What do you love about flying....?

[thing]

All checks done, lined up and pushing in the throttle - bumping along the grass and then off the ground and climbing. Words are not enough!

Funny that, I usually take off on one of the longest runways in the UK and it's not much of an event TBH. The few grass strip take offs I've done are indeed superb and grinworthy. Maybe I'm a closet 500m guy. Although I must admit there's that moment where you can feel the tires lift off and you know the a/c is in it's element.

[pulse1]

There are many things I enjoy about flying. I have a friend who comes in very handy when we need things like hinges re-bushed. Yesterday, I took him up to show him what it was all about and we went on a typical short cross country, a £100 coffee if you like.

One minute we were at our home airfield with people I know well. Then, after about 40 minutes looking at moving scenery on a beautiful day, we were somewhere completely different, having a spot of lunch and a short walk.

I took a different route back, so different scenery, and then back amongst the familiar at the home airfield and a relaxing drink amongst friends. My passenger loved it and so did I.

If the destination is a foreign country so much the better.

[willisp]

1st solo is the best feeling. The view is great and you cant beat a sweet landing.

[madlandrover]

Takeoff.

Likewise, among many other parts of it. Ultimately, I know that if we've got to that point and everything seems right then the flight will probably be right (2 years flying Thielerts, didn't always get to that point before aborting...). Also getting to that point means leaving everything on the ground behind as the wings bite and the wheels leave the ground. It is after all the ultimate expression of flight, just getting airborne!!

Other high points? First solo, first aerobatic solo, first formation solo, but most of all first MEP solo as a licence holder with no oversight, just an assumption that I could take the aircraft from A to B safely at the end of a course. First flight as an FI with a student - and the 1000th flight as an FI with a student.

Every flight is special in its own right, a real privilege to see a view few people see

[maxred]

Just the sense of achievement, of having done it - a real ''look ma, no hands feel''.

Also........breaking out of cloud and cruising along in bright sunlight, skimming the tops. Fabulous.

A nice summers day, with wispy puff clouds, and going up and darting around them, slow aeros in between.

All romantic stuff, but that's what it is all about.

[Blues&twos]

Anything and everything in a Pitts. (Except the throwing up after over exuberance).

[ct8282]

One of the things I hate most about flying is constantly being stopped by the weather!! Another flight cancelled today!!

Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

[thing]

One of the things I hate most about flying is constantly being stopped by the weather!! Another flight cancelled today!!

Yeah I'm supposed to be flying tomorrow and Monday. I'm looking out the window at the moment at a cloudless sky. Bet it's pants again tomorrow.

[vee-tail-1]

The best for me at this time is to clean & wash my immaculate ATL and remember the fun and the experiences and the views and the challenges it has given me over the last ten years.
The worst is to have to give it up and sell my lovely French aeroplane to a new owner.
Ugly economics finally put paid to a life of flying, first flight at 12 years old last at 72. A life spent flying with the RAF, BOAC, BA, and as an aircraft owner.
Even a BA pension will no longer cope with the savage increase in cost of living & aviating, including doubling of hangarage charges.
To those of you still able to fly, look out for the old guys leaning on the airfield fence. Give us a wave occasionally, we were once sky gods too!

[IO540]

If you were nearer, you could fly with me anytime

Not sure you would like doing this in an SEP though

[Poeli]

I'm just a glider pilot for the moment, but also someone who's saving up for the PPL or microlight

What I love about gliding is the 'I can do this without an engine'. I always have a smile on my face when I find a good thermal. Always. I even talk to the glider in words like 'come on baby, go up'. Being at 1000meters, following trucks on the major roads is a cool thing to do, also the magnificent views. When you enter the circuit again everything is so 'big'.
I also love the final approach. Setting just the amount of speedbrakes needed so your mates don't have to run far. Stop less than 3m from them is also a great feeling, certainly after a 2hrs flight.

What I hate about flying? the price. As a college student I have to work 4 years to have enough money to pay for the PPL courses. This means if I go for the PPL I'd be broke. Luckily enough I graduate in 2 years.
The other part which I don't really like is that gliding takes certainly a whole day. (I don't want to be the person to fly and go away after my flight without helping), but as said, being in college takes a lot of time, and maybe it's just the work for school I hate, not being able to fly as much as I'd love to.

Another minus is the distance of the nearest airfield. Every major city in Belgium has at least an airfield. Except my city, so the closest airfield/airport is not reachable without a car (which I don't have), or motorcycle.

[The500man]

the closest airfield/airport is not reachable without a car

This seems to often be the case near me too. I bought a purple Citroen AX for about £300 for transport, and recently pointed out to my aeros instructor that it cost about the same as an hour in his airplane! It always seems funny to me when I arrive at an airfield and park next to an expensive looking Jaguar or a fake 4x4. The procedure for getting out by the way is to do so as quickly as is possible and fast-walk to atleast 10 feet away before continuing normally!

What I love about flying:

• looking at the world in a different way (upside down being a particularly good view)
• That feeling you get of decelerating when ballistic
• Being able to plan a trip somewhere distant and go when you want to (rather than waiting around and adjusting plans to coincide with public transport)
• The look on peoples faces when you take them flying
• Going home with a buzz afterwards and mentally planning the next flight

Things I could do without:

• Bad weather (God will know my wrath one day! )
• Slow circuit traffic flying a tour of GB
• Manual squelch knobs on the intercom (yeah, it's personal)
• Stupid charges (trying not to look in the direction of the CAA)

[thing]

The procedure for getting out by the way is to do so as quickly as is possible and fast-walk to atleast 10 feet away before continuing normally!

Nothing wrong with flying and having a cheapo car mate. It means you've made considerably more sacrifices than a guy in a new Jag XKR and therefore probably appreciate it more. My old window cleaner had a PPL and the rustbucket he drove was a sight to behold.

[Pilot DAR]

There are so many things I love about flying, sometimes they fade in together. But then there are days like today...

You see a rare military liason plane in Jane's as a kid, and dream of flying one. But they are so uncommon, you never think there'll be a chance of that. Then one taxis onto the ramp, and I'm invited for a checkout, as I'll be test flying it later with a modification installed. What fun! Everything I dreamed it would be, when I dreamed as a kid. Three circuits later, I was checked out!

I love flying!

[vee-tail-1]

IO540 Thanks for the offer, it would be great to fly with you one day.
Where was that amazing winter scene?

It's quite extraordinary how much emotional baggage gets loaded into your own aeroplane. You service it, clean it, throw money at it, pose in it, fly in it, get scared in it, see amazing sights in it, come to love it, and when its gone turn into a blubbering emotional wreck.
Only my 13 year old son understands, all the women in my family think I am quite daft.
Ah well the new owner has offered me the chance to occasionally fly it again, so I can still use the moniker vee-tail

[IO540]

It was over the Alps, flying back to the UK from Zadar, Croatia. About FL140-160 or so. In the summer!

I was going to suggest you flog say 50% of the plane to a good mate of yours. Makes it much more affordable.

[Morris542]

Just as everyone else has said, the views are second to none. However the part I love is the satisfaction of flying away to another airfield, having a short break, and then flying back again. Although it's an expensive lunch/coffee, it's much more stylish.

Looking down on the BBMF is not a bad experience either!

[AOB9]

@willisp

1st solo is the best feeling.

Coming up for me real soon, terrified and excited all at the time.Haven't felt like that since my first "real" date

[MarkR1981]

IO540 that pic of the Swiss Alps from up above is really something. For me the closest I have experienced to this so far is the snow covered Highlands of Scotland in Winter. But I still think Switzerland wins

For me Flying offers an unbeatable escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The views, the freedom and being in full control (or we hope so anyway) of a flight that can begin and end where you want it to.

Downside:- Cost

[flyinkiwi]

What do I love?

Looking down at cars on the highways watching the speed limit while I blast along at more than twice their speed.

Taking day trips that would take hours by car, but are reduced to mere minutes by air.

Getting a perspective on our world that not a lot of people get to see.