!
dublinpilot:
I also enjoyed our day and also learnt loads from you - like, how to navigate in places like the Republic of Ireland and East Anglia and how to fly a proper deadside join without pussy-footing around in a girly manner such as I do!
strafer:
I like it! Also like the 'fainting fit' and 'unusual attitude' approaches mentioned earlier on!
Joined: May 2001
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From: Far East
I absolutely agree with Genghis. I took a uni friend up once and he was very quiet and relaxed, in fact he dozed off during a one hour flight while I was having fun in a near new DR400. He didn't show much emotion on the ground afterwards either, but ever since then he says how much he enjoyed it and tells people about it when we are in the pub together. He can't be just saying that eiher because he came up again and often asks me if I have a spare seat going.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,443
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From: Cambridge, England, EU
...boring job ,something in the construction of software for papermills...