I love flight. I would fly anything, anywhere. (with proper training and equipment, of course )

High and fast, or low and slow. SR-71 Blackbird, or Piper Cub. I would be up for whatever.

Having an extra reason to fly just makes it all the better. Having a flying job would be nice, but working on the ranch and flying on the side isn't too bad.

propeller26 wrote:
I on the hand love the feeling every time the wheels break ground. If I have to explain the feeling, you are probably in the latter group.

No explanation needed here. Never thought about until you mentioned it, but I know EXACTLY what you mean.

propeller26 wrote:I on the hand love the feeling every time the wheels break ground. If I have to explain the feeling, you are probably in the latter group.
.

I remember the very first time I ever experienced that like it was yesterday. Many flights since have been totally forgotten but that first time was exhilarating beyond description...in an open cockpit ultralight. Permanently burned into my memory.

I have been in a general aviation airplane since I was in diapers. My dad was a car dealer who always wanted to fly. He was a go fast and high kind of guy. He had a turbo 210 then a 340. Fun planes but just not for me
I on the other hand did not start flying planes till I was out of medical school. I always knew I wanted to fly I just did not have the means. I got my private license in a 172 and continue to fly them while I get my IFR.
In the beginning it was a means to an end, we have a cabin in colorado and live in arkansas and this was going to be a means to the end.
BUT THEN!!!!! I was researching planes and there where these things called tail draggers and I went 2 years ago to florida and ended up getting my tailwheel cert in a STEARMAN. I WAS HOOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love flying for flying and dream every day of the day I own my own 185 and can put 29 inch bush wheels and fly the back country!!!! Flying the way it was meant to be done.
Makes me think of TIm Allen and his howl when he talked about cars- woowowowowowoooooo!

gypsywagon wrote:I love flying for flying and dream every day of the day I own my own 185 and can put 29 inch bush wheels and fly the back country!!!! Flying the way it was meant to be done.
Makes me think of TIm Allen and his howl when he talked about cars- woowowowowowoooooo!

+1,000. You nailed it!

For me it's genetic, both my parents are pilots and I grew up being a ramp rat and flying whatever they had at the time. Flying is the end to the means, there is just a certain emotional and mental peace that comes with the experience. I don't intend to fly for hire, but could see my career transitioning to aviation-related things at some point just so I can spend more time around it.

One thing I've learned from hanging around every spectrum of aviator is that no matter what we drive or why we do it, we all have that shared perspective of the world that a non-aviator will just never see. No matter what your philosophy is on technique, regulations, which plane is better, and so on we are all in this to fly in some form or another.

Plus, chicks dig it.

I was a drunk for the better part of 20 years. I did the King School CD ground school, dreaming of getting my PPL about 15 years ago and being in my cups at the time, it was oblivious I would never fly. Finally put down the bottle 10 years ago and and decided to go for it. Three things that were going to be a challenge were, I get air sick, I'm scared of heights, and I'm claustrophobic. Lots of eye rolling at this point I'm assuming. I did a test flight and got airsick. I figured that was that. Idiot for trying. It was suggested to me that I pull up my britches and go again. The MAGIC occurred. I jumped in with both feet. Bought my 170 and now have about 700hrs TT. I absolutely love the thrill of leaving the ground knowing that I overcame a bunch of stuff that I felt were impossible hurdles. I love everything about flying and wrenching on airplanes. I hope that I will be able to continue learn for decades to come and never lose sight of how lucky I am. Most of my closest friends are pilots.
Greg

akgreg wrote:I was a drunk for the better part of 20 years. I did the King School CD ground school, dreaming of getting my PPL about 15 years ago and being in my cups at the time, it was oblivious I would never fly. Finally put down the bottle 10 years ago and and decided to go for it. Three things that were going to be a challenge were, I get air sick, I'm scared of heights, and I'm claustrophobic. Lots of eye rolling at this point I'm assuming. I did a test flight and got airsick. I figured that was that. Idiot for trying. It was suggested to me that I pull up my britches and go again. The MAGIC occurred. I jumped in with both feet. Bought my 170 and now have about 700hrs TT. I absolutely love the thrill of leaving the ground knowing that I overcame a bunch of stuff that I felt were impossible hurdles. I love everything about flying and wrenching on airplanes. I hope that I will be able to continue learn for decades to come and never lose sight of how lucky I am. Most of my closest friends are pilots.
Greg

I love your story Greg! Excellent!

Kurt

WWII had a lot to do with my privilege of flying all my life. First, a top golf architect flew B-24s in the war and continued flying several hours monthly negotiating contracts. He had mumps in Italy and could not have children. My Dad, who had six, partnered with him the year I was born. I became adopted co-pilot/valet at a very young age.

Second, WWII created the baby boom and a lot of pilots. Because airplane manufacturers believed the demand would be very high, they built a lot of small airplanes. Airplane longevity and this large supply, with what turned out to be low demand, made airplanes affordable for young men of limited means in the U.S.A.

Finally there was another war and the Army provided me with a lot of free blade time.

New airplanes are much more expensive now, but recreational pilots with good salaries can afford them. And many WWII and post-war era airplanes are still flying. Those who work aircraft get plenty of flying because the airplane has to be flown continuously or the bank will pick it up.

It has been a good ride.

TangoFox wrote:
So why do other people here fly?

Do you go places because it means you get to fly or....
Do you fly as a means to do other things?

Kinda curious

If I have thoughts in my head I want to stop thinking about, I go fly. It clears my head. I just concentrate on flying.

I like to fly high and as fast as my Maule will go. I love to find a 30-40-50 MPH tail wind. Sometimes I like to fly low and slow.

I live in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. To the west is the coast range and Pacific Ocean. To the east is the Cascade Range and high desert. I have vacation/investment homes in both areas. 2 hr to drive to the high desert home. 2.5 to drive to the beach home. Those times are normal traffic. Flying is way better 40-45 minutes to both east and west homes.

I like flying and camping with the friends I have met here at BCP.

That's why I fly.

akgreg wrote: Most of my closest friends are pilots.

As I hum along on my 44th revolution around the sun, I find that most of my closest friends are not only pilots, but pilots I've met here. I've somehow gravitated to some really good people, and while I suppose that's a byproduct of the reasons I fly, it's a pretty profound one.

OregonMaule wrote:
If I have thoughts in my head I want to stop thinking about, I go fly. It clears my head. I just concentrate on flying.

Same thing here!
No matter whats happening in my world, going for a fun flight shuts everything else out!

TangoFox wrote:
So why do other people here fly?

Do you go places because it means you get to fly or....
Do you fly as a means to do other things?

Kinda curious

Both, but mostly the first one.

When I first started with the 182, I flew just to be flying. Now days the 182 mostly gets used when I actually need/want to go somewhere. The Cub has taken over the flying just to be flying part. Doesn't matter what else is going on, when flying low and slow, seeing the world from a couple of hundred feet and finding new landing areas, all else just seems to fade away.

TangoFox wrote:So why do other people here fly?

Do you go places because it means you get to fly or....
Do you fly as a means to do other things?

Kinda curious

I was asked by a passenger the other day if I flew small planes. To which I replied “yes” she then said it must be cool to be able to listen to Enya and soar amongst the mountains...........ok. To each his own I guess. But after reading this thread I got to examine why do I fly on my time off. I guess I enjoy being able to use aviation to access really cool areas to fish, hunt, hike and explore. Takeoff and landing is fun but the enroute portion can be boring sometimes. I go out for an hour or two every week or so to practice for proficiency’s sake.

There was a time after about 15,000 hours that I got really jaded and didn’t enjoy aviation at all. I often wondered if I could get that boyhood enthusiasm back. It took nearly losing my medical to change some gears in my brain. It is coming back. Every once in a while when I go to work and sit in that left seat of the Boeing I can’t stop smiling. But I don’t let the FO see that.

Having access to my familys C-140 and Super Cub is a great privilege.

When you retire try instructing (teaching not test prepping.) It makes it always interesting.

contactflying wrote:When you retire try instructing (teaching not test prepping.) It makes it always interesting.

Actually doing the footwork now to reinstate my CFI. I let it expire 23 years ago. Hopefully in a month I’ll have it back after another practical. Back to the Cubs back seat! Besides I got 18 more years till I’m forced to retire.LOL

For me,
"I love Aviation"
I love flying airplanes, working on airplanes, admiring the engineering that went into designing airplanes, talking about airplanes, dreaming about airplanes, you name it, if it involves airplanes then "I like it" I have spent my whole life around aviation. Big airplanes during the day to make a living, small planes at night for fun! Because, "big planes are big money, and little planes are little money"! When it was a young man my buddies would make fun of me for the junker car I was driving. But I told them all, "I would rather drive a 65 ford Fairlane and have an airplane at the airport, than have a brand new truck like you, and no plane. It was all about priorities! Now my wife comes to the hangar to count planes to see if I have aquired any more. Wow! I AM BLESSED

I just love anything that flies. Model planes all my life, Paraglider 400 hours, sailplanes. Now I have my own 170 in a hangar a mile from my house. How lucky am I!!

I live on an Island and it is also really practical, 6 mins to one town (1Hr plus by ferry), 12 mins to another (2 1/2 hr by two ferries). It is like a second pickup truck. Groceries, outboard, motorbike, pressure washer, ....

My dad flew, he was always encouraging me to get my license and my biggest regret is that I did it after he passed, I would have so loved to fly with him. But my son has his PPL and has about 100 hours in the 170 so I get to fly with him.

TVATIVAK71 wrote:she then said it must be cool to be able to listen to Enya and soar amongst the mountains....

I laughed out loud...that was good.

It's true though, Enya is always on high rotation in my playlist just in case I get into some mountains. It boosts the epic experience of mountain flying by about 175%. And eases the shame after I have shit my pants in some dirty air.

Hmmm, flying.... why?

Because it's hard.... but not too hard.

Because I relax by being challenged.... but not too challenged.

Just buzzing around in a 172 would probably get old to me, but hitting small narrow backcountry strips in a 69 year old underpowered cessna is just the right amount of relaxing, and challenging enough to keep my head engaged.

Then there are the airplanes. The cool ones all have one of more of the following: Engineering wizardry, flying antique art, backcountry STOL performance, speed, fully restored/unique, history, etc....

This is why I'm flying a very old cessna, and building a new experimental. One is cool/stylish and gives me it's own unique challenge flying it, while the other has totally different challenges with fabrication, decision making, etc.

Then there are my people. Aviation people. Those that also appreciate all of the above.

Oh, and I also flew RC for a number of years because it had it's own challenges (like flying high alpha rolling circles at stall) but the real cool stuff was the Helicopters. I have one that has a 5ft rotor and can hit 100mph. It's cool in it's own way.

I do wish my kids were more interested though.... it's a shame that they would rather play games.

Some really great stuff here.

Putting an airplane in cruise at altitude for me just doesn't do it - don't get me wrong, I still enjoy it but it is not the reason I fly. I don't think I could ever just fly airport to airport. The attraction for me was being able to go places and get to places that you either can't drive to or it is simply not practical. I drove two hours each way to learn in a Cub instead of a 172.

That being said, I am not the most experienced pilot here. I haven't been into any of the famed places you read about here. I am the guy that dreamed of flying in the boondocks but found out a Texas flat lander doesn't have many options besides gravel bars and even those are few and far between where I am. But, I still get to play. I fly out of a 1000' private strip and have a hangar/man cave that I can retreat to. I've met dozens of folks with private strips I can get into - that is the beauty and joy of aviation! The people for the most part are second to none.

However, I finally may get to realize some of those back country dreams! I've been relocated to the Denver area and can't wait to meet some of the local folks. It will probably be a month before I can get the airplane up here, but I am finally west enough to make some treks and experience what some of you take for granted.