A question I'm often asked by family, friends, work colleagues etc. is "What's it like to fly?". I suppose I could sum
it up by saying "bloody amazing" but that's a tad simplistic. I'm always stuck by how to answer this question because, to
be honest, I've never thought about it much, I just enjoy it I suppose. So I'll try and answer it as well as I can here.
DISCLAIMER: This is a personal answer, written from my own perspective. Others may disagree or find their own experience different;
that's fine but just to make it clear this is from my own view.
BECOMING A PILOT
How to you become a pilot then? Well, obviously you need lessons. But there's a bit more to it than that. Let me elaborate.
Many people take up flying lessons then give up half-way through. Why this happens I don't understand but there's a reason:
they aren't committed enough. Ask yourself the question: Am I willing to commit a lot of time, money and effort into this?
If you can't answer "Yes" then there's not much point. You have to "want" to do it, and you can't do it half-arsed.
Also, you'l need a bit of money. Quite a bit. Most flying clubs/schools in the UK charge anything between £130 and £170
per flying hour for instruction, some not including any landing fees. So save up! I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my
mouth nor am I paid an astronomical wage, but I was able to do it by saving up. Don't waste your £££s on crap like booze,
fags, flash cars and designer clothes. You don't exactly have to live like a hermit but don't throw it away is what I'm
saying.
So, we've established that we need commitment, and money, which for arguments sake we have both. What next?
Do a bit of research. T'Internet, books, magazines... find out what flying clubs are near you, get in contact with them
or give them a visit and ask questions. Have a trial flight and see how you get on.
BEING A PILOT
Right, now to get back to the original question... "What's it like?".
This can go one of two ways; if you love flying and aviation, then it's brilliant and it's the best thing in the world.
If you're not fussed about flying (i.e. a bit indifferent) then you'll probably find it crushingly boring. Easy.
Peronally, I love the flying. I love the feeling of flight, the freedom and the feeling that I'm doing something I
feel is natural to me, it's something I've always wanted to do. I can't really explain it because it's a personal thing, very
deep down. But it's something I love more than anything else.
Also, I love aeroplanes. They're interesting; learning about how everything works together. Like I love cars, and guitars.
It's an interest; a hobby. And I take great interest in that.
The travel is great too. In a car you are restricted by where you can go and how fast, but not in the air. Put this way; A
journey which might take an hour by road might only take 15-20 minutes by air. And it's much more enjoyable.
A comment I often get casted up to me is "You must be brave to fly alone". Nope! Anyone who knows me knows brave I most
certainly am not. I'm not a wimp but I'm not brave either! Is driving a car alone "brave"? Or walking down the street alone?
Military pilots are brave for flying at 400 Knots at treetop height facing a barrage of AAA and SAMs whilst trying to deliver
tactical weaponry, but not me. Cruising at 100 Knots in a Piper Cherokee at 3000 feet over East Lothian isn't a fair comparison.
It's an interesting and enjoyable hobby, and you learn a lot from it. I learned a lot about my own abilities that I was
not aware of. It also taught me about being mature and responsible, and being able to plan things properly, considering various
"what-if"s. It taught me a lot about life in general, and how lovely our world is, and how our weather works. And a whole
load of other stuff for that matter. In short, you don't just learn to fly, you learn about life as a whole.
Go out there and enjoy it.
