Why I want to be a pilot

[freightpilot27]

“Why I Want To Be A Pilot”
(written by a 5th grader)

When I grow up I want to be a pilot
because it’s a fun job and easy to do. That’s
why there are so many pilots flying around
these days. Pilots don’t need much school.
They just have to learn to read numbers so they
can read their instruments. I guess they should
be able to read a road map, too. Pilots should
be brave so they won’t get scared if it’s foggy
and they can’t see, or if a wing or motor falls
off. Pilots have to have good eyes to see
through the clouds, and they can’t be afraid of
thunder or lighting because they are much
closer to them than we are. The salary pilot’s
make is another thing I like. They make more
money than they know what to do with. This is
because most people think that flying a plane is
dangerous, except pilots don’t because they
know how easy it is. I hope I don’t get airsick
because I get carsick and if I get airsick, I
couldn’t be a pilot and then I would have to go
to work.

[flyguy]

Re: Why I want to be a pilot

Precious.

Reminds me of a comment I once made when I was doing R & D in a fiber optics lab on a project for the Navy. I said, "If they ever found out how much fun I am having, they would stop paying me." I was an hourly worker at the time and I would actually clock out and then come back and work a few more hours off the clock, it was that interesting.
DC

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Why I want to be a pilot

Hmmm fiber optics , I always wanted a third eye on my middle finger, can we do that? Darryl do you have an idea on a fiber optic scope for under $250.00 that will go into the strut attach fitting , self illuminated , and look 90 degrees.... or camera or mirror or ????? then we may need the camera like they have for water lines to go into tubes and tubing clusters; now and in the future. ANY ideas are welcome.

[fredaustin]

Re: Why I want to be a pilot

I grew up in an aviation family and never really was that interested in learning to fly. I was to busy with hot rods and motorcycles. That is until I went to an air race in Arizona one day. I was 18 years old. The race was for stock airplanes a Meyers 200 won the race. I was sitting in the middle of the bleachers they had set up when Duane Cole took off in his Taylorcraft,
Right in front of where I was sitting he rolled upside down. He looked like he was only about ten feet in the air. For a minute I thought he was dead then he went into his airshow act ending with a 25 turn spin with the prop stoped. Landed with the prop still stoped and rolled up right in front of the bleachers. I was hooked right then and there it was the neatest thing I had ever seen. I didn't even care about watching the rest of the races. I just wanted to get home and learn to fly like that. I bought a PT22 for $1700 did some work on it and learned to fly. I flew it intil I had enough time for a commerical ticket never did learn to do any real aerobatics. But I did spend the next forty years makeing my living flying. They say there are some events in a persons life they never forget. Watching Duane Cole roll that Taylorcraft upside down that day years ago was a life changing event for me. And now I have a Taylorcraft of my own or at least a bunch of parts for one.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Why I want to be a pilot

Nice ! another "true believer" Duane was my hero too. I started doing the aerobatics at Airshows in 1963 in a stock BC12D, the finest was the 180 HP Clipped Taylorcraft.