Are we crazy, or just stupid?

On 2/6/07 12:00 AM, in article
, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:


We all are left to silently wonder -- are we crazy, or are we just
stupid? Is this irresistable call to the sky that we answer going to
be our swan song? Are we just being selfish, putting our kids at
terrible risk every time we strap them into the back seat?


My sincere condolences Jay.

But to your question, how many of us in this group upon our own
aviation-related deaths, would wish to see a single pilot give up his wings?

It's not selfish. I fly with my grandson to teach him. Just as I read with
him, just as I draw pictures with him, just as I cook and play and wrestle
with him, I do it to teach. It would be selfish not to.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino

Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.wizardofdraws.com

More Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

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STOP COPYING ME!

At least I know that the forger doesn't understand how cryptographic
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the signature.

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--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

so what was the problem they had that kept them grounded for 5 days in
route? what parts did they have to wait on and install to continue the
trip?

I've heard it was something in the charging system -- alternator/
generator? -- but that's just hearsay at this point.

In this sort of thing, the rumor mill grinds incessantly -- but not
necessarily reliably.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Feb 5, 10:00 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
I just returned from one of the hardest evenings of my life. Mary, my
kids, and I just attended the visitation for Blane Anderson, our
friend and fellow pilot who lost his life in the crash of a Spencer
Air Car (and amphibious homebuilt craft) last Friday, just west of
Iowa City. He was less than 20 minutes from home when his plane went
down, hard.

No cause has yet been determined, and the local aviation community is
freaking out about this seemingly inexplicable accident, and the death
of arguably our finest local pilot. Chief pilot of the FBO, CFII,
home-builder, tail-dragger, multi-engine, turbine -- you name it,
Blane flew it. Everyone who flew with him said he was a great stick.
And he had learned to fly in a Pietenpol, which is to say that he
*really* knew how to fly.

At age 34, Blane left so much on the table. A beautiful, young wife;
twin 5-years olds; a 2-year old. There were his parents, and grand-
parents, standing before his open casket, numbly greeting grieving
friends and relatives for well over five hours. The line stretched
out the door for hours on end, in sub-zero temperatures. No one
complained, and no one left.

Every pilot I know was there. We all feel and fear the same thing,
without saying a word. The thought on everyone's mind is simple: "If
this could happen to Blane, it could happen to any one of us." We
look at the grieving widow, and the crying children, and the body in
the casket, and realize that what we are doing for fun is terribly,
inescapably dangerous, and can claim any of us at any time.

We all are left to silently wonder -- are we crazy, or are we just
stupid? Is this irresistable call to the sky that we answer going to
be our swan song? Are we just being selfish, putting our kids at
terrible risk every time we strap them into the back seat?

Are the naysayers about general aviation *right*? Do we have any
right to risk ourselves and others for what amounts to a hobby?

I don't know. I've followed the call of aviation as far as I can, and
reaped benefits from it that few have enjoyed. I've slipped the surly
bonds of earth a thousand times, and have never felt closer to God or
more free then when I am flying.

But when I introduced my family to Blane's mom, all she could say,
with an intensity that can be brought about only through death, was
"Hold on to your children...as tightly as you can." And then she
wouldn't let my hands go, as her tear-filled eyes met mine...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

My condolences.
Your friend Blane is among those who accepted risk to follow dreams.
Without this there is no life, only the dull existence of wasted
opportunity. And still death awaits, so make sure you live first.

"It is not the critic who counts. The credit belongs to the man who is
actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and
blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and
again; because there is not effort without error and shortcoming; but
who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy
cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high
achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while
daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and
timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat" Theodore Roosevelt -
April 23, 1919

"Bob Noel" wrote

But remember what happened to me last year in Cedar Rapids? I tripped
crossing a street, for pete's sake! My injury wasn't *immediately* life
threatening, but I wasn't in surgery a few hours later for kicks and
giggles.

Enjoy life. Manage your risks, but enjoy life.

I agree.

Refresh our memories. What happened after the trip?
--
Jim in NC

"Jay Honeck" wrote

In the end, we believe that Blane lived life to the fullest.
Unfortunately, his children may never share our philosophy.

They may not share that philosophy, now. It is common to resent that which
hurts us in the present.

Many children have problems relating to their parents. Later in life, in
the course of living their lives, the children begin to understand the
actions and motivations of the parent, and appreciate what they formerly
found fault in.

It is very possible, and perhaps probable, that later Blane's children may
understand what drove him, and made his life so full and worth living. They
may even find and live the same loves that Blane lived.

That is my hope.
--
Jim in NC

so what was the problem they had that kept them grounded for 5 days in
route? what parts did they have to wait on and install to continue the
trip?

Interestingly, the Sheriff's Department (of all people?) has released
some kind of statement about Blane's crash, saying that it was
probably caused by a "mechanical problem".

I've never heard of the Sheriff getting involved in NTSB/FAA turf
before, but here's the story:

http://tinyurl.com/3xyr72
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Are the naysayers about general aviation *right*? Do we have any
right to risk ourselves and others for what amounts to a hobby?

I don't know. I've followed the call of aviation as far as I can, and
reaped benefits from it that few have enjoyed.

You do have a point. It is somewhat a selfish act. Perhaps after taking
it as far as one can, one should think about something different.
However our egos prevent us seeing things in perspective. Me, I could
quit I guess. I have done all I will do in aviation. I was thinking
about helicopters, but to what end? If I do go in a crash, I hope nobody
says the, "He died, doing what he loved", comment. Because I don't like
crashing airplanes. And I don't want the least bit of experience at it!

Years ago I had a case in which a young father died. He worked for a
government agency involved in community redevelopment. A significant
project was completed, and a celebration was held. The place was a very old
local church. This man went into the church, and sat about halfway down the
aisle, in the middle of the pew.

The celebration was held in the evening after a hot summer day. The church
was old, and the windows were open because of the heat. A thunderstorm
developed, complete with lightning. According to witnesses, ball lightning
landed on the window sill next to the pew where this man was sitting. The
ball lightning hopped across to the back of the pew, followed the back of
the pew to where this man was sitting, and jumped on him, causing the man's
death.

I often think about this when making a decision to go flying. I don't
believe in pushing it, but when your number's up...


Jay Honeck wrote:
I just returned from one of the hardest evenings of my life. Mary, my
kids, and I just attended the visitation for Blane Anderson, our
friend and fellow pilot who lost his life in the crash of a Spencer
Air Car (and amphibious homebuilt craft) last Friday, just west of
Iowa City. He was less than 20 minutes from home when his plane went
down, hard.

On 2/7/2007 4:35:45 PM, "LWG" wrote:

According to witnesses, ball lightning
landed on the window sill next to the pew where this man was sitting. The
ball lightning hopped across to the back of the pew, followed the back of
the pew to where this man was sitting, and jumped on him, causing the man's
death.

Wow, nothing like a random act of physics in a place of worship to underscore
one's beliefs.

--
Peter