Joe,
I have 4 airports all about 12 miles away from me in three different directions. In less than 18 minutes I can get from my house to any one of those airports on any morning. I alternate going to each of those airports a different one each day for a 30-45 minute walk around the flight line or in the case of a TSA security zone, walk outside the gate and visit the two or three FBO's for free coffee and cookies chat up the gals in the office meet other aviators in the pilots lounges.
About once a week I go to my air field just to sweep the hangar, clean the plane from dust, ad water and beer to the cooler. Check to see if the tools are rusting and need greasing. Fly the airplane for 45 minutes or so.
I go to as many Sun N Fun's and other fly ins as reasonably possible. I try and arrange to meet other AOPA and forum members from across the country that I might know only through their logon avatar. My brother got me into aviation so we often fly at least one 'brother trip' a year where we go to Florida, NYC, California and Savannah, GA we also do the International Comanche Society fly-ins and meet other Comanche owners. Our mid-western Tribe meets almost every weekend that has non severe weather.
At first after getting my student lic., I subscribed to at least three airplane magazines, soon friends and family gave me mag subscriptions as x-mas and birthday gifts. I logon here to chat and argue with fellow aviators, airplane owners and friends.
If you put a "I'd rather be flying" sticker in your car other aviators may come up to you and start a conversation. On weekends I often wear one of my AOPA or ICS shirts that have my Tail Sign embroidered on it and I might meet someone at Home Depot or Lowes who is a pilot.
At my company/office I have photos of my planes and people will bring up the airplanes and ask if I am pilot so we can talk about that.
You can fly your plane to small local fly ins and chat with other pilots or the people who come to those fly ins to see the airplanes and talk about your plane and experiences. Even if you bring a rental it makes for a nice few hours.
You might consider pilots and paws donate flights paid by you to move dogs that might be euthanized to areas where they are adopted. when you get IFR and 300 hrs you might be able to fly Angel flights where you move patience and families of same to get critical care.
There is at least one VET organization which helps vets and active service members get around the country once they get back to stateside saving them costs of tickets.
Many others achieve PPL and then on to IFR and then Commercial and CFI and CFII or even ATP. Not as a requirement of a job but for self satisfaction and to perfect their skill.
When I travel across country for winter vacation or summer vacations I usually try and look up someone local while I am there (that I meet on forums like this). It is a neat way to put a face behind a avatar.
Your level of time, expense and commitment is completely up to you.
Good Luck Joe.
Hey guys,
So being from a non-aviation family and not having any aviation interested friends... I find myself counting the days until each lesson in order to get some social interaction with actual people who share my love.
What are some ways that you guys bring more of the aviation culture into your lives? What sort of cool things can I do to help surround myself with more like-minded people? I really want to surround myself with more people who are passionate about this, and hear less about how I am spending way too much money and risking my life....
