Why do people fly?

Well, it's probably the most fun I've had with my clothes on, so there is that.

Not to mention a practical method of transportation for many trips. Flew from Tampa area to Key West in a little over an hour about a month ago, alternatives being a 7 hour drive or 2ish hour drive + 3.5 hour ferry (and all related hassles). And Tampa to Boston and back might have taken longer and been more expensive than an airline ticket but sure as heck beats that hassle and especially that long of a drive.
 
Be grounded due to Cancer in my case or any other reason and you can’t wait to be back in the air…Kid just bought a 180 so heading to Alaska soon to catch a ride…guess her time in our Decathlon made her a real aviator.
 
Clip4 said:
Honestly, if you look at all the rules and every thing you have to know and learn today I am shocked anyone does it.
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I may be odd, but i never found it particularly challenging. Hardest part for me was suffering thru hours of lessons with my instructors.
 
Because every time I heard an airplane, I'd stop and look at the airplane. It didn't matter what else might be going on, and it was since I remember looking at anything.
Because I knew I'd regret it if I didn't try it.
Because after my first flight actually flying, I was still smiling about 2 hours later.
Because I don't know many things more fun than looking out the left window, right foot on the floor, stick left, power to idle, coming in for a landing.
Because I don't know many things more cool or beautiful than flying through the valleys around here, in any season.
Because flying gives me a perspective that I didn't have before. It expands my sense of what reality is.
Because it reminds me of how lucky I am - and it is luck not talent - that I'm in a spot in time and space where flying is possible.
Because I can.
 
Mainly I fly because I enjoy it.

From a more practical standpoint, I figure that for a weekend trip you don't want to travel more than 3 hours each way. For a car, that is about 150 road miles each way. In my plane, I can do Maine or Georgia in a 3 hour flight from home.
 
I never wanted to be a pilot. I had no interest in learning how to fly. But in 1967, after graduating from college, I was going to be drafted into the Army, at the height of the war, and that did not appeal to me much. I accidentally met an Air Force recruiter, and he talked me into signing up to become a pilot.

For most people, once you are infected, you cannot quit. Although I did meet a fellow C-130 pilot 14 years after we had both left the Air Force, and was astounded that he never flew again.
 
luvflyin said:
Be interesting to see the numbers on how many start and follow through compared to those who don’t continue nowadays compared to some date in the past. What would be a good date. How about when alphabet soup airspace was invented.
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I think you will find the number of people who complete training about the same for aviation and scuba. A lot of people complete the training and a year later >50% are no longer active.
 
Clip4 said:
I think you will find the number of people who complete training about the same for aviation and scuba. A lot of people complete the training and a year later >50% are no longer active.
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I suspect far more complete scuba training, as it is not as difficult as learning to fly and can be completed in a lot shorter time. As a long time CFI (and a certified scuba diver) I have witnessed a very high dropout rate among student pilots.
 
How long would it take to golf, scuba, waterski, snowboard, dressage, or pickleball from North Dakota to Arizona? Those are all hobbies that people spend more on than I do on flying. Flying is an insane hobby but at least it has some practical use.
 
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