Am I the only one??

[oilcanbland]

Thanks for all of the advice. I guess I did the right thing by not telling them that I got lost on my 2nd solo cross country the other day. It was a really hazy day, and I was supposed to be going to Bedford, IN. Never found the airport. Had to turn around and land at Bloomington, IN.

The sucky thing was when I got back, I found out that it didn't even count as a cross country flight, because it wasn't at least 50 nm. I plan to make it up with a really long cross country in the next day or two.

 

[aero99]

Ignorance= Fear

Most people that are afraid of planes/flying are so because they know nothing about how an airplane actually flies. Case in point, most non-fliers think a "Stall" is when you have engine problems.

You can either tell your parents nothing, or educate them in what you are doing. If you do ever take someone up that is affraid, give them a task in the cockpit. Hand them the chart and show them where you are and where you are going. In flight, have them dial the radio or set the tranponder. This gives them something to do and takes their mind off of their fear and they are learning.

I still can't get my wife in a small plane. I try and turn the news off everytime there is a blip on the tv about a plane crash.

Oh well....

 

[C90Guy]

My mother was the same way. I would tell her growing up that I wanted to fly airplanes but some how she thought I would grow out of it. I didn't. She did the same as your parents. Would cry if I was flying home to see her, called me stupid the summer before I started flying, that I would kill my self. Remember that its not so much the flying that scared them as it is you getting hurt from the flying. I made the misstake of going in to conversations with the wow look what I can do, telling them the more dangerous stuff, stalls, spins, things that really aren't dangerous to us but to the untrained person can be a nightmare. When you talk to them down play things, if its something rather complicated be brief. Try and give them a sense that its just like driving a car. Unfortunatly for you this might mean not telling them about all the fun your having. If it makes you feel any better I taken my family flying and after a few years they have seen that it is a safe profession or hobby at least to have.

 

[popilot78]

They hated the idea when I was a flight instructing. Now that they get free airline travel, they love it. I guess also I'm never really home has something to do with it.

 

[Delta3]

oilcanbland-

I know what you're saying about x-countrys in Indiana. It's hard to pick out your checkpoints in the air as every small town looks the same and there are really no unique airports.

If I were you I would use VOR triangulation more than checkpoints.

 

[mpower]

I guess this is why some people say,
Don't tell my mom I became a pilot, she still thinks I play a piano in a whorehouse!

 

[bobbysamd]

Cross Countries

Good learning experience. A lot of airports look alike from a distance, especially along the Florida coast. For example, it's easy to confuse Vero Beach with Ft. Pierce if you're coming from the west if you don't know the area.

You're not the first student pilot who got lost on a cross-country. The important thing is your training helped you find your way back. Do use your navaids, but don't depend on them solely for VFR cross-countries. Watch your heading, use your ded reckoning and checkpoints. Watch your fuel, too.

Good luck on the next one.

 

[ShawnC]

My step-fathers only words about me fly: "Just don't kill yourself."

My parents were fairly supportive, my step-father still won't get in a plane I fly though.

 

[oilcanbland]

I forgot to leave out the fact that my dad has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). He worries about everything. That makes it that much harder for him (and me).

 

[350DRIVER]

My mum still thinks I play piano at a whore house-

C H E E R S

3 5 0

 

[bigboy]

I don't know about any of you, but my parents are freaking out at the idea that I'm flying planes all by myself now. They get completely nervous, right before each one of my flights. Especially my cross countries. When I told my parents that I went on my first solo cross country last week, they almost had a heart attack. When I see them getting nervous, it makes me think that I should have something to be worried about. (As you can tell, I am the only pilot in my family).

Did this happen to anyone else? Do they finally get used to the idea of you flying planes? How long does it take.

Hey I see your point my parents had to deal with four of their kids going to flight schools, I think that your best bet is to take your parents flying with your CFI( make sure its a nice day to go flying),and show them how safe its.it worked for my parents and hope it will work for yours. Fly Safe and have fun.