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Flying with kids- how young is too young?



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 28th 04, 04:13 AM
Paul Folbrecht
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Default Flying with kids- how young is too young?

I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.

  #2  
Old January 28th 04, 04:31 AM
Cockpit Colin
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Most kids will take their lead from their parents - if Mum and Dad are
freaking out the kids assume there is something to be afraid of - but if
Mum/Dad are having a great time you can usually 'con' them into enjoying it
at that age too.

Consider putting young child / parent in back - and 5 y/o in front right
(with seat right back of course (show them the wooden dip stick that you're
going to break over his knuckles if he touches the controls (with a
smile))) - you can guage reactions during taxi / runups etc - if in doubt,
do a single circuit with just parent / child in the back (then swap child
etc).

My experiances have been that despite all of our cautions and concerns ...

.... they simply just go to sleep!

Hope this helps!

CC

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
nk.net...
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.



  #3  
Old January 28th 04, 04:35 AM
Casey Wilson
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"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
nk.net...
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.


I've talked to half a dozen people lately about flying with the kids.
Cherish F. has a four month old that she put in the back seat at three
weeks. Mike M. took his pregnant wife up and the baby right after it was
born. Richard M. had no problem with his boys when they were
toddlers --sometimes they were sound asleep before he could get the engine
started. Dr. Marcia M. (pediatrician) says to take it easy gaining or giving
up altitude so the kids can clear their ears. That is less than 500 FPM. She
said the kids are better at doing that than adults. She also recommended
something to suck on -- includng pacifiers and candy. Breast feeding would
be even better.
One crusty old geezer around here said it is important to tell the
newbie kids what to expect BEFORE you do it, including the takeoff noise,
pitch-up and so forth. He also suggested to NOT stick kids in the back seat
by themselves for the first couple of trips.
With that in mind it sounds like maybe a good idea to put one in the
front and then you get in the back with the other for a couple of trips, evn
short ones around the patch.
In short, it is a great idea. Paul F. got his PPASEL certificate in
1976 following in the propwash of his dad. Paul never hesitated taking his
kids flying with him. Now, five of his eight children has private pilots
certificates and they take their kids along. Well, three of them... the
other two aren't married yet.
On the other hand, I have a ten-year-old granddaughter that won't even
drive to the airport with me. But then, she won't ride a roller-coaster
either.


  #4  
Old January 28th 04, 04:48 AM
Dan Luke
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"Paul Folbrecht" wrote:
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys
up- they are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"-
especially the little one.


The little one is the one you *don't* have to worry about freaking out -
he will probably go to sleep. What's worrisome is protecting his
hearing: little kids hate headsets. My 2 1/2-year old grandson thinks no
more of going for a flight than he does of going for a drive, but
keeping a headset on him is tough. And forget earplugs; he absolutely
will not stand for them.

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would
make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.


The only child I've ever seen frightened was a 10-year old Angel Flight
patient I took to Atlanta last week. Normal, low altitude bumps really
scared him. I bet your 3- and 5-year olds will be fine unless they get
airsick from a bumpy ride. Keep it ultra smooth.
--
Dan
C172RG at BFM
(remove pants to reply by email)


  #5  
Old January 28th 04, 04:55 AM
R.Hubbell
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On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 03:13:10 GMT Paul Folbrecht wrote:

I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.



As always it depends on the kids. Plan a short trip the first time to
get an idea if they like it or not. When I hear "Weeeeeee!!!" on steep
short final I take that as a sign they like it a lot! I also give out
a dollar or lollipop or candy bar to every plane spotted while we're
flying. Kids have great eyes! Especially with a sweet incentive.

I treat it like going for a ride in a car. The trickiest part is
walking the ramp with them.



R. Hubbell
  #6  
Old January 28th 04, 06:10 AM
BTIZ
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take them one at a time... put the parent in the back with the kid.. and
don't put the kid behind you.. front seat with a little one cannot see over
the glare shield.. use a high wing airplane so he can see the ground under
the wing.. a 3yr old may need a "car" seat.

expect them to start crying for mommy at any second.. cars are not as noisy
on the inside as airplanes are.. and headsets don't fit the little ones very
well.. especially 3yr olds.

BT

"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
nk.net...
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.



  #7  
Old January 28th 04, 06:18 AM
Michelle P
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Paul
I have flown children as young as three.
Several key items:
Take it easy in everything your do. An airline style smooth ride is your
best chance at success. Slow acceleration, slower climb out and decents
and the softest landing you can muster.
Explain everything before it happens!
Make sure there is a trusted adult on board. The child will definitely
take the lead from a trusted adult. If they are nervous then the child
will be nervous. If they are comfortable and having a good time then the
child will most likely enjoy the flight.

Take several test flights. Be prepared to make it a short flight. If the
child is not comfortable do not go or end the flight early. This
increases your chances of them going again. If you keep going and they
are not happy it could set a bad precedent for future flights.

Michelle

Paul Folbrecht wrote:

I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this
isn't a great idea or not. TIA.


--

Michelle P ATP-ASEL, CP-AMEL, and AMT-A&P

"Elisabeth" a Maule M-7-235B (no two are alike)

Volunteer Pilot, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic

Volunteer Builder, Habitat for Humanity

  #8  
Old January 28th 04, 06:34 AM
A Lieberman
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Paul Folbrecht wrote:

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.


Paul,

I have taken my niece and nephew up. We took each one seperately. Both
are just under 2 years old.

To get them familiar with the plane, on my prior visits to their maiden
flight, we let them walk around the plane, and we identified major parts
(wing, rudder, wheels, gas tanks and so on) to make a game of it.

When they were comfortable with it, we then introduced them to getting
in the plane. This was a little harder as I have a low wing, and the
slope of the wing made them unnerved getting in. We insisted they walk
in on their own, only assistance given was I would be in the plane for
them to walk to me, and my brother inlaw was behind them so they didn't
fall back. Once they were in the plane, they were absolutely great.

My brother in law is a pilot, so he flew the plane. I held them in my
lap with just the lapbelt on. We had ear protection for them as I didn't
have child size headsets.

First flight, we never left the pattern, just made a little longer
downwind to extend the flight. We only went to 1,500 feet to see if
they would be ok with ears, and no effects. Second flight, was 15
minutes. Other then taking it easy on altitude, we did standard rate
turns so that they would know that 30 degree banks are normal.

We flew just before sunset, so turbulence was not an issue.

Both were better then my sister who remained on the ground *smile*. My
nephew absolutely loved it and my niece well could take it or leave it.
Getting him out of the plane was extremely difficult! I don't know if
they understood the "significance" of what they did, but it didn't
matter, they enjoyed it.

Really, kids do not know any better, and I believe it's the adults that
will instill the fear of flying.

Needless to say, I did set a "dangerous precedent" as now everytime I
fly down to see them, they want to take a ride my sister said. And my
answer to that, was whats the problem with that? *smile*.

Allen
  #9  
Old January 28th 04, 06:46 AM
Wyatt Emmerich
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My three kids fly all the time 5, 3 and 1. Mainly they get sleepy.


"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
nk.net...
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the
little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise).

Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it
difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc.

I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason
that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience
taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine
vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't
a great idea or not. TIA.



  #10  
Old January 28th 04, 08:01 AM
Brian Burger
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I took a friend, his wife, and their 5 year old son up last spring. The
kid sat in the back seat with his mom, and he loved it.

A fogbank cut the flight short, and I've been promising them a full length
sightseeing flight since. The kid's eager to go, but his mom is probably
going to bow out.

Aside from airsickness (I took extra bags!) I was most worried about the
kid chattering constantly over the intercom, because he talked non-stop on
the car ride out to the airport. I managed to impress the importance of
being quiet most of the time on him, though, and he was fine. Even asked
several times if it was OK to talk then...

(Along with 'no walking on the apron without holding an adult's hand',
because I could just picture him dashing off into another Cessna's
prop...)

I also took another friend & his 8 & 11 yr old kids up, and that was great
too. I've had more trouble from a few adult pax than the kids!

Brian.

 




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