I’ve given first rides to kids who are now professional aviators. It’s a VERY AWESOME thing to experience….
Conversely, I remember going to an airshow when I was 11. The blues were performing, I knew all about them, knew what I wanted to do, was busily bragging to my buddy who we took to the show, Ryan.
I found a navy a-7 with a ladder, a navy pilot up there talking, stomped up so wanting to be that guy I could hardly breathe.
I was 11, couldn’t think of a single intelligent question, I could hardly breathe… this guy was an ASS. All I could do after that was tell myself, when I get to be on that ladder at an airshow, I’m NOT gonna be him.
The story continues… I’m the guy on a ladder so to speak. I see a big and little set of legs on the other side of the jet. I walk around… now they’re on the other side. Round and round, damn if they aren’t avoiding me! I pop UNDER and catch them, ha!
Was a young Mexican father with his 5 or 6 yr old. He was clearly horrified I “caught” them. The kid sees me, smiles and grabs the fin of my drop tank and asks, is this a bomb?!!!!
Dad is mortified and tries to take the kid. I beat him to the kid, pick him up and set his feet on the fin (which has non skid, it’s how we board the jet on the road). Say nope, it’s a gas tank. You can walk around on it. But it’s where a bomb would go, we launch into a great discussion.
Dad comes to the realization I was NOT upset his kid wanted to experience all he could, and I was gonna help! A slow but huge smile comes over his face as me and his kid basically preflight… was awesome.
Back to your regularly scheduled thread!!