Do people believe you are a pilot ?
Cut & Paste Intellectual
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I once introduced myself as a pilot to a woman. "Oh" she said -"my name is Lois Aldrin and you must meet my husband "
"Hey - Buzz, what ya doin' - come over and meet this pilot" "
"Hey - Buzz, what ya doin' - come over and meet this pilot" "
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I didn't introduce myself as a pilot (even when I was flying regularly), but one of my work colleagues told his brother that I was doing aerobatics; brother sighed heavily and replied 'no, you mean aerobics.'
Wish I'd got in before the previous story though!
Wish I'd got in before the previous story though!
Gentleman Aviator
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Best not to mention youre a pilot until the girl knows you a bit better. When I meet a new girl, I always try to leave it as long as possible before telling them that Im a pilot. Ive managed to go through a first date without mentioning the p word. (BTW she knows Im a pilot because my mate is going out with one of her friends, but she doesnt know that I know that she knows Im a pilot).
Be modest and when you finally tell them theyll be impressed that you didnt mention it earlier!
I hope Ive not confused you too much!
Be modest and when you finally tell them theyll be impressed that you didnt mention it earlier!
I hope Ive not confused you too much!
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I try not to tell, I feel comes over as showing off. Actually get a big kick when someone who has known you for years finds out, and looks at you with differently.
The problem is when the cat is out of the bag (ie friends and family who use it as a conversation piece). That’s it. I can’t stop, and quickly become bore of the year.
Being modest about your skill can backfire. I took a female colleague up once. Didn’t tell her what sort of flying I did. I think she thought we were going up in something big, because when we passed this line of 172s and PA28s at the airfield, she said, “Glad we’re not flying in one of those, those things are dangerous”.
“Oh dear” I thought.
When she saw the battered rental Warrior, she clammed right up, and hardly said a word throughout the flight. I only realised how terrified she was in the air, as she held tightly onto her seat every time the plane rocked a little. She practically kissed the ground when we got down, and vowed never to go up again.
The problem is when the cat is out of the bag (ie friends and family who use it as a conversation piece). That’s it. I can’t stop, and quickly become bore of the year.
Being modest about your skill can backfire. I took a female colleague up once. Didn’t tell her what sort of flying I did. I think she thought we were going up in something big, because when we passed this line of 172s and PA28s at the airfield, she said, “Glad we’re not flying in one of those, those things are dangerous”.
“Oh dear” I thought.
When she saw the battered rental Warrior, she clammed right up, and hardly said a word throughout the flight. I only realised how terrified she was in the air, as she held tightly onto her seat every time the plane rocked a little. She practically kissed the ground when we got down, and vowed never to go up again.
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As a student pilot I feel proud to be able to fly aircraft. You should all be ashamed at covering up what you do/love. No offence but my friends all introduce me as, if not a pilot, a budding pilot, which I also find not everyone believes, but thats up to them. And as for chatting up the ladies or gents ( whichever is your fancy ) you all seem to be embaressed. Be PROUD, be a pilot, and you might enjoy it, and get better results. Lets face we should all be of reasonable intelligence, and should be able to use this hobby/career to our advantage.
with love B
with love B
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When asked (and I wish people wouldn't ask me what "I do") I tell them that I'm a bus driver, which while true, isn't my main occupation. However, everyone thinks they know what a bus driver does, so the questioning usually stops.
When my wife is asked what "I do", she gives a different answer.
When my wife is asked what "I do", she gives a different answer.
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If they don't already know me, I tell them I'm a dustman - people actually seem quite fascinated with that!
My mother never fails to tell anybody what I do, as my older brother is also a pilot, albeit he gets to fly Hercs in the RAF rather than a spamcan. We both find it mortally embarassing as it is virtually the first thing she ever mentions - rather like Hyacinth Bucket my mum.
My mother never fails to tell anybody what I do, as my older brother is also a pilot, albeit he gets to fly Hercs in the RAF rather than a spamcan. We both find it mortally embarassing as it is virtually the first thing she ever mentions - rather like Hyacinth Bucket my mum.
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Northern Highflyer
Back in the old days when clubs were called "discos", or at a party, if a girl asked what you do and you replied "engineer" the response would be far less favourable than if you answered "unemployed".
I find that most women don't mind too much someone being a pilot but perhaps 75% of them are not interested in flying, and those few that are are only interested in going to interested places, not in flying as such.
I expect it comes from the present-day general public perception of GA being very low, due to the old wreckage they see flying in the skies and at their local airfield.
Apparently, a helicopter gets a better response, although due to the cost of a decent chopper (£500k+) I have not been able to verify this first-hand
The few women who learn to fly seem to be in a different class... but very few of them seem to hang around for long.
Back in the old days when clubs were called "discos", or at a party, if a girl asked what you do and you replied "engineer" the response would be far less favourable than if you answered "unemployed".
I find that most women don't mind too much someone being a pilot but perhaps 75% of them are not interested in flying, and those few that are are only interested in going to interested places, not in flying as such.
I expect it comes from the present-day general public perception of GA being very low, due to the old wreckage they see flying in the skies and at their local airfield.
Apparently, a helicopter gets a better response, although due to the cost of a decent chopper (£500k+) I have not been able to verify this first-hand
The few women who learn to fly seem to be in a different class... but very few of them seem to hang around for long.
Thread Starter
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Some great and funny replies coming through. Makes a nice change from a "flaming" thread.
Keep 'em coming.
As for "touch and go" on the dance floor. If I get a glare it's more like "touch and run for it".
Dublinpilot
If I tried to use GPS to get to the bar I would probably end up in the ladies toilet. (honest your honour it was my GPS went wrong)
Keep 'em coming.
As for "touch and go" on the dance floor. If I get a glare it's more like "touch and run for it".
Dublinpilot
If I tried to use GPS to get to the bar I would probably end up in the ladies toilet. (honest your honour it was my GPS went wrong)
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Good thread this.
I generally don't mention it, but people just seem to find out. It's all very embarrassing.
Conversation usually goes something like:
'I hear you are a pilot'
'Yeah I fly planes'
'Have you got your own plane?'
'erm yeah, several'
'what real ones?'
'yeah, but they are only small single and two seaters nothing major...lets talk about you...'
'no hold on, just how many is several??'
'er... well... er..um six!'
****uncomfortable silence****
'so where do you fly from?'
'er... well um.. I'm a co-owner of an airstrip... it's only very small etc, etc,'
**** uncomfortable silence****
At which point 50% of people walk off thinking that I'm a mad Howard Hughes/Bill Gates type character. 20% gush on about how their uncle/bloke next door used to fly little planes, they used to be in the ATC and please, please can I take them up. The other 30% (basically any attractive woman) asks if I can fly them to Paris/Rome/New York for lunch next week!
As I said, it's all very embarrassing
Kingy
I generally don't mention it, but people just seem to find out. It's all very embarrassing.
Conversation usually goes something like:
'I hear you are a pilot'
'Yeah I fly planes'
'Have you got your own plane?'
'erm yeah, several'
'what real ones?'
'yeah, but they are only small single and two seaters nothing major...lets talk about you...'
'no hold on, just how many is several??'
'er... well... er..um
six!'****uncomfortable silence****
'so where do you fly from?'
'er... well um.. I'm a co-owner of an airstrip... it's only very small etc, etc,'
**** uncomfortable silence****
At which point 50% of people walk off thinking that I'm a mad Howard Hughes/Bill Gates type character. 20% gush on about how their uncle/bloke next door used to fly little planes, they used to be in the ATC and please, please can I take them up. The other 30% (basically any attractive woman) asks if I can fly them to Paris/Rome/New York for lunch next week!
As I said, it's all very embarrassing
Kingy
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NH,
Towards the end of the evening, after a little too much sauce you may well find yourself "temporarily unsure of position" in the mythical nightclub. At this point pull out your tranceiver, and call up the "tower" (bouncer on the door)....not on 123.45 might I add!!!!!!!! and ask for "progressive taxi and re-fuel"(ie where is the exit and the nearest kebab shop)
Towards the end of the evening, after a little too much sauce you may well find yourself "temporarily unsure of position" in the mythical nightclub. At this point pull out your tranceiver, and call up the "tower" (bouncer on the door)....not on 123.45 might I add!!!!!!!! and ask for "progressive taxi and re-fuel"(ie where is the exit and the nearest kebab shop)
The Original Whirly
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The other side
Strange though it may seem, I'd say well over 50% of the men I meet by chance or at parties or similar aren't remotely interested in flying. Which means a typical conversation goes something like this:
Him: So what do you do when you're not working?
Me: I fly; I have a pilot's licence.
Him...stunned silence, while he completely reorganises all ideas and preconceptions of what I'm like, then...
Him: Er...Do you enjoy it?
That's before I even mention helicopters. If and when I do they either disappear in sheer panic, or start angling for a free flight, usually...believe it or not...the first!
Him: So what do you do when you're not working?
Me: I fly; I have a pilot's licence.
Him...stunned silence, while he completely reorganises all ideas and preconceptions of what I'm like, then...
Him: Er...Do you enjoy it?
That's before I even mention helicopters. If and when I do they either disappear in sheer panic, or start angling for a free flight, usually...believe it or not...the first!
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I have to say most women, I give the pilot speil to love it! The thing lots of us aviators don't realise (whirlybird hit the nail on the head!) is lots of people who don't fly don't give a toss about it!
Needless to say I'm definitly using the "landing light" line when I get the chance!
If you're chatting up someone with reasonable intellect and they ask what you do. Tell them you made your money exporting refridgerators to the 3rd world and point out that you're a fridge magnet - amazingly enough it works!
Needless to say I'm definitly using the "landing light" line when I get the chance!
If you're chatting up someone with reasonable intellect and they ask what you do. Tell them you made your money exporting refridgerators to the 3rd world and point out that you're a fridge magnet - amazingly enough it works!
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Strange though it may seem, I'd say well over 50% of the men I meet by chance or at parties or similar aren't remotely interested in flying
Strange thing is when, from time to time, you meet someone (a non-pilot) who really is interested. Was at a friend's house last weekend with about half a dozen other people - all men, if that's relevant. One of them was particularly interested in hearing about flying, and kept asking me questions all night. The rest of the group weren't at all interested, so I tried to politely answer the question and change the subject to keep everyone involved in the conversation, but this one guy kept bringing the conversation back to flying over and over again.
FFF
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Poor Kingy,
I feel really sorry for you!!
Since I am one of the lucky ones being a planeless non-pilot (at the moment) I feel it is my duty to help you out.
I live quite near Northrepps 'international' near to Cromer (see thread in av history & nostalgia) and I've decided (with a heavy heart) that if you fly one or two of your embarrassing 'planes over, I'll take part of your burden on for you.
Heck, I feel so sorry, I'd probably buy you a pint to help your recovery!
Tim
I feel really sorry for you!!
Since I am one of the lucky ones being a planeless non-pilot (at the moment) I feel it is my duty to help you out.
I live quite near Northrepps 'international' near to Cromer (see thread in av history & nostalgia) and I've decided (with a heavy heart) that if you fly one or two of your embarrassing 'planes over, I'll take part of your burden on for you.
Heck, I feel so sorry, I'd probably buy you a pint to help your recovery!
Tim
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Let this be a warning...
To all those that use the "I'm a pilot" routine when chatting up the ladies, be warned it can backfire.
A few years ago I was sitting in Kwik Fit waiting for my car to be fixed, when a young man sat next to me a started talking to me. To cut to the chase he tried to chat me up (unsuccessfully I might add) by using the aforementioned routine. I let him dig a really really deep hole before asking him a few questions about what sort of aircraft he flew etc.
It was a this point that he started to get nervous, my informed questioning had got him worried, even though I seemed to be lapping up what he was telling me with what he thought was admiration and hopefully adoration. He asked how I knew so much... and yes you guessed it I finally put him out of his misery by explaining that I too was a pilot ( I say too but his next reaction confirmed to me that he was telling a few porkies). I have never seen anyone go so red or disappear so fast. He promptly told Mr Kwik Fit that he would come and collect his car later and left.
Another reaction I used to get frequently, especially when I was a very very young female pilot (still female by the way just not so young anymore) was "really you fly planes - what all on your own?). I really don't know why it is so unbelieveable to so many that a young intelligent girl would be capable of flying an aircraft all on her very own.
WO79
A few years ago I was sitting in Kwik Fit waiting for my car to be fixed, when a young man sat next to me a started talking to me. To cut to the chase he tried to chat me up (unsuccessfully I might add) by using the aforementioned routine. I let him dig a really really deep hole before asking him a few questions about what sort of aircraft he flew etc.
It was a this point that he started to get nervous, my informed questioning had got him worried, even though I seemed to be lapping up what he was telling me with what he thought was admiration and hopefully adoration. He asked how I knew so much... and yes you guessed it I finally put him out of his misery by explaining that I too was a pilot ( I say too but his next reaction confirmed to me that he was telling a few porkies). I have never seen anyone go so red or disappear so fast. He promptly told Mr Kwik Fit that he would come and collect his car later and left.
Another reaction I used to get frequently, especially when I was a very very young female pilot (still female by the way just not so young anymore) was "really you fly planes - what all on your own?). I really don't know why it is so unbelieveable to so many that a young intelligent girl would be capable of flying an aircraft all on her very own.
WO79