First flight with wife and children onboard
PPruNaholic!
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Hi all,
I spoke to Mrs. Andy about the flight last night. We discussed my motives, her fears, etc. Ultimately, she's doing it for my sake and because she doesn't think I'll give up asking! But she also wants to see if we all get on OK with it so we can consider a trip together.
She's decided that she prefers that both girls are in the plane with her and with me, not an instructor or another pilot. She's confident (as am I) that the girls will be calm and will enjoy the flight.
She understands that I will be a bit nervous with them on board, and that I will only go ahead if conditions are very good - nay, perfect! (Thanks to Pondlife for his thoughts...)
So with all this discussion behind us, we have agreed that we will go ahead with the flight as four of us together. I feel better now that we have had the discussion, and am confident that she understands the issues properly. I remain confident that the flight will be safe, smooth and well within my limits of experience, and am very much looking forward to seeing how Mrs. Andy and the girls feel after the flight - will let you all know!
Thanks so much for all the extremely useful posts! The more sobering posts at the start of this thread served to make me think twice, and to discuss the issues properly with Mrs. Andy - and I'm very glad I did as some counter to my natural exuberance was needed! Also very much appreciate the more positive posts as well
Andy
I spoke to Mrs. Andy about the flight last night. We discussed my motives, her fears, etc. Ultimately, she's doing it for my sake and because she doesn't think I'll give up asking! But she also wants to see if we all get on OK with it so we can consider a trip together.
She's decided that she prefers that both girls are in the plane with her and with me, not an instructor or another pilot. She's confident (as am I) that the girls will be calm and will enjoy the flight.
She understands that I will be a bit nervous with them on board, and that I will only go ahead if conditions are very good - nay, perfect! (Thanks to Pondlife for his thoughts...)
So with all this discussion behind us, we have agreed that we will go ahead with the flight as four of us together. I feel better now that we have had the discussion, and am confident that she understands the issues properly. I remain confident that the flight will be safe, smooth and well within my limits of experience, and am very much looking forward to seeing how Mrs. Andy and the girls feel after the flight - will let you all know!
Thanks so much for all the extremely useful posts! The more sobering posts at the start of this thread served to make me think twice, and to discuss the issues properly with Mrs. Andy - and I'm very glad I did as some counter to my natural exuberance was needed! Also very much appreciate the more positive posts as well
Andy
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Can I add a bit of extention to this?
I'm still doing my PPL, but naturally when I get my ticket I wanna show off and impress blokes with my new skill!
When I'm flying with people what is the line on letting them control/fly the plane to some extent (bearing in mind I'm not a QFI)
ta
I'm still doing my PPL, but naturally when I get my ticket I wanna show off and impress blokes with my new skill!
When I'm flying with people what is the line on letting them control/fly the plane to some extent (bearing in mind I'm not a QFI)
ta
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Before we had children my wife and I used fly reasonably often. She didn't dislike or particularly like it - it just so so to her.
When no. 1 daughter was about 2, we took her up - me in the front and my wife an daughetr in the back (of a 172). Daughter fell asleep!
These days my wife does not like to come flying - motherhood I guess. I've taken both daughters several times and they quite enjoy it. but now they are older, they much prefer horses. I recently took no 1 daughter to do some basic aeros. We started very gently and she was fine, right up to a sequence of contiguous manouvers - no problem. What she didn't like, and what caused us to cut the flight short, was the turbulence; it was a bumpy day with contiuous chop and the occasional big bump.
You need to be aware of likely reactions - as others have said you can't fly the plane and look after 3 panicing passengers. But is this likely?
And the safety aspect has to be kept in proportion. Last Monday morning a neigbour of my mother in law got into his car to go to work just like millions of others. 3 minutes later he was dead - killed by a skip lorry. His death is tragic for his wife and young family, just as much as if he'd been killed in an aeroplane. But to 'the man in the pub', his death is just 'one of those things'. I bet if he'd been killed in a light aircraft the 'man in the pub' would be saying 'silly bu**er. Fancy risking his life like that when he had a young family'.
Perceptions can be odd at times.
SSD
When no. 1 daughter was about 2, we took her up - me in the front and my wife an daughetr in the back (of a 172). Daughter fell asleep!
These days my wife does not like to come flying - motherhood I guess. I've taken both daughters several times and they quite enjoy it. but now they are older, they much prefer horses. I recently took no 1 daughter to do some basic aeros. We started very gently and she was fine, right up to a sequence of contiguous manouvers - no problem. What she didn't like, and what caused us to cut the flight short, was the turbulence; it was a bumpy day with contiuous chop and the occasional big bump.
You need to be aware of likely reactions - as others have said you can't fly the plane and look after 3 panicing passengers. But is this likely?
And the safety aspect has to be kept in proportion. Last Monday morning a neigbour of my mother in law got into his car to go to work just like millions of others. 3 minutes later he was dead - killed by a skip lorry. His death is tragic for his wife and young family, just as much as if he'd been killed in an aeroplane. But to 'the man in the pub', his death is just 'one of those things'. I bet if he'd been killed in a light aircraft the 'man in the pub' would be saying 'silly bu**er. Fancy risking his life like that when he had a young family'.
Perceptions can be odd at times.
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A very interesting thread - it certainly made me think. My first flight after getting my PPL was with my wife, over our house. She had flown in small a/c before so she was no stranger to it. We had a few more flights together until one day we went up in the late afternoon. It was hazy and combined with a low sun, the visibility was s**t!! I was happy with the conditions, but she wasn't. Also, as she is 5'2" tall, even with a cushion, she can't see over a Cessna's coaming. So that was our last flight together.
Kirstey - try getting your friends to taxi the thing. Firstly, they will try to steer using the yoke, then they will pump the pedals like a cyclist and you'll weave all over the place. Do your turning checks at this point.
Before you get airborne, ask them if they would like to fly it. If they agree, show them what to do, and let them do a few turns. You hang on to the throttle etc. If they don't, let it be, don't try to force them & don't take your hand off the controls to demonstrate perfect trim!!
Kirstey - try getting your friends to taxi the thing. Firstly, they will try to steer using the yoke, then they will pump the pedals like a cyclist and you'll weave all over the place. Do your turning checks at this point.
Before you get airborne, ask them if they would like to fly it. If they agree, show them what to do, and let them do a few turns. You hang on to the throttle etc. If they don't, let it be, don't try to force them & don't take your hand off the controls to demonstrate perfect trim!!
Not so N, but still FG
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I feel bound to agree with Toppers that there is an element of over caution in this thread. My wife never enjoys flying in airliners,but has quickly come to love blatting about in puddle jumpers. She thought that she would not like light aviation, but on her first trip took to it with enthusiasm.
Andy, might not your wife be tempted by the opportunities for trips abroad?. Mine tells me that one of the highlights of this year for her was a trip to Burgundy for dinner and a night's stopover made by gas-guzzling Bulldog during the summer.
Nowadays my wife is a reliable traffic spotter, is learning how to help me with nav, frequency changes etc, and is thinking of doing the safety pilot course so that she can land the thing if I succumb to the coronary effects of all my pie eating.
I have developed a sort of patter which I give to passengers new to GA whilst in the car on the way to the airfield. I tell them about such things as the tippy sensations associated with turns (even gentle ones) and about the big changes in engine noise levels associated with different stages of flight. At the airfield, I often let them see me do a mega-thorough pre-flight. I may tell them why I have a checklist, pointing out that pro pilots have them too. I give them the "brace brace" what to do if we are crashing/after we have crashed briefing at the holding point, partly because you're supposed to, and partly because, paradoxical as it may seem, it appears to make them feel more confident, not less.
I would suggest that you try to think of and talk about those aspects of flying in small aircraft which have become or are becoming second nature to you, but which may seem deeply unfamiliar and initially uncomfortable to your passengers. When I converted to taildraggers and first took my wife in one, she thought that we were crashing during the takeoff roll when the nose went down as I brought the tail up. I had forgotten to tell her how it might look and feel, and she was by that time used to trikey takeoffs.
Some passengers seem strangely impressed by RT, which, as you know, is the easiest bit of the whole thing. I'm not suggesting that you should clog the airwaves with blather (after all, you are not a Stapleford or Biggin pilot), but if your trip permits of this, why not check in with, say, London Info, make a blah blah Golf blah blah niner niner roger blah call in your best Concorde Captain on his day off manner, and thereby convince the passenger that you are super pilot, even when lost, out of fuel, and about to fly into a cloud full of rocks and sheep.
Anyway, hope you have a successful trip and can enjoy flying en famille lomng into the future.
Andy, might not your wife be tempted by the opportunities for trips abroad?. Mine tells me that one of the highlights of this year for her was a trip to Burgundy for dinner and a night's stopover made by gas-guzzling Bulldog during the summer.
Nowadays my wife is a reliable traffic spotter, is learning how to help me with nav, frequency changes etc, and is thinking of doing the safety pilot course so that she can land the thing if I succumb to the coronary effects of all my pie eating.
I have developed a sort of patter which I give to passengers new to GA whilst in the car on the way to the airfield. I tell them about such things as the tippy sensations associated with turns (even gentle ones) and about the big changes in engine noise levels associated with different stages of flight. At the airfield, I often let them see me do a mega-thorough pre-flight. I may tell them why I have a checklist, pointing out that pro pilots have them too. I give them the "brace brace" what to do if we are crashing/after we have crashed briefing at the holding point, partly because you're supposed to, and partly because, paradoxical as it may seem, it appears to make them feel more confident, not less.
I would suggest that you try to think of and talk about those aspects of flying in small aircraft which have become or are becoming second nature to you, but which may seem deeply unfamiliar and initially uncomfortable to your passengers. When I converted to taildraggers and first took my wife in one, she thought that we were crashing during the takeoff roll when the nose went down as I brought the tail up. I had forgotten to tell her how it might look and feel, and she was by that time used to trikey takeoffs.
Some passengers seem strangely impressed by RT, which, as you know, is the easiest bit of the whole thing. I'm not suggesting that you should clog the airwaves with blather (after all, you are not a Stapleford or Biggin pilot), but if your trip permits of this, why not check in with, say, London Info, make a blah blah Golf blah blah niner niner roger blah call in your best Concorde Captain on his day off manner, and thereby convince the passenger that you are super pilot, even when lost, out of fuel, and about to fly into a cloud full of rocks and sheep.
Anyway, hope you have a successful trip and can enjoy flying en famille lomng into the future.
The Original Whirly
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Who has control,
I'm 5ft 2(and a half)ins, and I can see to fly a C152 and even a C172 if I have a big enough cushion; a child's car booster seat is the best. Useful for short passengers - though my short passengers have to put up with it as I need the booster seat more than they do!
Kirstey,
Take care with letting passengers take over. I'd happily let mine fly straight and level, and even do turns if they felt confident. Then one day one froze on the controls, only for a few seconds, but that was long enough for the thoughts to come crowding in as I reasoned gently with her - should I hit her; are we high enough above those hills for me to recover after a stall, etc etc. It's unlikely to happen, but you only need one...
I always give passengers an extremely thorough briefing; it gets longer the longer I fly, as you discover people's preconceptions etc. Yes, tell them even airline pilots use checklists, otherwise some of them think you don't know what you're doing. Tell them to let you know if they feel sick, and if they do, putting their hands (gently!) on the yoke and looking out the front as though they were doing the flying will often do the trick. Ask them if they want to know what you're doing and why, or would rather just look out of the window; some of the most unlikely-seeming people want all the details, and vice-versa.
I agree this thread has erred on the side of caution, perhaps over-caution. I love taking people up; I feel greatly privileged to be able to fly, and I want to share it with everyone. But thinks can go wrong. You can put people off flying; that happened with one of my early passengers, who I took up in nasty weather. And worse things can happen too. So telling them a bit too much, having a few extra hours yourself, checking that they really want to go - I don't think a bit of over-caution does any harm really.
I'm 5ft 2(and a half)ins, and I can see to fly a C152 and even a C172 if I have a big enough cushion; a child's car booster seat is the best. Useful for short passengers - though my short passengers have to put up with it as I need the booster seat more than they do!
Kirstey,
Take care with letting passengers take over. I'd happily let mine fly straight and level, and even do turns if they felt confident. Then one day one froze on the controls, only for a few seconds, but that was long enough for the thoughts to come crowding in as I reasoned gently with her - should I hit her; are we high enough above those hills for me to recover after a stall, etc etc. It's unlikely to happen, but you only need one...
I always give passengers an extremely thorough briefing; it gets longer the longer I fly, as you discover people's preconceptions etc. Yes, tell them even airline pilots use checklists, otherwise some of them think you don't know what you're doing. Tell them to let you know if they feel sick, and if they do, putting their hands (gently!) on the yoke and looking out the front as though they were doing the flying will often do the trick. Ask them if they want to know what you're doing and why, or would rather just look out of the window; some of the most unlikely-seeming people want all the details, and vice-versa.
I agree this thread has erred on the side of caution, perhaps over-caution. I love taking people up; I feel greatly privileged to be able to fly, and I want to share it with everyone. But thinks can go wrong. You can put people off flying; that happened with one of my early passengers, who I took up in nasty weather. And worse things can happen too. So telling them a bit too much, having a few extra hours yourself, checking that they really want to go - I don't think a bit of over-caution does any harm really.
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My comments are short.
Yes, overcautious on the thread. Accidents can happen, especially if you are prone to showboating with newfound skills and the presence of friends, family, etc. Please resist that temptation.
Fly as you normally would, checklists, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, and you should be just fine. Tasking a pax to assist in traffic lookout is great, most I have found will appreciate that they are helping you out, not the thoughts of aircraft all over the place. I've had people hold charts, etc. Tune radios when directed, etc. Getting them involved takes their minds off any slight fear they may have, just listening to the radios they learn that it is a busy environment up there, etc. in short: Fun!
All the people I've taken rotory flying have a good understanding of the risks involved, as for it being your family, well that is a risk you have to face, but I certainly do not stop on that point, flying is something to be enjoyed. If someone wants to go with me, they may, but they have to weigh those risks and make a decision, I do not judge anyone who doesn't wish to go with me.
Whirly, usually I'll hover for a bit, let 'em get used to it, then depart.
If there is any hesitation about not having a door, they get the door
Yes, overcautious on the thread. Accidents can happen, especially if you are prone to showboating with newfound skills and the presence of friends, family, etc. Please resist that temptation.
Fly as you normally would, checklists, etc. Nothing out of the ordinary, and you should be just fine. Tasking a pax to assist in traffic lookout is great, most I have found will appreciate that they are helping you out, not the thoughts of aircraft all over the place. I've had people hold charts, etc. Tune radios when directed, etc. Getting them involved takes their minds off any slight fear they may have, just listening to the radios they learn that it is a busy environment up there, etc. in short: Fun!
All the people I've taken rotory flying have a good understanding of the risks involved, as for it being your family, well that is a risk you have to face, but I certainly do not stop on that point, flying is something to be enjoyed. If someone wants to go with me, they may, but they have to weigh those risks and make a decision, I do not judge anyone who doesn't wish to go with me.
Whirly, usually I'll hover for a bit, let 'em get used to it, then depart.
If there is any hesitation about not having a door, they get the door
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Hi Aussie A.,
if YOU feel comfortable to take your family up, then #1 point is out of the way.
If your family want´s to come too #2 is done.
Rest:
1. Check out a nice trip. Even a short trip is more exciting then 3 trips around the patch (remember they are not aviators, they are sightseers. If any of them get bit by the flying bug, then this is for later not for the first ride with Daddy!)
2. Wait for the perfect day: Maybe not to sunny (less glare and turbulence....)
3. If someone is chickening out, so be it his/her own fault - the other ones will tell him/her what they mist for the next time!
4. Heed Static D.´s advice on the turns: 30 deg Bank is okay, but no more(1.18 g only)AND do the turns smooth, like you do not want them to feel the turns at all!!
If they are into rollercoaster you will find out later and can do that with them later, when you figured out yourself how.
It is like with motorcyles. You can addict them with the first ride or scare them away for life. Your choice....
Do not think to much about what could happen or it might (Nothing mystical here, just "planning" disaters over in your head leads to " no attention" on the flightdeck and this way it might happen.....).
Whenever I have a chance I bring my wife and 18 month son along - over jungle, 10 mile stretches of sea, mountains, etc. I just catch myself being mor careful and watchful with them onboard. (However I got a couple 1000 hours under the belt.)
another one: Watch your airspeed - with the whole gang aboard you might get on the heavy side of the envelope. Maybe you want to practise some max gross landings with your instructor first (five gallon cans with water will weight you down real quick - or a beer keg or two for the party after.....)
If you want to be sure yourself, ask your flight instructor for his honest opinion:
Does he think you are ready for the family-business? Would he let his girl or wife or kid fly with you?
You got your PPL, so you must be able to pass some criteria, but maybe you are NOT YET ready for this.....(ask yourself....)
Last Advice: Join Experimental Aircraft Association-EAA. Under lot of other things they have a program called "Young Eagles" to promote aviation with the kids. They also have guidelines and Minimum requirements for pilots who are willing to do these "Young Eagle"-flights - check them up on www.eaa.org
Fly safe and have fun flying with your Gang!
Let us know how it went!!!!!!!
3top
if YOU feel comfortable to take your family up, then #1 point is out of the way.
If your family want´s to come too #2 is done.
Rest:
1. Check out a nice trip. Even a short trip is more exciting then 3 trips around the patch (remember they are not aviators, they are sightseers. If any of them get bit by the flying bug, then this is for later not for the first ride with Daddy!)
2. Wait for the perfect day: Maybe not to sunny (less glare and turbulence....)
3. If someone is chickening out, so be it his/her own fault - the other ones will tell him/her what they mist for the next time!
4. Heed Static D.´s advice on the turns: 30 deg Bank is okay, but no more(1.18 g only)AND do the turns smooth, like you do not want them to feel the turns at all!!
If they are into rollercoaster you will find out later and can do that with them later, when you figured out yourself how.
It is like with motorcyles. You can addict them with the first ride or scare them away for life. Your choice....
Do not think to much about what could happen or it might (Nothing mystical here, just "planning" disaters over in your head leads to " no attention" on the flightdeck and this way it might happen.....).
Whenever I have a chance I bring my wife and 18 month son along - over jungle, 10 mile stretches of sea, mountains, etc. I just catch myself being mor careful and watchful with them onboard. (However I got a couple 1000 hours under the belt.)
another one: Watch your airspeed - with the whole gang aboard you might get on the heavy side of the envelope. Maybe you want to practise some max gross landings with your instructor first (five gallon cans with water will weight you down real quick - or a beer keg or two for the party after.....)
If you want to be sure yourself, ask your flight instructor for his honest opinion:
Does he think you are ready for the family-business? Would he let his girl or wife or kid fly with you?
You got your PPL, so you must be able to pass some criteria, but maybe you are NOT YET ready for this.....(ask yourself....)
Last Advice: Join Experimental Aircraft Association-EAA. Under lot of other things they have a program called "Young Eagles" to promote aviation with the kids. They also have guidelines and Minimum requirements for pilots who are willing to do these "Young Eagle"-flights - check them up on www.eaa.org
Fly safe and have fun flying with your Gang!
Let us know how it went!!!!!!!
3top
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The Weather!! Forgot about the weather!
There's no point in taking passengers in marginal weather, they are up for the ride so you want them to enjoy themselves. However, most people are used to turning up at the airport and boring up through the clag in a jet. So you have to emphasis how weather-dependant light aircraft are, explain that up to 50% of flights get cancelled. Don't feel obliged to take passengers just because you've arrived at the airport. If the weather looks poor on the ground, it will be worse up aloft. (We've all been there, haven't we?). Be honest with your passengers, they will understand, especially if you make it clear that you want them to enjoy themselves.
If you have to cancel at the airport, as a consolation, sit your passengers in the aircraft. Explain all the knobs and taps to them as it prepares them for the time when you can take them flying.
There's no point in taking passengers in marginal weather, they are up for the ride so you want them to enjoy themselves. However, most people are used to turning up at the airport and boring up through the clag in a jet. So you have to emphasis how weather-dependant light aircraft are, explain that up to 50% of flights get cancelled. Don't feel obliged to take passengers just because you've arrived at the airport. If the weather looks poor on the ground, it will be worse up aloft. (We've all been there, haven't we?). Be honest with your passengers, they will understand, especially if you make it clear that you want them to enjoy themselves.
If you have to cancel at the airport, as a consolation, sit your passengers in the aircraft. Explain all the knobs and taps to them as it prepares them for the time when you can take them flying.
Bottums Up
Andy, I'm with Toppers. I took my then wife and our two sons for a flight as soon as I was licenced. Junior was my main worry as at about 18 months of age I wasn't sure how he'd react to the noise.
If memory serves me, mum sat in the back of the PA-28 with junior and number one son, 3 yrs old, sat on a booster cusion in the RHS.
We all enjoyed it, junior fell asleep, and number one has never refused an opportunity to fly with me since.
Re briefings, as someone else mentioned, a good briefing, given confidently, gives confidence to the pax your carrying.
I hope you enjoy the first, and all subsequent flights.
If memory serves me, mum sat in the back of the PA-28 with junior and number one son, 3 yrs old, sat on a booster cusion in the RHS.
We all enjoyed it, junior fell asleep, and number one has never refused an opportunity to fly with me since.
Re briefings, as someone else mentioned, a good briefing, given confidently, gives confidence to the pax your carrying.
I hope you enjoy the first, and all subsequent flights.
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I find it is best to stick them in business class or fist if no non staff pax .
My kids treat the bunk area like a creche if you put the top bunk up and both matresess on the lower bunk they spend ages just bouncing on it .
Their response a while ago was oh no not MRU for xmas again .
But their favourite seems to be the PA 28 no accounting for taste .
Pratt of a reply ( even if true )but wanted to lighten things up a little .
An onside family is almost as good as an on side bank manager .
My kids treat the bunk area like a creche if you put the top bunk up and both matresess on the lower bunk they spend ages just bouncing on it .
Their response a while ago was oh no not MRU for xmas again .
But their favourite seems to be the PA 28 no accounting for taste .
Pratt of a reply ( even if true )but wanted to lighten things up a little .
An onside family is almost as good as an on side bank manager .
PPruNaholic!
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In case anyone was wondering - we didn't manage the flight this weekend - both girls have caught my chest infection, so everyone not up for it this time around.
So I went flying with my brother instead!Great fun - paid a visit to Oxford and did some photography
So hope to take the girls up in January... until then,
Andy
So I went flying with my brother instead!
Great fun - paid a visit to Oxford and did some photography So hope to take the girls up in January... until then,
Andy
I took my little girl (3 1/2) up in the Auster a while back for a quick circuit. She loved it and kept asking to go flying with me again. She likes flying MS Combat Flight Sim. Loves doing steep turns.
Once clear of LTN, up to 4,000' so she could have a go. Up to this point she looked a bit unhappy but said she was OK.
As soon as I said she could hold the column she brightened up and asked if she could turn. Instant Battle of Britain style wing over and pull through which is exactly what I was expecting her to do. Obviously I was following her on the controls.
As we pulled about 2g in the recovery she wasn't laughing she was cackling. For the next 30 minutes we did steep turns and wingovers so she could feel the g
I've taken my older kids flying and the boys were quite enthusiastic and the other girls thought it was OK but not that interesting (the youngest was 7 at the time and they all had other interests by then).
Did have a scary moment in a 172 when 9 year old numpty No.2 son in the back undid his belt and leaned toward the left hand door. I managed to instantly wonder if it really was locked while his big sister yanked him back and gave him a slap. I shudder to think what could have happened as I was in a gentle left turn at the time.
Even sensible kids can ignore the instructions and let their excitement overwhelm them at times.
Having the kids with me always makes me more aware of what can go wrong but I mentally resolve that by putting extra attention into the pre flight planning and ensuring the weather conditions are right and the aeroplane is in tiptop condition.
Good luck with the family day out but be prepared to have to pay for another 2 PPL's if the kids get bitten by the bug......
[ 03 December 2001: Message edited by: LowNSlow ]
Once clear of LTN, up to 4,000' so she could have a go. Up to this point she looked a bit unhappy but said she was OK.
As soon as I said she could hold the column she brightened up and asked if she could turn. Instant Battle of Britain style wing over and pull through which is exactly what I was expecting her to do. Obviously I was following her on the controls.
As we pulled about 2g in the recovery she wasn't laughing she was cackling. For the next 30 minutes we did steep turns and wingovers so she could feel the g
I've taken my older kids flying and the boys were quite enthusiastic and the other girls thought it was OK but not that interesting (the youngest was 7 at the time and they all had other interests by then).
Did have a scary moment in a 172 when 9 year old numpty No.2 son in the back undid his belt and leaned toward the left hand door. I managed to instantly wonder if it really was locked while his big sister yanked him back and gave him a slap. I shudder to think what could have happened as I was in a gentle left turn at the time.
Even sensible kids can ignore the instructions and let their excitement overwhelm them at times. Having the kids with me always makes me more aware of what can go wrong but I mentally resolve that by putting extra attention into the pre flight planning and ensuring the weather conditions are right and the aeroplane is in tiptop condition.
Good luck with the family day out but be prepared to have to pay for another 2 PPL's if the kids get bitten by the bug......
[ 03 December 2001: Message edited by: LowNSlow ]
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Flying a Piper Dakota 10 hrs after passing your PPL is good going - Warrior might be better unless you have a fair amount of complex time as if anything goes wrong the less to think about the better. Being based at Wycombe, why fly into all the traffic around BNN, even if your house is there? Suggest you fly into nice open spaces with limited other traffic
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Hi Dakota_Pete,
I have to say I'm more comfortable in the Dakota than the Warrior - I just love its extra oomph
I agree re- crowds around BNN, but I'm pretty comfortable with it as I am there often. But I will be sure to wait for perfect wx, esp. viz.
Thanks,
Andy
I have to say I'm more comfortable in the Dakota than the Warrior - I just love its extra oomph
I agree re- crowds around BNN, but I'm pretty comfortable with it as I am there often. But I will be sure to wait for perfect wx, esp. viz.
Thanks,
Andy
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My goal on getting my PPL was to fly my daughter (12 yrs old) asap. I took an instructor with me for confidence. She loved it.
My message on this is, if in doubt, like marriage, don't do it. I've done it loads:
Mum (70) - loved it (Blackbushe to Welshpool)
Dad (70) - fell asleep
Wife - only likes it if there's no bumps and a good restaurant at one end
Son (18) - bored by it, but wants to be a pilot (doesn't like the idea of his Dad being in control)
Son (16) - Slept through a blizzard I found myself flying through
Daughter (13) - loved it, especially when I flew her down to Biscarosse (nr. Bordeaux) to join a school trip
Son (5) - loves flying through, round and over the clouds, but hates his ears popping (note: take sucking sweets for young kids)
It's horses for courses; some like flying, some don't. If they're happy to do it and you haven't 'over-persuaded' them, and you're confident, safe, the weather's right and you brief everyone before you take off, then it'll be great for everyone.
My message on this is, if in doubt, like marriage, don't do it. I've done it loads:
Mum (70) - loved it (Blackbushe to Welshpool)
Dad (70) - fell asleep
Wife - only likes it if there's no bumps and a good restaurant at one end
Son (18) - bored by it, but wants to be a pilot (doesn't like the idea of his Dad being in control)
Son (16) - Slept through a blizzard I found myself flying through
Daughter (13) - loved it, especially when I flew her down to Biscarosse (nr. Bordeaux) to join a school trip
Son (5) - loves flying through, round and over the clouds, but hates his ears popping (note: take sucking sweets for young kids)
It's horses for courses; some like flying, some don't. If they're happy to do it and you haven't 'over-persuaded' them, and you're confident, safe, the weather's right and you brief everyone before you take off, then it'll be great for everyone.
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AA, I'm sure you have had plenty of "pro" and "con" advice here, but just thought I'd share and experience ...
A private flight with 6yr old nephew in a PN68 over SY harbour (and orbits of his house!) in the right seat. He plastered his eyes out the window all the way ... only to say "this engine is still flying" on the landing roll.
An absolute delight to bring such wonder to a childs eyes.
I did have his father in the back seat of the aircraft, just in case he freaked out .. and although my hrs in the a/c ... well that was my first solo .. the route and procedures were very familiar, so the only "stress" was :-
a) Finding his house! and
b) Landing the PN68 in a decent gusty XW.
'Hope we hear how you went.
A private flight with 6yr old nephew in a PN68 over SY harbour (and orbits of his house!) in the right seat. He plastered his eyes out the window all the way ... only to say "this engine is still flying" on the landing roll.
An absolute delight to bring such
wonder to a childs eyes.I did have his father in the back seat of the aircraft, just in case he freaked out .. and although my hrs in the a/c ... well that was my first solo .. the route and procedures were very familiar, so the only "stress" was :-
a) Finding his house! and
b) Landing the PN68 in a decent gusty XW.
'Hope we hear how you went.