Unscientific survey - why are you a pilot?

In article . com,
Doug Semler wrote:

(Trying to steer a thread to the topic of the group g)

A response of mine in another thread got me to thinking (dangerous, I
know) about what makes a person *want* to become a pilot. This has
probably been asked umpteen times before, and will be asked umpteen
times in the future, but I am trying to get a feel for the
psychological aspect that causes a person to WANT to be a pilot.

Because driving is too slow and flying commercial sucks.

On 8/15/07 11:14 AM, in article
, "Doug Semler"
wrote:

Do you have a "family history" of aviation/piloting?

No, but my grandfather probably sparked my love when he took me to the
airport to watch planes.

Are you an adventure seeker (anything from "true" adrenaline junkee to
"every day is different and brings a new challenge")

Not really.

Are you constantly seeking new challenges?

Yes.

(subpart) Do you find that you get bored easily?

Yes.

Do you have a "thirst for knowledge" (e.g. would you rather be in
school than working)?

Yes.

(subpart) Do you find yourself constantly seeking out new things
about flying regularly or do you only look it up when you run across
something you don't know.

When I run across things I don't know.

(subpart - for instructors) Do you enjoy it when your student "gets
it" or has that "aha! moment?"

Are you a "control freak" (type-a)?

Some people say so.

Do you have hints of "delusions of grandeur?" or is it more like "I'm
on top of the world when I fly"

On top of the world.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert mostly.

If given the choice, would you rather read fiction or an aviation
oriented book?

Aviation related.

(For those that use the radio) Do you find that you have always had
good communication skills?

No way.

Are you left brained or right brained (logic-and-math or Artsy
fartsy)?

Artsy.


Note:
I was thinking about including education history (e.g. are pilots more
likely to be college graduates) but that introduces 2 biases (age and
income) into it. However maybe a question along the lines of "while
in school did you consider yourself to be a good student" would be
better.


Above average student, college grad.
--
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

Doug Semler wrote:
(Trying to steer a thread to the topic of the group g)

A response of mine in another thread got me to thinking (dangerous, I
know) about what makes a person *want* to become a pilot. This has
probably been asked umpteen times before, and will be asked umpteen
times in the future, but I am trying to get a feel for the
psychological aspect that causes a person to WANT to be a pilot. So
this is directed towards non-pilots and students as well. Of course,
every individual is different, but these 2 newsgroups are pretty
directed towards pilots so can be taken as an unscientfic
representative sample.

In some cases looking in Jay's general direction it's because it's
an opportunity for family bonding and whathaveyou. Some cases are
probably your run-of-the-mill "cool factor" cases. And, of course, I
am sure that there are the cases of the "I'm better than you because I
can do something you can't do" syndrome. But I'm wondering if there
isn't some deep commonality amongst most pilots to which we can
point?

Do you have a "family history" of aviation/piloting?
Are you an adventure seeker (anything from "true" adrenaline junkee to
"every day is different and brings a new challenge")
Are you constantly seeking new challenges?
(subpart) Do you find that you get bored easily?
Do you have a "thirst for knowledge" (e.g. would you rather be in
school than working)?
(subpart) Do you find yourself constantly seeking out new things
about flying regularly or do you only look it up when you run across
something you don't know.
(subpart - for instructors) Do you enjoy it when your student "gets
it" or has that "aha! moment?"
Are you a "control freak" (type-a)?
Do you have hints of "delusions of grandeur?" or is it more like "I'm
on top of the world when I fly"
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
If given the choice, would you rather read fiction or an aviation
oriented book?
(For those that use the radio) Do you find that you have always had
good communication skills?
Are you left brained or right brained (logic-and-math or Artsy
fartsy)?

Or am I missing something soooo obvious that I'll die of embarassment
when it's pointed out to me? Or even worse, is there no measurable
psychological correlation to flying and I'm just out to lunch
(wouldn't be the first time g)

Note:
I was thinking about including education history (e.g. are pilots more
likely to be college graduates) but that introduces 2 biases (age and
income) into it. However maybe a question along the lines of "while
in school did you consider yourself to be a good student" would be
better.

I started out as many of you did, as a kid with a dream. As a young boy
I sat in the cockpit of a P51 fighter and like a million other kids my
age dreamed of flying one someday. Sixteen years later I did a climbing
roll in a P51 over the grave of the pilot of the P51 I had been sitting
in that day to thank him for inspiring me to straighten out my life and
learn to fly.
(Reader's Digest April 1985 "A Little Help From A Friend" Dudley Henriques)
I enjoyed much of my life in aviation. I learned a lot, I taught others
a lot, and I'm still learning. At times the road was strewn with pot
holes. Counting friends on the jet teams, I've lost 32 friends while
involved with the demonstration flying community.
In retirement now, I look back sometimes and wonder if I had it all to
do over again, would I do it the same way? I think I would.
Aviation gave me more than I ever would have known without it.
It was one hell of a ride!!

--
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote:


I started out as many of you did, as a kid with a dream. As a young boy
I sat in the cockpit of a P51 fighter and like a million other kids my
age dreamed of flying one someday. Sixteen years later I did a climbing
roll in a P51 over the grave of the pilot of the P51 I had been sitting
in that day to thank him for inspiring me to straighten out my life and
learn to fly.
(Reader's Digest April 1985 "A Little Help From A Friend" Dudley Henriques)
I enjoyed much of my life in aviation. I learned a lot, I taught others
a lot, and I'm still learning. At times the road was strewn with pot
holes. Counting friends on the jet teams, I've lost 32 friends while
involved with the demonstration flying community.
In retirement now, I look back sometimes and wonder if I had it all to
do over again, would I do it the same way? I think I would.
Aviation gave me more than I ever would have known without it.
It was one hell of a ride!!


I have had a continous subscription to RD since 1970 and read them cover
to cover. I bet I read the story. I do not keep old issues though. I
wonder if RD puts old issues on the web; I'll have to check.
--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

Ross wrote:
Dudley Henriques wrote:


I started out as many of you did, as a kid with a dream. As a young
boy I sat in the cockpit of a P51 fighter and like a million other
kids my age dreamed of flying one someday. Sixteen years later I did a
climbing roll in a P51 over the grave of the pilot of the P51 I had
been sitting in that day to thank him for inspiring me to straighten
out my life and learn to fly.
(Reader's Digest April 1985 "A Little Help From A Friend" Dudley
Henriques)
I enjoyed much of my life in aviation. I learned a lot, I taught
others a lot, and I'm still learning. At times the road was strewn
with pot holes. Counting friends on the jet teams, I've lost 32
friends while involved with the demonstration flying community.
In retirement now, I look back sometimes and wonder if I had it all to
do over again, would I do it the same way? I think I would.
Aviation gave me more than I ever would have known without it.
It was one hell of a ride!!


I have had a continous subscription to RD since 1970 and read them cover
to cover. I bet I read the story. I do not keep old issues though. I
wonder if RD puts old issues on the web; I'll have to check.
They will send you a copy if requested. You can also find the complete
story in "Everyday Greatness" by Stephen R. Covey. I believe that is
available through Amazon.

--
Dudley Henriques

On Aug 17, 5:08 am, Dudley Henriques wrote:


I have had a continous subscription to RD since 1970 and read them cover
to cover. I bet I read the story. I do not keep old issues though. I
wonder if RD puts old issues on the web; I'll have to check.

They will send you a copy if requested. You can also find the complete
story in "Everyday Greatness" by Stephen R. Covey. I believe that is
available through Amazon.

One of the greatest stories that give a semblance of what it is to fly
is Jonathan Livingstone Seagull.
The seeking of perfection

george wrote:
On Aug 17, 5:08 am, Dudley Henriques wrote:

I have had a continous subscription to RD since 1970 and read them cover
to cover. I bet I read the story. I do not keep old issues though. I
wonder if RD puts old issues on the web; I'll have to check.
They will send you a copy if requested. You can also find the complete
story in "Everyday Greatness" by Stephen R. Covey. I believe that is
available through Amazon.

One of the greatest stories that give a semblance of what it is to fly
is Jonathan Livingstone Seagull.
The seeking of perfection

A good friend of ours, Art Scholl, did some of the photography for JLS.
He filmed gulls by standing in the back of a rowboat holding up some
bait for the birds. They came in and literally hovered there eating out
of his hand while they were being filmed. Then the film was slowed down
and used in the movie in slow motion.
A simple technique, but some great shots by Art.
I loved the film. In fact, my wife and I were probably one of the first
to see it in a special showing Art did for us and the Thunderbirds in a
back room at the Reading Air Show.
A wonderful show....and a GREAT music score!!!
--
Dudley Henriques

"Doug Semler" wrote:

Do you have a "family history" of aviation/piloting?

Yes. My grandad was in the RFC in WW I, my dad was in the AAF in WW II and
the USAF later.

Are you an adventure seeker (anything from "true" adrenaline junkee to
"every day is different and brings a new challenge")

No.

Are you constantly seeking new challenges?

Yes.

(subpart) Do you find that you get bored easily?

Yes.

Do you have a "thirst for knowledge" (e.g. would you rather be in
school than working)?

Yes.

(subpart) Do you find yourself constantly seeking out new things
about flying regularly or do you only look it up when you run across
something you don't know.

The former.

(subpart - for instructors) Do you enjoy it when your student "gets
it" or has that "aha! moment?"
Are you a "control freak" (type-a)?

No.

Do you have hints of "delusions of grandeur?" or is it more like "I'm
on top of the world when I fly"

The latter.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

If given the choice, would you rather read fiction or an aviation
oriented book?

Fiction.

(For those that use the radio) Do you find that you have always had
good communication skills?

Yes.

Are you left brained or right brained (logic-and-math or Artsy
fartsy)?


Both.

.... is there no measurable
psychological correlation to flying..?

There probably is, but I can't give you a pat answer to the question of of why
I love airplanes and flying. I've been that way since I was 4 years old.

--
Dan
T-182T at BFM

Doug Semler wrote:
A response of mine in another thread got me to thinking (dangerous, I
know) about what makes a person *want* to become a pilot.

In a nutshell:

Dad was a pilot (Navy & commercial), so I grew up going to airshows and
having aviation related things around me. I'm not an adventure seeker,
more of a homebody. I don't get bored easily. I'd rather be in school if
it would pay me as much as working does. It took me four years to get
through junior (two year) college because I kept taking all manner of
courses that sounded interesting or fun. I then spent another four years
at a university, but that was about six years later. I'm a student
pilot, so everything is new--I don't have to go looking for it. I am a
bit of a control freak (so was Dad for that matter). I love to just look
at the scenery; to see the world in a different way. I'm an introvert
and enjoy reading sci-fi, mysteries, and the occasional bodice-ripper
set in historical times (so I can learn some history in the process). I
don't think I've got good comm skills, and don't like doing the radio
work as I'm always afraid I'm going to screw up. I'm whole brained
(definitely artsy-fartsy, but scientifically inclined as well).

Debbie

Doug Semler wrote:
A response of mine in another thread got me to thinking (dangerous, I
know) about what makes a person *want* to become a pilot.

In a nutshell:

Dad was a pilot (Navy & commercial), so I grew up going to airshows and
having aviation related things around me. I'm not an adventure seeker,
more of a homebody. I don't get bored easily. I'd rather be in school if
it would pay me as much as working does. It took me four years to get
through junior (two year) college because I kept taking all manner of
courses that sounded interesting or fun. I then spent another four years
at a university, but that was about six years later. I'm a student
pilot, so everything is new--I don't have to go looking for it. I am a
bit of a control freak (so was Dad for that matter). I love to just look
at the scenery; to see the world in a different way. I'm an introvert
and enjoy reading sci-fi, mysteries, and the occasional bodice-ripper
set in historical times (so I can learn some history in the process). I
don't think I've got good comm skills, and don't like doing the radio
work as I'm always afraid I'm going to screw up. I'm whole brained
(definitely artsy-fartsy, but scientifically inclined as well).

Debbie