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Ever stop to think how lucky we are?
- Thread starter bigD
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- Watchers 22
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BigD, thank you for starting this and to all the rest of you for sharing your thoughts. You've done me a favor all of you.
It's been a long time. So many years, so many months, so many days, so many hours. Ahh yes, the hours. Some exciting, some boring, some frightening, some calm, some curious, some wild, some furious, some so memorable they literally bring tears. ALL special, ALL beautiful.
The tic, tic of a little 4-banger, the purr of a Continental, the toughness of a Lycoming, the hum of a R-985, the song of an R-2800, the rumble of a 4360 the mother of all radials, the forgiveness of a PT-6, the unforgettable scream of a Dart with a Dowty Rotol prop, the power of an Allison, the rush of a JT-8, the special whine of an RB-11, and the whisper of a CF34. Memories.
The sunrise, the breakout from a solid overcast into the clear and endless blue, the lights of the city, the darkness of the Amazon jungle, the endless sand of the Sahara, the majesty of Kilamanjoro, the wonder of the Greenland ice cap ... 200 miles ahead from level 350, the stars you can almost touch, the fury of a North Atlantic weather system, the best wx briefers in the world .... Gander, the myth of the Bermuda Triangle, the sunsets of the Caribbean, the wonder of the Himalayas, the Andes and Tierra del Fuego, the frustration of ORD, the beauty of the fjord at Narsasawaq (sp), the ice in Labrador, the wind at old HK, the expanse of the Pacific (where did He get all that water?). The places, the special people, especially the special people. Memories.
"And there in the high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand and touched the face of God"
We're a unique breed, in our special world and there's nothing quite like it. In the billions of humans on this planet, very few of us actually share this calling. The special people. Aviators.
The very best to all of you. Thanks again BigD. You made my day.
"There are bold pilots and there are old pilots. But there are no old, bold pilots."
It's been a long time. So many years, so many months, so many days, so many hours. Ahh yes, the hours. Some exciting, some boring, some frightening, some calm, some curious, some wild, some furious, some so memorable they literally bring tears. ALL special, ALL beautiful.
The tic, tic of a little 4-banger, the purr of a Continental, the toughness of a Lycoming, the hum of a R-985, the song of an R-2800, the rumble of a 4360 the mother of all radials, the forgiveness of a PT-6, the unforgettable scream of a Dart with a Dowty Rotol prop, the power of an Allison, the rush of a JT-8, the special whine of an RB-11, and the whisper of a CF34. Memories.
The sunrise, the breakout from a solid overcast into the clear and endless blue, the lights of the city, the darkness of the Amazon jungle, the endless sand of the Sahara, the majesty of Kilamanjoro, the wonder of the Greenland ice cap ... 200 miles ahead from level 350, the stars you can almost touch, the fury of a North Atlantic weather system, the best wx briefers in the world .... Gander, the myth of the Bermuda Triangle, the sunsets of the Caribbean, the wonder of the Himalayas, the Andes and Tierra del Fuego, the frustration of ORD, the beauty of the fjord at Narsasawaq (sp), the ice in Labrador, the wind at old HK, the expanse of the Pacific (where did He get all that water?). The places, the special people, especially the special people. Memories.
"And there in the high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand and touched the face of God"
We're a unique breed, in our special world and there's nothing quite like it. In the billions of humans on this planet, very few of us actually share this calling. The special people. Aviators.
The very best to all of you. Thanks again BigD. You made my day.
"There are bold pilots and there are old pilots. But there are no old, bold pilots."
Rvrrat
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Posts
- 139
Thank You
Someone in another thread had mentioned that there is no "brotherhood" in aviation, I've since come to understand they were talking about something a bit different; I'm utterly grateful for this thread which proves there IS a unique sense of brotherhood amoung those of us who have been or are engaged in aviation.
Thanks to all of you for the spirit lifting writing to read while I struggle to get back into the ether myself.
Someone in another thread had mentioned that there is no "brotherhood" in aviation, I've since come to understand they were talking about something a bit different; I'm utterly grateful for this thread which proves there IS a unique sense of brotherhood amoung those of us who have been or are engaged in aviation.
Thanks to all of you for the spirit lifting writing to read while I struggle to get back into the ether myself.
startingout
Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2002
- Posts
- 6
I am currently working on instruments. I am also setting CFI/CFII as the goal for right now. Some would say setting my sights too low. I would answer that the reward for being the conduit for such a special and wonderful thing far out weighs the frustration of banging my head against the airlines doors.
I know that when all is said and done I will always be a part of a very select and blessed group, aviators.
When the inital stress of takeoff, navigation and trim have all sorted themselves out, I am left with the bird, the sky and my thoughts. High over the Colorado plains, I find myself dividing my thoughts between situational awearness, and "holy sh*t I love doing this"
I love the challenge of navigation in a fetureless region. I love the views provided by flying high over La veta pass, or any of the passes that open the west to the east.
I love the sunsets over the rockies.
I love the quiet(sort of)
I love the peace of a well trimmed ship, needles centered and silent radio.
Me, my machine, and an empty sky...can it get any better?
I know that when all is said and done I will always be a part of a very select and blessed group, aviators.
When the inital stress of takeoff, navigation and trim have all sorted themselves out, I am left with the bird, the sky and my thoughts. High over the Colorado plains, I find myself dividing my thoughts between situational awearness, and "holy sh*t I love doing this"
I love the challenge of navigation in a fetureless region. I love the views provided by flying high over La veta pass, or any of the passes that open the west to the east.
I love the sunsets over the rockies.
I love the quiet(sort of)
I love the peace of a well trimmed ship, needles centered and silent radio.
Me, my machine, and an empty sky...can it get any better?
CitationCapt
STILL determined
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2001
- Posts
- 229
skydiverdriver
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 869
I was holding on the way to LaGuardia yesterday, and the captain and I started talking about how we got there. He flew banners (dragged rags, he called it) in Florida, and I flew skydivers in Arizona and Delaware. That was my favorite job, as I always had fun passengers, and I got a bit of high-speed solo time as well. I remember flying cargo in the Fokker, with some pretty crusty captains that taught me a lot.
And here we were, holding on the way to New York, the ever frustrating situation, but we were happy because we had a lot to talk about. We watched the sunset and then the moon, or half a moon. It was a beautiful night. It took forever to get out of LaGuardia, but I'll never get tired of it. What a life. Funny how my non-flying friends just don't understand. I've always wanted to do this. Thanks for bringing it up.
SDD
And here we were, holding on the way to New York, the ever frustrating situation, but we were happy because we had a lot to talk about. We watched the sunset and then the moon, or half a moon. It was a beautiful night. It took forever to get out of LaGuardia, but I'll never get tired of it. What a life. Funny how my non-flying friends just don't understand. I've always wanted to do this. Thanks for bringing it up.
SDD
Yeti
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2001
- Posts
- 26
Sexual Parallels
Great thread! Truly this is an awesome way to make a living. I've been thinking a lot recently about how people sacrifice their passions and dreams on the altar of pragmatism and the need to merely "get by." There's something to be said for that kind of sacrifice, but I can't imagine doing something for a living where I was just going through the motions. Maybe that's immature or overly idealistic, but flying captures my imagination and I love it. By that I mean real love: Not the kind where you are in some constant gung-ho bubble of good feelings -- if that were possible -- but something that consistently calls to you to commit to it as something worthwhile and lasting.
Okay, maybe that's overly philosophical. Here's what I think it really boils down to: Anything you truly enjoy is like sex. Call me a sensualist, apologies for a possible mixed metaphor, and no disrespect to the feminists, but looking at an airplane is like the endless fascination of a woman's body, and a good landing is like a good orgasm.
Freud was right about some things.
Great thread! Truly this is an awesome way to make a living. I've been thinking a lot recently about how people sacrifice their passions and dreams on the altar of pragmatism and the need to merely "get by." There's something to be said for that kind of sacrifice, but I can't imagine doing something for a living where I was just going through the motions. Maybe that's immature or overly idealistic, but flying captures my imagination and I love it. By that I mean real love: Not the kind where you are in some constant gung-ho bubble of good feelings -- if that were possible -- but something that consistently calls to you to commit to it as something worthwhile and lasting.
Okay, maybe that's overly philosophical. Here's what I think it really boils down to: Anything you truly enjoy is like sex. Call me a sensualist, apologies for a possible mixed metaphor, and no disrespect to the feminists, but looking at an airplane is like the endless fascination of a woman's body, and a good landing is like a good orgasm.
Freud was right about some things.
chawbein
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 13, 2002
- Posts
- 689
For my entire life I have wanted to fly (except for a brief 4 year detour in college). I had to think of my "future", can't be running around flying airplanes for a living...
Now I am out of school, I'm married (I did marry my best friend), and I have no interest in my job. The only thing other than seeing my wife that I look forward to, is the three times a week that I go fly.
I may not be able to do it everyday or do it for a living, but I cherish every second that I am up in the air.
Oh well, time to go live my "future"...
Now I am out of school, I'm married (I did marry my best friend), and I have no interest in my job. The only thing other than seeing my wife that I look forward to, is the three times a week that I go fly.
I may not be able to do it everyday or do it for a living, but I cherish every second that I am up in the air.
Oh well, time to go live my "future"...
aero99
just a member, not senior
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 394
I think about how lucky you professioanl pilots are every day. I know that it is tough out there right now espescially for those newer pilots just looking for their 1st (or 2nd or 3rd) jobs and also for those pilots on furlough, but you will find that job and you will get off furlough and return to what you do best- fly.
No matter how bad it might be or currently seems, you guys pursuing and currently working as a professional pilot will always have the utmost respect and admiration from me...but I know that really doesn't matter.
I made the descion to not pursue a flying career at age 31 (last year) for reasons I won't bore you with. Now I fly a desk and push papers all day and it almost pays the bills for now. I do go to the airport everyday though and quietly "wish" I could have flown for a living.
You guys have the greatest job in the world. Savor it, enjoy it, appreciate it, and grow with it......
No matter how bad it might be or currently seems, you guys pursuing and currently working as a professional pilot will always have the utmost respect and admiration from me...but I know that really doesn't matter.
I made the descion to not pursue a flying career at age 31 (last year) for reasons I won't bore you with. Now I fly a desk and push papers all day and it almost pays the bills for now. I do go to the airport everyday though and quietly "wish" I could have flown for a living.
You guys have the greatest job in the world. Savor it, enjoy it, appreciate it, and grow with it......
bigD
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2002
- Posts
- 2,020
Wow - there are some great posts on this thread. It's especially cool to hear from the guys that have been in the industry for awhile and still love it. I know it's not all a bed of roses being a pilot for a living, but it's good to know that through all the politics and BS, the love of simply being up there still exists.
JimboGoodPilot
Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2002
- Posts
- 6
Bustamove
Active member
- Joined
- May 20, 2002
- Posts
- 31
Great Thread
I'm relatively new to this board having taken about a 20 year break from civil aviation by joining the Navy. My memories of civil air are mostly of endless horizons in Big Sky Country as a 17-23 year old learning to fly and then mostly goofing off. Easy rules, quiet radios, fun destinations.
What I've found as I'm transitioning back from military to civil has been exhilerating on the one hand and profoundly alienating on the other. The exhileration is exactly what's been said in previous threads - getting back to making my hobby my job after the last few years flying a desk. The disappointing side has come from these boards and from talking to some people in the industry whose love of aviation has been overcome by a bitterness towards the aviation industry. I have not walked a mile in anyone's moccasins and so don't know all the arguments and haven't felt all the pains. But it's difficult to discern a love of aviation and its brother/sisterhood from the flame trails in many of the industry threads. I think in alot of cases people take the results of economic laws personally and/or forget why they joined this fraternity in the first place - or maybe joined it for the wrong reasons.
This thread has been a breath of fresh air and I hope it stays active long enough for everyone to go back and remember why we:
- look up when we hear an airplane
- look down on people who don't 'get it'
- get butterflies at the sound of a straining engine
- keep 'salty' flight bags well past their prime
- (add your list here)
I know there are people who don't 'get it' out there taking the fun out of flying to advance the bottom line - happens to cowboys, teachers, artists, and a whole list of other folks whose passion is someone else's product. There's nothing wrong with resisting that tide, but you're not going to stop it, and what's ultimately tested should be our commitment and not our tempers, especially when talking to each other.
I was going start a treatise on supply and demand and compensation not just being money, but this is already too long. Suffice it to say that if you're doing something that you enjoy and getting paid for it, you're one of the fortunate few.
I'm relatively new to this board having taken about a 20 year break from civil aviation by joining the Navy. My memories of civil air are mostly of endless horizons in Big Sky Country as a 17-23 year old learning to fly and then mostly goofing off. Easy rules, quiet radios, fun destinations.
What I've found as I'm transitioning back from military to civil has been exhilerating on the one hand and profoundly alienating on the other. The exhileration is exactly what's been said in previous threads - getting back to making my hobby my job after the last few years flying a desk. The disappointing side has come from these boards and from talking to some people in the industry whose love of aviation has been overcome by a bitterness towards the aviation industry. I have not walked a mile in anyone's moccasins and so don't know all the arguments and haven't felt all the pains. But it's difficult to discern a love of aviation and its brother/sisterhood from the flame trails in many of the industry threads. I think in alot of cases people take the results of economic laws personally and/or forget why they joined this fraternity in the first place - or maybe joined it for the wrong reasons.
This thread has been a breath of fresh air and I hope it stays active long enough for everyone to go back and remember why we:
- look up when we hear an airplane
- look down on people who don't 'get it'
- get butterflies at the sound of a straining engine
- keep 'salty' flight bags well past their prime
- (add your list here)
I know there are people who don't 'get it' out there taking the fun out of flying to advance the bottom line - happens to cowboys, teachers, artists, and a whole list of other folks whose passion is someone else's product. There's nothing wrong with resisting that tide, but you're not going to stop it, and what's ultimately tested should be our commitment and not our tempers, especially when talking to each other.
I was going start a treatise on supply and demand and compensation not just being money, but this is already too long. Suffice it to say that if you're doing something that you enjoy and getting paid for it, you're one of the fortunate few.
SDF2BUF2MCO
Bird Nerd
- Joined
- May 13, 2002
- Posts
- 7,673
BD thanks for bringing the post up.
Flying today, viz was very hazy and very hot. Yet it was a blast. Good for the soul. Things like golf can be fun, and a great place to practice your cuss words, but one hour flying beats a day out on the golf course.
Ran into a guy who is retiring soon via age 60. Felt bad for him because it appeared to be eating at him. Yes, I know he knew it was coming but it is still hard to take. He plans on "protesting" (I think) by jumping/parachuting out of an airplane tomorrow 60 times.
Thank you UPS (sorry for the plug) for getting me started!
Enjoy the view from above!
Flying today, viz was very hazy and very hot. Yet it was a blast. Good for the soul. Things like golf can be fun, and a great place to practice your cuss words, but one hour flying beats a day out on the golf course.
Ran into a guy who is retiring soon via age 60. Felt bad for him because it appeared to be eating at him. Yes, I know he knew it was coming but it is still hard to take. He plans on "protesting" (I think) by jumping/parachuting out of an airplane tomorrow 60 times.
Thank you UPS (sorry for the plug) for getting me started!
Enjoy the view from above!
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