Encounters With Arrogant Celebrity Pilots

[Ty Webb]

Most people probably know that Jimmy Buffet flys everything from an Albatross to a Falcon 50, but what they don't know is that he is a regular guy around the airport. . . no entourage, no big airs.

My 11 year-old son came home from school last year and said, "Hey Dad, Jimmy Buffet came to my school today and played some songs for us at assembly".

I was touched that someone with everything he has going on would spend an afternoon at the local middle school playing for the kids, especially when he doesn't even have any kids in school (his family lives here).

Conversely, I flew Lance Armstrong on a charter a few years ago . . . I thought he was an arrogant jerk completely lacking in people skills. When I told him that the itinerary he was proposing would have to modified to conform to Part 135 crew rest requirements he acted very put out that the regs would apply to HIM, too. I was very happy when that trip was over .

 

[Reebo]

There's no ambiguity with Dick Collins (of Flying magazine): he lets you know right up front that he's god's gift to aviation.

I've heard that John and Martha King are interesting after a few beers...

(Do they qualify as "celebrities?")

Martha after a few beers? WOW

 

[User546]

Martha after a few beers? WOW

Still wouldn't do it for me!

 

[eatme]

Did you mean a few KEGS of beer?

 

[Reebo]

sometimes you just have to take one for the team!

 

[DoinTime]

My 11 year-old son came home from school last year and said, "Hey Dad, Jimmy Buffet came to my school today and played some songs for us at assembly".

I was touched that someone with everything he has going on would spend an afternoon at the local middle school playing for the kids, especially when he doesn't even have any kids in school (his family lives here).

I wonder if he played "Lets get drunk and screw?"

Conversely, I flew Lance Armstrong on a charter a few years ago . . . I thought he was an arrogant jerk completely lacking in people skills. When I told him that the itinerary he was proposing would have to modified to conform to Part 135 crew rest req

I've trained and raced with Lance and I'll have to agree that he is one of the biggest pricks out there. This, however, is one of things that makes him good at what he does. Very rare in sports that demand extream levels of endurance will you find athletes that are laid back and nice. The ones that are fade quickly.

 

[AA717driver]

Funny someone mentioned Stallone. I just talked to our regular van driver in London. Not long ago, he had Stallone as a passenger.

Stallone was b!tching and moaning about how long it was taking to get into town. Halfway to the city, right on the Motorway, our driver pulled to the side and told him that if he didn't shut up, he was going to be walking the rest of the way. Good for him.TC

 

[BD King]

Hey, don't be knocking gyroplanes. More fun than a barrel of monkeys without clothes on.

Or with.

Ahh, would you like to restate this?

 

[BD King]

There's no ambiguity with Dick Collins (of Flying magazine): he lets you know right up front that he's god's gift to aviation.

I've heard that John and Martha King are interesting after a few beers...

(Do they qualify as "celebrities?")

Interesting like what? Does Martha give radar vector's to final? Does John call proceedure turn inbound? How about missed approach? ..........What does interesting mean?

 

[BD King]

Interesting like what? Does Martha give radar vector's to final? Does John call proceedure turn inbound? How about missed approach? ..........What does interesting mean?

I will answer my own post. Interesting means Martha yell's QUICK THRUST, QUICK THRUST. (for you folks that don't know, that is a restricted area)

 

[User546]

I will answer my own post. Interesting means Martha yell's QUICK THRUST, QUICK THRUST. (for you folks that don't know, that is a restricted area)

You SO didn't just go there!! Man, oh man, you just concreted a scenario in my head which I will probably not be able to purge this otherwise Happy Holiday!

Good Job BD!!!

 

[avbug]

Ahh, would you like to restate this?

No, not really.

 

[ClassG]

Got to fly with John Travolta a couple of nights in a row in the PC-12. It's single pilot, so I let him sit up front and we talked. He's a real "regular guy" when it comes to talking about planes and everyday topics. Stray away from the Scientology talks if you're not open to "different" approaches to religion and spirituality. I even got the tour of the house at Greystone. I'd fly with him again anyday.

Had Patrick Swayze on a flight once and he acted a little too important to have to mingle with the public on a commercial flight, a Beech 1900, of all things!

Jodi Foster was the absolute COOLEST! celeb chick I've met. Cleaned up her son's throw-up (too much popcorn and coke during a bumpy flight in Wyoming) herself and apologized over and over. Stopped at the flight deck on the way in, and asked so nicely that I was delighted to let her (Sam?) her son sit up front for a few minutes before the flight while I did paperwork. She just knelt there in the doorway talking to me.

I find it's the "un-famous and only slightly-rich" that turn out to be the biggest schmucks on a regular basis. Most of the really-rich are just a pleasure to deal with once they can relax. The former Chairman of the Board for Pfizer Pharms is one of th nicest guys I've ever met. Guy's gotta be worth a couple $$Billion$$.

Had a few other big celebs on flights and have no complaints.

I can defintely see where SLY would suck as a passenger, though.

ClassG

 

[Checknsix]

Some more of the good guys...

Michael Dorn (Worf) - Met him at a little airport north of San Diego. Great guy. We BS'd on the ramp for about an hour. He loves his planes. Had a Spanish trainer to start I believe, then a T-33, an F-86. Last thing I saw him with was a Sabreliner. This guy can stand in the middle of any airshow and nobody recognizes him...probably a big reason he was such a good guy. If I had to be an actor, I think his gig as Worf would be perfect.

I met Bob Hoover at Reno...he signed a copy of his book for me. Took enough of an interest in me to personalize the signing of the book. For anyone considering reading about the days of him and Yeager out at Edwards and WWII, I highly recommend his book over Yeager's.

Phil Boyer has a real interest in the GA crowd's dilemmas. I left an email for him regarding an insurance issue on my twin and an AOPA sponsored firm. Next morning, I get a call..."Please hold for Phil Boyer." Two seconds later, he is on the phone and must have chatted with me for 20 minutes. Genuinely good man. Glad he is on our side. Wish he could represent my union.

Couple of guys that I have no desire to hang with..

Briefly talked to Hurricane Bob Hannah after a race at Reno. It is definitely all about him. Confirmed by a couple of other pro-motocross guys I know.

Chuck Yeager...definitely seems to be all about him too....read his books and you will see what I mean. A buddy sat down to lunch with him one day at a training center he tends to frequent. He was self-centered enough, the buddy decided to leave the table. Some students of mine from Edwards confirmed this as well. Too bad. Must be tough to be the Speed of Sound busting hero...when you know you really weren't the first to do it.

- Checknsix

 

[Ty Webb]

Some more of the good guys...

I met Bob Hoover at Reno... For anyone considering reading about the days of him and Yeager out at Edwards and WWII, I highly recommend his book over Yeager's.

Jimmy Doolittle's autobiography is one of the best, also. Ernest Gann's, too ("Hostage to Fortune").

Chuck Yeager...definitely seems to be all about him too....read his books and you will see what I mean. Must be tough to be the Speed of Sound busting hero...when you know you really weren't the first to do it.

Not sure what you mean here . . . care to elaborate?


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