A flier is someone who flies for another reason than flying. A flying fool flies just for the fun of flying; no reason is needed. I'm a flier, as I mostly fly to sightsee, and rarely fly just to be airborne. What category are you.

tom

I like to think I do both at the same time...

Gump

I think I would have to say both as well....but I suppose if I'm not having fun flying for my career than I shouldn't be flying at all.

a flying fool!

A fool for flying?
A fool because I like to fly?
A hole in the sky I put money into?
I think I fly just because I like it....and for the same reason that a lot of others post..it's what we do..for whatever reason we do it..don't need an audience, but it's nice to fly with others who also like to fly.

I'd say mostly a flier for me. Absolutely love sightseeing! I'm always wanting to know what's around the corner, or what's over the next ridge.

But some days I totally enjoy buzzing around just for fun. Love buzzin my friends houses and the motor-home settin on the end of Hubler airstrip

I'm both.

I can't remember not wanting to fly but I never figured out why I do this flying thing. Its addictive though. I even went to the trouble of building my own plane in order to fly. But doing so cost me a couple years flying. Not even my wife asked me why I did this but she always knew I would, it was just part of me. So I think I have always been the flying fool, just for the love of it, because most of my flights only had a point A, but in later years I became a flier when I started picking a point B for the trip and the flights had been given a destination and a purpose. That was to see some of this big country while continuing to be a flying fool.

Shouldn't there be a name with more dignity than fool for when I am do something for the love of doing it but don't know why I'm doing it?
Maybe OCD.

Incomplete multiple choice question. Inadequate answer choices.

a) flier

b) flying fool

c) addicted to flying

d) passionate about flying

e) both c) and d)


I'd be e)

My wife, on the other hand, enjoys flying but only to get from one place to another.

Whatever affliction I have, it gets worse every day.

"A flier is someone who flies for another reason than flying. A flying fool flies just for the fun of flying; no reason is needed. I'm a flier, as I mostly fly to sightsee, and rarely fly just to be airborne."

I guess I'm confused. If I fly just to sightsee, how is that not flying just to be airborne? I can sightesee in my car, on my dirtbike, or the snowmobile. But I enjoy it more in my plane. Unless I am using a plane for business, it is just for the fun of flying. We all know this hobby is not practical and most of the time, not much of a time saver. So if not for the joy of flying....what else is there?

100% FLYING FREAK!!!

Bumper...All of the above.

Its really all I think about aside from skiing

I don't like to just "bore holes in the sky". Every flight I make has more than one purpose. I try to learn something about either the plane, myself (my abilities) or the flying environment every time I take out the plane. This was drilled into me when I began learning (you really are never finish learning to fly even though you may have achieved many ratings and certificates). My instructor/mentor always required me to debrief every flight and ask myself what went right/wrong and what I learned about flying. He called it a mission debrief. His checklsit for debrief included some of the following items:
Was weather as forecasted?
Did we land with required fuel minimums (personal standard set before each flight)?
What was the weight and ballance after landing?
The last question was always "What did you learn?"

In addition to the learning aspect, I use my plane as a vehicle for adventure and a way to introduce anyone who is interested to aviation.

I truly doubt any of you are flying "fools" unless you are one of those types that grows ever more comfortble and complacent about risk with each flight.

I'm a "flying flool" which is better than a "fool flying!"

Ernie Gann said....

quote: "A pilot is a mere technician....an AVIATOR is an artist in love with flight."

I have been in love with flight for over 44 years. To my very last professional flight it all seemed a dream ....a fantasy. Even after decades in the cockpit I still could not believe that it was real. Now the fantasy continues seeking adventure in the Maule.

Guess that makes me a flying fool, flier...aviator.

Enjoy,

bob

Guess I be a flying fool. Since the moment of my first solo I never needed a reason to jump in the plane and go fly to no place in particular. Maybe a few turns around the pattern, maybe a 200 hamburger on the other side of the mountains.

There are planned trips flying with buddies heading out fishing or hunting etc, but 99% of my flying is therapeutic. The worst day at work or home can normally be fixed with less than an hours flying time

I've enjoyed your replies. I guess the "flying fool" reference was not so good. I'm not trying to imply that someone is a fool for being totally absorbed by flying, but rather the flying fool in Stills 'Tree Top Flier'.

Most people try various hobbies, sports, or diversions through out their life. Some stick and others come and go. While the ones that drop out may have been a load of fun in the beginning, the novelty, for that particular person, wears off.

In my case, I think when I get to spend another 5 years or so, making about 12, I will probably have had enough of flying. That is also about the length of time I spent water skiing and mountain climbing, and a few other things. On the other hand, I've had some kind of motor powered two wheeler since I was about ten years old, so that has lasted 52 years. Photography has also been a lasting hobby.

Here's to aviation!

tom

Savannah Tom, I need to comment on your comment about our comments. I flew my 701 for pure enjoyment, I saw all that was to be seen within the days travel in all directions. Made landings for no other reason than to enter the back door of the bar/grills in the under 200 population towns around here or just to visit neighbors and give rides until it wasn't a blast anymore. I sold that plane to finance this four place stol it let me widen my circle and the magic started working all over again. If you get to where you think you have wrung out all the fun, just change your mission. When I changed mine it got my wife interested in traveling too. Even though there's no luggage rack on top, the four place sure helped.

dirtstrip wrote:Savannah Tom, I need to comment on your comment about our comments. I flew my 701 for pure enjoyment, I saw all that was to be seen within the days travel in all directions. Made landings for no other reason than to enter the back door of the bar/grills in the under 200 population towns around here or just to visit neighbors and give rides until it wasn't a blast anymore. I sold that plane to finance this four place stol it let me widen my circle and the magic started working all over again. If you get to where you think you have wrung out all the fun, just change your mission. When I changed mine it got my wife interested in traveling too. Even though there's no luggage rack on top, the four place sure helped.

Yeah,

I used to have a single seat Pitts. My buddy had a Skybolt, basically a big two hole Pitts. Everywhere we went together the pretty biplanes attracted attention, including a lot of good looking women. My buddy, having the extra seat always got to take the pretty girls flying while I either crained my neck watching him or tried to impress the ladies with a few overhead aerobatics.

One afternoon while standing with the crowd and watching my buddy taxi in once again with a gal in the front cockpit: I turned to the closest female and grumbled.."He always gets to have all the fun flying the girls." She gave a quizzical look and said...."Get a two place airplane silly!" Hmmmm...

I kept the Pitts but added my own 260 hp Skybolt a few months later. Amazing! Wow my horizons expanded. In no time at all women(and others) were flying with me...screaming and laughing as we looped and rolled. One gal described her flight as "orgasmic" Whatever that means. No body can call me dumb!

Bob

Gosh Bob, do you think if you had taken her for a second ride, it would have been multi-orgasmic? Steve