Why I believe Pilots are very special people.
Here is an interesting conversation starter for you to try some day. When you are seated at a table with several people ask “What did you love to do, or dream of doing when you were 10 to 14 years old? The answers you get might surprise you. Several years ago I was seated at a table of about 10 people when someone asked that question. The question is unique because when we were that age we didn’t think about how to make a living and other “necessary” duties of life. Back then, first and foremost, we were pursuing our dreams and followed our heart. For most of us our passion was well known.

As those of us at the table thought about and described what we loved back then, one person at the table couldn’t answer the question and she was obviously upset that she didn’t know. About the time that everyone answered the question she suddenly remembered and shouted out “I KNOW, I KNOW I REMEMBER!” Everyone was shocked by her response. She said “I wanted to throw pots.” What just occurred was a simple re-connection she had with herself in front of us all. She went on to say “I am going to sign up for pottery classes!” She was holding back tears. The rest of us at the table witnessed something rare, she discovered a missing part of herself and we all felt her joy.

I have found that, more often than not, if that question is asked of a pilot the answer is immediate and predictable. You see, we as pilots never lost the passion we first felt as far back as grade school. As for myself, building model airplanes was one of those passions. I even built a giant wing (in the 8th grade) and jumped off the roof of my house Yes, I experienced my first crash (without injury other than a bruised ego), it would be 6 years later that I had my 2nd crash. This time it was in a hang glider (and a broken arm). But the Passion for flight remained. My point here is that my love for flight never changed. I’m 62 years old in February and I am fully aware that there is a 14 year old boy that is very much alive and well in me as much today as back then in 1968. My belief is that I am not at all unique among us in our EAA family. I feel that same passionate spirit in everyone in our group and what is fun to see is no matter what age we may be, we seem to have the same youthful spirit for flight, and that is just about as good as it gets.

Happy landings,