I'm a real pilot, am I not?
I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
yourself a real pilot.
The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation stuff
(EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I have
a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.

This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
real pilot.
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
And what if any was your response?
Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?

David (KORL)
PP - ASEL -Instrument student

After getting my PPL, then my IR, then my Commercial, then my CFI, I finally
got a tail wheel endorsement in a SuperCub. And not just a 2 day seminar
type, but some very complete and serious training from a lifelong family
friend and ag pilot/CFII/AI who grew up drinking av-gas and breathing the
exhaust of radial engines. Now, sometimes I feel like a real pilot, but
when ever my head gets too big, I just remember how fast a taildragger can
squash even the biggest ego.
--
Jim Burns III

Remove "nospam" to reply

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:26:03 GMT, "CFLav8r" >
wrote:

>This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
>real pilot.
>Has anyone else had a similar experience?
>And what if any was your response?
>Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?

Nobody's asked me, but if they did, I'd show 'em my watch and my
sunglasses.

Don

> Nobody's asked me, but if they did, I'd show 'em my watch and my
> sunglasses.

Perfect! I might add a leather bomber jacket too.

"Brad Z" > wrote in message
news:owFac.148621$_w.1659173@attbi_s53...
> > Nobody's asked me, but if they did, I'd show 'em my watch and my
> > sunglasses.
>
> Perfect! I might add a leather bomber jacket too.
>
>
.....and I would add a grey or orange boiler suit with lots of sad badges....

"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". [...]
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?

I've never heard that before. However, while I too have the occasional
neighbor who's an idiot, I avoid talking to the ones that are. Maybe I just
do a better job staying away from people dumb enough to say something like
that.

From a child, I could understand. But a full-grown adult? That's just
stupid. Life's too short to spend any time at all worrying about someone
who says that sort of thing. They don't deserve your consideration. I'm
not even sure why I'm bothering to reply to this thread, that's how silly it
is.

You know you're a real pilot, and it doesn't matter whether someone else
doesn't see that you are. That reflects on them, not you.

Pete

I was in the Aero Club bar the other week, after flying in for the weekend.
I had the full gear on: my Akubra style hat with the airplane pins all
around the brim, the fighter jacket with the pens on the sleeve, the wings
prominently stitched over the left pocket, flying boots, flight bag next to
me, scarf on the table. A gorgeous Michele Pfeiffer lookalike comes over
and we get to chatting. "Are you a real pilot?" she asks. "I like to think
I am," I reply. "I love flying and fly as often as I can. I have all the
licenses, and I have a good time." She says she's not a pilot. Then, for
some reason, she blurts out: "I'm a lesbian. I think of women in the
morning when I wake up. I think about women at breakfast, at lunch, at
dinner, and at every waking moment in between. I even dream about women,"
she says. She then says good-bye and leaves me to contemplate the world. A
little while later a man and his wife come past and ask me: "Are you a real
pilot?" I answer: "I used to think I was, but I just found out that I am a
lesbian!"


--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Nigel T Peart" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Brad Z" > wrote in message
> news:owFac.148621$_w.1659173@attbi_s53...
> > > Nobody's asked me, but if they did, I'd show 'em my watch and my
> > > sunglasses.
> >
> > Perfect! I might add a leather bomber jacket too.
> >
> >
> ....and I would add a grey or orange boiler suit with lots of sad
badges....
>
>

CFLav8r wrote:

I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".

Doesn't sound like a real neighbour to me... :-)

"Bob Chilcoat" > wrote in message
...
> I was in the Aero Club bar the other week, after flying in for the
weekend.
> I had the full gear on: my Akubra style hat with the airplane pins all
> around the brim, the fighter jacket with the pens on the sleeve, the wings
> prominently stitched over the left pocket, flying boots, flight bag next
to
> me, scarf on the table. A gorgeous Michele Pfeiffer lookalike comes over
> and we get to chatting. "Are you a real pilot?" she asks. "I like to
think
> I am," I reply. "I love flying and fly as often as I can. I have all the
> licenses, and I have a good time." She says she's not a pilot. Then, for
> some reason, she blurts out: "I'm a lesbian. I think of women in the
> morning when I wake up. I think about women at breakfast, at lunch, at
> dinner, and at every waking moment in between. I even dream about women,"
> she says. She then says good-bye and leaves me to contemplate the world.
A
> little while later a man and his wife come past and ask me: "Are you a
real
> pilot?" I answer: "I used to think I was, but I just found out that I am
a
> lesbian!"
>
>
> --
> Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)
>
>

Damn,

Ruined another perfectly good monitor...ROFL!!

Great Post!!

Jay Beckman
Student Pilot - KCHD
8.9 Hrs - Nowhere to go but up!

CFLav8r wrote:

> I'm a real pilot, am I not?

Wrong question.

My wife was chatting with her trainer at the gym, and explained how we'd
taken our son on his first overnight in an airplane. She later explained
that I was flying an airplane that evening as a part of a maintenance
mission for the club.

Apparently, it finally sank into the trainer's mind that I was actually the
holder of a pilot's certificate (as opposed to someone that charters
airplanes in which the family takes trips). She's therefore decided that
I'm a "trophy husband".

Not bad. But I think that, if I could afford to charter planes for family
trips, I'd be fairly trophy-ish too.

So the right question is: are you a trophy?

There might be something to this. I was there when another member of my
flying club intoduced himself to a very attractive female friend of mine.
When she heard that he knew me through aviation, she became that much more
attentive to him.

I think I've a new idea for advertising flight lessons.

- Andrew

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:26:03 GMT, CFLav8r > wrote:
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I have
> a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
>
I was in the drive-thru lane at the local grease-trap a couple of months
ago. The kid at the cashier asks "Are you a pilot?" Says he saw my plates
and the AOPA sticker in the side window. I respond (with my chest puffed
out), "Why, yes I am." He asks, "What airline do you fly for?" I say,
"I don't fly for an airline, I fly myself." He says, "No, I mean, are
you a real pilot. I want to get a job as a pilot." I said, "Do you
think that you get the keys to the 747 on the first day?" He kinda
garumphs and says, "Guess not." I take my burger and drive off.

--
Rick/JYO
PP-ASEL-IA
remove 'nospam' to reply

CFLav8r wrote:
>
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?

Of course I do! If you fly a Maule, there's no question about it. :-)

George Patterson
Treason is ne'er successful, Sir; what then be the reason? Why, if treason
be successful, Sir, then none dare call it treason.

Andrew Gideon wrote:
>
> When she heard that he knew me through aviation, she became that much more
> attentive to him.

Watch out for this. Most cases I've seen, the woman was simply calculating how well
she could do with all that money the guy was "wasting" on aviation.

George Patterson
Treason is ne'er successful, Sir; what then be the reason? Why, if treason
be successful, Sir, then none dare call it treason.

Doesn't matter what non-pilots think. As far as I'm concerned, anyone
who's soloed is a real pilot. Anyone who's soloed has been in a
position where their life depended on them landing an airplane. That's
being a pilot.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.





"CFLav8r" > wrote in message >...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I have
> a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student

"Brad Z" > wrote in message
news:owFac.148621$_w.1659173@attbi_s53...
> > Nobody's asked me, but if they did, I'd show 'em my watch and my
> > sunglasses.
>
> Perfect! I might add a leather bomber jacket too.
>
You DON'T have to make airplane sounds
(PWLLLLLLLLLLLTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHTTTTTT TTTTTTTT) with your
tongue, though.

"Bob Chilcoat" > wrote in message
...
> I was in the Aero Club bar the other week, after flying in for the
weekend.
> I had the full gear on: my Akubra style hat with the airplane pins all
> around the brim, the fighter jacket with the pens on the sleeve, the wings
> prominently stitched over the left pocket, flying boots, flight bag next
to
> me, scarf on the table. A gorgeous Michele Pfeiffer lookalike comes over
> and we get to chatting. "Are you a real pilot?" she asks. "I like to
think
> I am," I reply. "I love flying and fly as often as I can. I have all the
> licenses, and I have a good time." She says she's not a pilot. Then, for
> some reason, she blurts out: "I'm a lesbian. I think of women in the
> morning when I wake up. I think about women at breakfast, at lunch, at
> dinner, and at every waking moment in between. I even dream about women,"
> she says. She then says good-bye and leaves me to contemplate the world.
A
> little while later a man and his wife come past and ask me: "Are you a
real
> pilot?" I answer: "I used to think I was, but I just found out that I am
a
> lesbian!"
>
>
BAH DA BUM!!!

No, you are not a real pilot unless you fly an airplane that has a
bathroom :-) That is what most of my nonflying friends think.


"CFLav8r" > wrote in
. com:

> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you
> consider yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only
> to have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting
> aviation stuff (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not
> become a real pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because
> I have a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to
> be a real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
>

rofl i had a girl ask me if i was a pilot the other day. i said yes but i
was still technically a student pilot since i cant carry pax yet but do fly
by myself .(im 20.9 hours today got my 3 stop 150nm xc monday) she said
"ohh yeah thought u were kinda young to be a real pilot". yet she was about
21 2 years younger than me. ohh well ive come to the conclusion that alot of
"non-pilots" dont realize what it takes to fly even a Cessna 150 by
yourself. ohh well. -Nick

I use to have a friend that would call me a 'baby pilot' because he said I
flew 'baby planes'...

"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?

I got something else I can show 'em!

-lance smith


Don Tuite > wrote in message >...
> On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:26:03 GMT, "CFLav8r" >
> wrote:
>
> >This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> >real pilot.
> >Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> >And what if any was your response?
> >Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> Nobody's asked me, but if they did, I'd show 'em my watch and my
> sunglasses.
>
> Don

Yeah,, this happens..

But the licence plate on my Town Car says "AVIATOR" , so I
guess I am asking for it! :)

I find they fit into two groups, the ones that think it is
"way cool" or "I would like to do that someday" etc... and the
others, that will never understand why I (we) would climb into that
"little flimsy (it has a propeller! ) airplane just to be closer to
God and to soar with the eagles...

And I don't even try to explain it...

Those who will, understand right away...

I gotta get some cool shades , just in case...

(and ..no.. the plate is not for sale! :)

Dave



On Thu, 01 Apr 2004 00:24:26 GMT, "Greg Burkhart" >
wrote:

>I use to have a friend that would call me a 'baby pilot' because he said I
>flew 'baby planes'...
>
>"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
>> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
>> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
>> And what if any was your response?
>> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>

Andrew Sarangan wrote:

> No, you are not a real pilot unless you fly an airplane that has a
> bathroom :-)

Depends on your definition of "bathroom." The aircraft I fly all have
bathrooms, although I would not recommend going "number two" in them.

--
Peter

On 3/31/04 2:26 PM, in article
, "CFLav8r"
> wrote:
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
>

I've never had anyone question the fact that I'm a pilot anymore than they
question that I'm a cartoonist. In any case, I became a pilot for personal
reasons and none of them were to impress anyone else.

That said, after you get your instrument rating, take him into the clouds,
turn to him and say, "Your plane."
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

if they don't know... and only think of airlines as "real pilots"

they are of the un informed.. and nothing you can do will change their
thinking..

BT

"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I
have
> a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
>

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:26:03 GMT, "CFLav8r" > wrote:

>I'm a real pilot, am I not?
>I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
>yourself a real pilot.
>The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
>have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation stuff
>(EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
>pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
>He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
>Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I have
>a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
>This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
>real pilot.
>Has anyone else had a similar experience?
>And what if any was your response?


Well you might relate to him what a friend of mine said. He currently flies for
a "major airline".... worked his way up from 727 Flight Engineer to left seat in
a 747. We were talking one day and the subject of flight skills came up. He
said the best he could do was 30 words a minute on the Flight Director with one
hand. (That's a joke, son.)

Ron Kelley

I think it was in a King video I was watching where I heard John say
something that really speaks to the 'why' I became a pilot and maybe it
indirectly will give you the answer you are seeking. John King said
something to the effect of; being a pilot/learning to fly is a very
ineffective way to impress someone, because the reason that most of us fly
is for the much deeper and profound reason which is, that we are out to
impress ourselves - to stretch ourselves by investing ourselves into a very
challenging/engaging activity like aviation; truly achieving a dream that
most of us have had nearly all of our lives. How many people can say they
achieved some lifelong dream that is on par with learning to fly? So, very
few.... I think I read somewhere that certificated pilots make up less than
one-third of one percent of the adult population - we are truly an 'elite'
group,,, there's not many that can understand the 'why' of 'why we are up
there' - but WE know,,, and that's all that really matters in the end.

To cite a passage which really speaks to the heart of my experience in
having learned to fly, which from the "Because I Fly" prose; "Who else has
seen the unclimbed peaks? The rainbow's secret? The real reason birds sing?
Because I fly,,,, I envy no man on Earth."

--
--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL
Student-IASEL

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

YEPPERS!!! I like this idea ;-)

--
--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil
PP-ASEL
Student-IASEL

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
this miracle that lies in our hands and beneath our feet"
- Cecil Day Lewis -
>

"CFLav8r" > wrote in message >...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I have
> a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student

Question #1: Are you a real pilot?

David, you will go through this the rest of your life. And you will
wonder if you are a real pilot. It will just never end. Real pilots
fly STOL. Real pilots fly IFR. Real pilots teach other pilots. Real
pilots fly twins. Real pilots fly things that burn kerosine. Real
pilots fly acro. Real pilots fly jets. Real jet pilots fly fighters.
Real fighter pilots are from the Navy/Marines. Real Navy/Marine
pilots flew combat. Real jet pilots are Captains. Real Captains have
political power and get away with not wearing their tie...

As a 747/727/A310/DC10 pilot, people would ask me: "What airline do
you fly for?" I would tell them the name of my obscure freight/mac
charter outfit and then damn near every single one of them would pause
for a second and ask me Question #3: "Don't you want to fly for the
commercial airlines?"

My outfit IS a commercial airline flying under FAR 121 supplemental
rules. Explaning this to them always lead to a look of disbelief.
This goes on to this day and annoys me to no end.

Question #4 is always: Were you in the military?

Question #5 is always: How old were you when started flying?

It's like somebody gave the masses a script to read from or something.
Are you a real pilot David? ****in A' you are. Next time tell them:
Big airplanes are over 100 times safer to fly in than the planes you
fly. You don't have autopilots to bail you out; only your two hands
do the flying. I think all you guys that fly by yourselves are real
pilots. Most of my military co-pilots are terrified of the idea of
setting foot by themselves in a light plane with extreme limitations.
I worked with a few who thought they were up to it and crashed. How
about this: if you make it past 500hrs you will be a bonified real
old-bold pilot. ;-)

Our FBO rented a Cherokee to a "Real Pilot", a 5000-hour airline pilot (OK,
it was a foreign carrier) who promply wheelbarrowed the Cherokee into the
runway and collapsed the nosegear. Even the student pilots were wondering
how he did that.

--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"pacplyer" > wrote in message
om...
> "CFLav8r" > wrote in message
>...
> > I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> > I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you
consider
> > yourself a real pilot.
> > The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only
to
> > have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> > (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> > pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> > He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> > Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I
have
> > a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
> >
> > This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be
a
> > real pilot.
> > Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> > And what if any was your response?
> > Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
> >
> > David (KORL)
> > PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
> Question #1: Are you a real pilot?
>
> David, you will go through this the rest of your life. And you will
> wonder if you are a real pilot. It will just never end. Real pilots
> fly STOL. Real pilots fly IFR. Real pilots teach other pilots. Real
> pilots fly twins. Real pilots fly things that burn kerosine. Real
> pilots fly acro. Real pilots fly jets. Real jet pilots fly fighters.
> Real fighter pilots are from the Navy/Marines. Real Navy/Marine
> pilots flew combat. Real jet pilots are Captains. Real Captains have
> political power and get away with not wearing their tie...
>
> As a 747/727/A310/DC10 pilot, people would ask me: "What airline do
> you fly for?" I would tell them the name of my obscure freight/mac
> charter outfit and then damn near every single one of them would pause
> for a second and ask me Question #3: "Don't you want to fly for the
> commercial airlines?"
>
> My outfit IS a commercial airline flying under FAR 121 supplemental
> rules. Explaning this to them always lead to a look of disbelief.
> This goes on to this day and annoys me to no end.
>
> Question #4 is always: Were you in the military?
>
> Question #5 is always: How old were you when started flying?
>
> It's like somebody gave the masses a script to read from or something.
> Are you a real pilot David? ****in A' you are. Next time tell them:
> Big airplanes are over 100 times safer to fly in than the planes you
> fly. You don't have autopilots to bail you out; only your two hands
> do the flying. I think all you guys that fly by yourselves are real
> pilots. Most of my military co-pilots are terrified of the idea of
> setting foot by themselves in a light plane with extreme limitations.
> I worked with a few who thought they were up to it and crashed. How
> about this: if you make it past 500hrs you will be a bonified real
> old-bold pilot. ;-)

"CFLav8r" > wrote
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?

Try being a private pilot with "just" a glider rating. No respect I tell ya.

"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?".

Why does he know what's in your mailbox?

-cj

I got to thinking and have to agree. I don't have to tell anyone that
I'm a pilot. My wife does for me!

Chris

Andrew Gideon wrote:
> CFLav8r wrote:
>
>
>>I'm a real pilot, am I not?
>
>
> Wrong question.
>
> My wife was chatting with her trainer at the gym, and explained how we'd
> taken our son on his first overnight in an airplane. She later explained
> that I was flying an airplane that evening as a part of a maintenance
> mission for the club.
>
> Apparently, it finally sank into the trainer's mind that I was actually the
> holder of a pilot's certificate (as opposed to someone that charters
> airplanes in which the family takes trips). She's therefore decided that
> I'm a "trophy husband".
>
> Not bad. But I think that, if I could afford to charter planes for family
> trips, I'd be fairly trophy-ish too.
>
> So the right question is: are you a trophy?
>
> There might be something to this. I was there when another member of my
> flying club intoduced himself to a very attractive female friend of mine.
> When she heard that he knew me through aviation, she became that much more
> attentive to him.
>
> I think I've a new idea for advertising flight lessons.
>
> - Andrew
>

You forgot "two feet" unless your flying an ercoup.


"pacplyer" > wrote in message
om...
> "CFLav8r" > wrote in message
>...
> > I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> > I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you
consider
> > yourself a real pilot.
> > The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only
to
> > have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> > (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> > pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> > He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> > Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I
have
> > a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
> >
> > This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be
a
> > real pilot.
> > Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> > And what if any was your response?
> > Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
> >
> > David (KORL)
> > PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
> Question #1: Are you a real pilot?
>
> David, you will go through this the rest of your life. And you will
> wonder if you are a real pilot. It will just never end. Real pilots
> fly STOL. Real pilots fly IFR. Real pilots teach other pilots. Real
> pilots fly twins. Real pilots fly things that burn kerosine. Real
> pilots fly acro. Real pilots fly jets. Real jet pilots fly fighters.
> Real fighter pilots are from the Navy/Marines. Real Navy/Marine
> pilots flew combat. Real jet pilots are Captains. Real Captains have
> political power and get away with not wearing their tie...
>
> As a 747/727/A310/DC10 pilot, people would ask me: "What airline do
> you fly for?" I would tell them the name of my obscure freight/mac
> charter outfit and then damn near every single one of them would pause
> for a second and ask me Question #3: "Don't you want to fly for the
> commercial airlines?"
>
> My outfit IS a commercial airline flying under FAR 121 supplemental
> rules. Explaning this to them always lead to a look of disbelief.
> This goes on to this day and annoys me to no end.
>
> Question #4 is always: Were you in the military?
>
> Question #5 is always: How old were you when started flying?
>
> It's like somebody gave the masses a script to read from or something.
> Are you a real pilot David? ****in A' you are. Next time tell them:
> Big airplanes are over 100 times safer to fly in than the planes you
> fly. You don't have autopilots to bail you out; only your two hands
> do the flying. I think all you guys that fly by yourselves are real
> pilots. Most of my military co-pilots are terrified of the idea of
> setting foot by themselves in a light plane with extreme limitations.
> I worked with a few who thought they were up to it and crashed. How
> about this: if you make it past 500hrs you will be a bonified real
> old-bold pilot. ;-)

I respect glider pilots especially the ones that can stay up for hours with
out an engine or any other power source.


"Jim Buckridge" > wrote in message
om...
> "CFLav8r" > wrote
> > I'm a real pilot, am I not?
>
> Try being a private pilot with "just" a glider rating. No respect I tell
ya.

At a homeowners association meeting last night I had four people ask me if I
had been circling the development low and slow last weekend. Nobody seemed
accusatory (I've circled a couple of times at 800agl with sightseers). After
responding that I had been in Oregon at the time, I listened to the people;
nobody seemed worried, one person thought the plane was below 500 but I
explained how hard it is to estimate altitude by eye, one person thought it
was a photo shoot.

Those who thought it was me were probably wondering if I was taking one of
their neighbors for a ride.

The point is: I was being treated as the local expert, and nobody seemed to
be trying to pin a noise complaint on me (partly because I try to educate
when possible). So, yeah, I felt like a real pilot.

-- David Brooks

"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I
have
> a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
>

Nice point David.

I let a lot of folks know I fly.

At first it felt like bragging but I do it because people who "know" a pilot, are a lot more likely to be positive or non-combative
towards airplane noise and so forth. It seems to help if you are considered to be responsible also.

Kind of a pilots are people too thing and it helps them realize we are having fun and going places not just up there to torture
them.

Mike Z


"David Brooks" > wrote in message ...
> At a homeowners association meeting last night I had four people ask me if I
> had been circling the development low and slow last weekend. Nobody seemed
> accusatory (I've circled a couple of times at 800agl with sightseers). After
> responding that I had been in Oregon at the time, I listened to the people;
> nobody seemed worried, one person thought the plane was below 500 but I
> explained how hard it is to estimate altitude by eye, one person thought it
> was a photo shoot.
>
> Those who thought it was me were probably wondering if I was taking one of
> their neighbors for a ride.
>
> The point is: I was being treated as the local expert, and nobody seemed to
> be trying to pin a noise complaint on me (partly because I try to educate
> when possible). So, yeah, I felt like a real pilot.
>
> -- David Brooks
>

Hi David,

For the past six years or so I have considered myself to be a "real pilot".

Last week that all changed when I attempted my first three landings in a
tailwheel aeroplane (a Jodel). Now I've gone away to re-evaluate my above
statement. ;-)))

Personally I haven't had anyone ask me if I were a real pilot but I have had
an adult ask me when I was going to fly real aeroplanes whilst near enough
pointing at the Airbus glistening in the sun.

My reply was, "I fly real aeroplanes already and operate computers in my day
to day job, but one day I shall probably swap computers that run microsoft
products for those that run an oversized bus with wings. Would you like a
quick jaunt in a real aeroplane?". Then I nodded in the direction of the
groups semi-aerobatic aeroplane whilst grabbing my flight bag... ;-)))

Best wishes,

Richard Thomas
FAA CP-ASEL IA
Student AMEL and Tailwheel

> I worked with a few who thought they were up to it and crashed. How
> about this: if you make it past 500hrs you will be a bonified real
> old-bold pilot. ;-)

Wow that makes me a bonified real old-bold pilot at a grand old age of
twenty six, er okay twenty seven in a couple of weeks! ;-))))

So although I'm a real old-bold pilot I'm still sticking to a very good moto
I've learnt from a veteran of a lifetime in aviation... "Cowardice prolongs
active life". (If you're reading this sorry if it is trademarked!).

Mind you there is no such thing as an old bold pilot.

Seriously though I believe you've hit the nail on the head with your post.

cj,

> Why does he know what's in your mailbox?
>
> -cj

I am so glad someone has asked the million pound (er oops dollars on this
newsgroup) question!!!

Would have been me asking otherwise....


"cj" > wrote in message
s.com...
>
> "CFLav8r" > wrote in message
> . com...
> > I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> > I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you
consider
> > yourself a real pilot.
> > The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only
to
> > have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
> stuff
> > (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> > pilot?".
>

"G.R. Patterson III" > wrote in message
...
>
> Andrew Gideon wrote:
> >
> > When she heard that he knew me through aviation, she became that much
more
> > attentive to him.
>
> Watch out for this. Most cases I've seen, the woman was simply calculating
how well
> she could do with all that money the guy was "wasting" on aviation.

There's a reason I'm not married. I can't afford a plane and a wife.

Paul

"Peter R." > wrote in message
...
> Andrew Sarangan wrote:
>
> > No, you are not a real pilot unless you fly an airplane that has a
> > bathroom :-)
>
> Depends on your definition of "bathroom." The aircraft I fly all have
> bathrooms, although I would not recommend going "number two" in them.

Or having a bath?

Paul (who got a serious shower sitting INSIDE my plane
on Sunday)

"Bob Chilcoat" > wrote in message
...
> Our FBO rented a Cherokee to a "Real Pilot", a 5000-hour airline pilot
(OK,
> it was a foreign carrier) who promply wheelbarrowed the Cherokee into the
> runway and collapsed the nosegear. Even the student pilots were wondering
> how he did that.

I've got a friend who retired a couple of years ago from BA, flying 747-400s
as his latest and last mount. He bought a Bulldog. He hadn't flown a light
aircraft in a rather large number of years. He wasn't at all confident about
flying it and made sure he got some hours of instruction before even
attempting to solo. Now he's trying to grapple with navigation to be
able to leave the circuit. He's had a good GPS installed! :-)

They say that the most common mistake with airline pilots who
haven't flown a light aircraft in a while is trying to flare at 30ft!

Paul

!jealous people fear to live!
"CFLav8r" > wrote in message
. com...
> I'm a real pilot, am I not?
> I ask this question to the entire aviation NG, to find out if you consider
> yourself a real pilot.
> The question came as I was returning from my mailbox this morning only to
> have my neighbor stop and ask me "why if your always getting aviation
stuff
> (EAA magazine came this morning) in the mail do you not become a real
> pilot?". And to this I answered "I am a real pilot".
> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".
> Well considering the source of the question, I just said just because I
have
> a drivers license doesn't mean I want to drive a truck or bus.
>
> This isn't the first time that I have had someone not consider me to be a
> real pilot.
> Has anyone else had a similar experience?
> And what if any was your response?
> Or do you not consider yourself a real pilot?
>
> David (KORL)
> PP - ASEL -Instrument student
>
>

> He then said "No your not, you don't fly the big planes".

Those things aren't airplanes. They are apartment buildings with wings on
them.

Jose

--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

> I've got a friend who retired a couple of years ago from BA, flying 747-400s
> as his latest and last mount. He bought a Bulldog. He hadn't flown a light
> aircraft in a rather large number of years. He wasn't at all confident about
> flying it and made sure he got some hours of instruction before even
> attempting to solo. Now he's trying to grapple with navigation to be
> able to leave the circuit. He's had a good GPS installed! :-)
>
> They say that the most common mistake with airline pilots who
> haven't flown a light aircraft in a while is trying to flare at 30ft!
>
> Paul

The Air Force Base I am stationed at is one of the few that still has
an Aero Club left. The membership is open to anybody even remotely
connected to the base (active duty, guard, reserve, civilians, family
members. Probably 20,000 people eligible to join, yet the club membership
is just over 100 people with maybe 15-20 flying during any given month.

The thing that I have always found to be strange is that the membership is
mostly enlisted and civilian. The number of active duty pilots can be counted
on one hand. Checking the aircraft registry for the county, I find that very
few military pilots have aircraft at the local airport.

My best guess is that most of the active duty pilots have very little time
in GA aircraft or flying in a non-military environment. A lot of the pilots
enter into pilot training without a PPL and are sent into Initial Flight Training
at a military Aero Club or under a contract with a civilian flight school.
The Air Force pays for 40 hours of training and the students are expected to
be ready for a checkride near the 40 hour point. After completing the private
course they have very little time before they are sent to initial jet training for a year.
I would chance to guess that there are active duty pilots who have a few thousand
hours flying military aircraft, but haven't been near a GA aircraft since their
initial 8 weeks in IFT.

-Mac

MRQB wrote:
>
> I respect glider pilots especially the ones that can stay up for hours with
> out an engine or any other power source.

They have a power source. It's called the sun. :)

--
Chris Woodhouse
Oklahoma City
http://thewishzone.com:8086

"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania