Always thought it was just a joke, but...

I stuck my head in the cockpit of a Horizon Q400 one time to enquire if the pilots had trouble contacting SEA center from the ground at KPUW like I did. They replied that they had no more luck from the ground than I did. Useful information.
 
When I was learning to fly in 1991, as I was getting off an Alaska Airlines flight, I told the pilots that I was a student pilot and asked if I could shoot some video of the cockpit. The captain said sure, and invited me to sit in his seat while he videoed me. I was greatly impressed by his hospitality.

Years later during the arrival of a Reno Air flight into SJC, I thought I saw them make a short approach. As I was getting off the plane I asked the pilots if that's what it was, and they said it was, and that they saw the opportunity and took it. I thought it was cool, as I had not ridden in an airliner that had done one before.
 
In an unrelated "I can" schlep, back in the early 90s I traveled a lot, usually on flights that took off later in the evening, and the planes were never full. When checking in, I would tell the gate agent if they needed to make a W&B adjustment by moving passengers, I would happily volunteer to be seated in first class.

I was just being a smartazz, but to my surprise it worked about 25% of the time. I doubt I was the first one to use the line, but I always got at least a smile and a chuckle. :D
 
MacFly said:
Bah. To me, it would seem like the guy with the sports car that goes up to chat with the bus driver.
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Or like going up to a NASCAR team and asking them if they need a driver.
If you want to impress a stewardess, buy a Gulfstream and hire one for your private flights. I prefer the type Tony Stark had on his plane in original Ironman movie.
 
Shawn said:
I work in the entrainment and events industry and occasionally enjoy running the sound, lights, or video systems during the show where we use some pretty state of the art technology. Nothing is more annoying than the High School Theater Tech or Church A/V volunteer lurking over your shoulder that walks up to talk shop about their podunk system they have when you are trying to do your job since you are typically exposed to the audience. Occasionally get a nice person with legit questions which I genuinely do not mind but that is more rare than common.

I give the respect to professional pilots to not be "that guy" just cuz I fly a put put plane and this is their day job!
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I am the Church A/V volunteer, but I’m also pretty introverted in person so my go-to move at concerts and events was to literally lurk and watch to see what I could learn, but not say a word.

Now in the era of digital boards and YouTube tutorials, I’m mostly just looking to see if I know the guy running sound or lights from some of the church festivals I’ve done.

SkyChaser said:
See, some of us think jets are just as cool as our little planes - if it flys, it's pretty cool! ;) I've never actually visited the cockpit any of the four or five times I've flown commercially, but I've thought about it because it would be so neat to see. Once, a couple of years ago, when my flight was delayed for five or six hours, the whole flight crew came and waited in the terminal with the rest of us. The FO sat next to me, and I wish I'd been outgoing enough to say more than hello - there was plenty of time and the only thing I'd have been distracting anyone from was how slow the time was going by!
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I’ve been flying commercially since before I can remember and was invited into the cockpit a number of times as a kid. Also, Continental— err, now United have always brought a 737 to the local air show and let people sit up front and push buttons. Between the two I don’t really need another cockpit tour. If it’s convenient sometimes I’ll poke my head in and say some quick hello. One time the pilot for the air show display was local and had instructed at my club back in the day. We had a good discussion about what planes were still around and what they were charging these days. And if my kid is with me sometimes I’ll see if he can go visit, but he’s a little bit in the same boat I am— 5 years old and been in the cockpit 8 or 10 times by now.
 
I always look in the cockpit if I can, been invited in a couple times. I've never told the crew I could help if needed. Most of the time the pilots are busy doing their job, so I just do a quick look and move on. Sometimes they'll make small talk.

Since I've started back flying a few years ago, while flying the 22, I've been approached by corporate pilots at least three times on the ramp asking about the airplane. One guy was a G4 pilot who came over to me at Winston Salem, his co pilot followed him over, he wanted to check out the perspective avionics and asked a few questions. I was not familiar with the airport so I asked him where people did run ups here. He responded " Run up? What's a run up?" We all chuckled. He said he hadn't done a run up in years.

I also had a guy in a Citation call up while I was about to enter the pattern in Rockland ME. I reported my location and asked where he was, he told me and his speed. I told him I'd do a 360 so he could get in. He landed, I was on downwind, he called me up, thanked me and asked me how I liked the 22. I told him it wasn't as cool as a Citation, but it was a great plane. He said he was looking to buy one.

Finally, I had landed in Grand Canyon airport and a guy comes walking up with epaulets on his shoulder asking, "who's Cirrus is that?", I thought I had cut him off or something, so I said, "Well it's a rental, but I flew it in". He says, "Cool plane, I'm getting checked out in one tomorrow." He was flying a Caravan for Grand Canyon Airlines.

So I'm never bashful talking to pilots, I've never had one be a jerk to me, the one's I've encountered all share the same love of aviation as I do.
 
kayoh190 said:
That huge chip on your shoulder would make it hard to get through the cockpit door anyway. :)
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Oh relax :frown2: . It's not a skill thing. I admire airline pilots for the skill that they bring to their job just as I admire anyone who brings professionalism to their job. I'm just not interested in their job. My flying has nothing to do with their flying, nor do my airplanes have anything to do with theirs.
 
MacFly said:
....My flying has nothing to do with their flying, nor do my airplanes have anything to do with theirs.
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you fly in the same airspace as them, don't you? so, your flying has s o m e t h i n g to do with theirs, at the very least......
 
MooneyDriver78 said:
Or like going up to a NASCAR team and asking them if they need a driver.
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This might not be too surprising, but that happens more than you would think.

In the very short time I was a NASCAR pit crew member, the office fielded phone calls every day from folks trying to find a job from floor sweeper to driver.
 
I always take a peek as I get on to see if I know the pilots. There's several former A-10 pilots that I know that fly commercial now.
 
MacFly said:
Oh relax :frown2: . It's not a skill thing. I admire airline pilots for the skill that they bring to their job just as I admire anyone who brings professionalism to their job. I'm just not interested in their job. My flying has nothing to do with their flying, nor do my airplanes have anything to do with theirs.
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I didn't take it as a knock on airline pilot skill, but it seems like such an oddball position for a member of a GA enthusiast board that I figured there's a background story we're all missing. IMO it's not about the job it's about the flying machine. I don't need to be interested in being an EMS helicopter pilot to answer "Hell. YES." if @Velocity173 ever offered to let me sit in his work bird. From a 747 to a Piper Cherokee, as a pilot nerd it's hard to imagine sitting in the back of an airplane and not being at least a little curious about the panel.
 
Sometimes I pull up Foreflight on my iphone to try and guess what their clearance was. I have to stick it up close to the window to get decent reception. Wound up having a few interesting conversations with seat-mates as a result. Never had a DH for a seat-mate. But, a corporate pilot, and a couple of ex military pilots (one who was amazed with the new-fangled technology).
 
SkyChaser said:
See, some of us think jets are just as cool as our little planes - if it flys, it's pretty cool! ;)
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Exactly. From hot air balloons to the Dragon spacecraft, if it flies it's cool.

I was waiting for a flight out of DFW one afternoon (incoming flight was late) and got into a casual conversation with the captain for my flight. He mentioned he was retiring in a month, and I asked what his plans were. He told me he would be doing a little flight instruction once in a while, mostly in 172s, and he added how much he enjoyed flying small, simple planes after so long in the airliners. I was a sport pilot at the time, and told him I was renting a Tecnam LSA. We talked planes, airports, groused about FAA medicals, etc. until he had to board.

Pilots are pilots. Most fly because they enjoy it, even those getting paid to do it. And most of them like to talk about flying.

Heck, I've talked about 172s with Story Musgrave and about Cherokees with Burt Rutan. They're both still in love with flying.
 
steingar said:
I've walked up front on airliners to chat up the pilots. I've only done it when the flight was delayed and we were just sitting, never in flight. The pilots all looked like fresh faced kids.
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I wandered up front one time during a delay for lav malfunction. After recounting an issue with a “river of s*it down the aisle” somewhere over Iceland, the captain actually said “I can’t believe anyone still flys this airline...”
 
dans2992 said:
I wandered up front one time during a delay for lav malfunction. After recounting an issue with a “river of s*it down the aisle” somewhere over Iceland, the captain actually said “I can’t believe anyone still flys this airline...”
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Eastern?
 
Was at Austin Exec last weekend (KEDC), there were aircraft all over the ramp, and all expensive jets ... I land and park myself as they are busy. Barely climb out and still need to put on canopy cover, gust locks, chocks etc. and I end up with 6 or 7 of the jet guys all hanging out checking out my ride instead of the other way around. I imagine them saying,"can't believe that little thing flies and can go 200 MPH":confused::p
 
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danhagan said:
Was at Austin Exec last weekend (KEDC), there were aircraft all over the ramp, and all expensive jets ... I land and park myself as they are busy. Barley climb out and still need to put on canopy cover, gust locks, chocks etc. and I end up with 6 or 7 of the jet guys all hanging out checking out my ride instead of the other way around. I imagine them saying,"can't believe that little thing flies and can go 200 MPH":confused::p
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What? A bus driver can't admire the sports car that pulls into the space next to him?
 
Just like the guys who carry, or worse yet wear exposed, their "ofishul" concealed carry GOLD PLATED Badge....

Sigh

fly to the scene of the incident, or be recovered at the scene of the tragedy
 
MacFly said:
Oh relax :frown2: . It's not a skill thing. I admire airline pilots for the skill that they bring to their job just as I admire anyone who brings professionalism to their job. I'm just not interested in their job. My flying has nothing to do with their flying, nor do my airplanes have anything to do with theirs.
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Those poor "bus drivers" may fly the same airplane as you do on their days off, so you may have more in common than you think, but sounds like you can't be bothered to stoop to their level.
 
kayoh190 said:
I didn't take it as a knock on airline pilot skill, but it seems like such an oddball position for a member of a GA enthusiast board that I figured there's a background story we're all missing. IMO it's not about the job it's about the flying machine. I don't need to be interested in being an EMS helicopter pilot to answer "Hell. YES." if @Velocity173 ever offered to let me sit in his work bird. From a 747 to a Piper Cherokee, as a pilot nerd it's hard to imagine sitting in the back of an airplane and not being at least a little curious about the panel.
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You’d say “how do you fit in this thing.” Everyone says that. Wish I could put the controls in and let ya fly it. You’d have fun. Couple nights ago I said the same thing to my med crew. It’s annual check ride time and my hydraulics off landing was less than stellar and believe me, they let me know about it when we got back. I wish we allowed each of them a few minutes up front on the controls. They’d never again complain about my landings. ;)

I agree, for the most part we choose type aircraft that fits our personality. For me, it’s about the freedom and flexibility of single pilot flying but I can also understand those that yearn for the power of flying an airliner, the travel and the responsibility of hundreds of lives in your hands. As an old company friend of mine said when he went back to his regional, “Flying the 407 just doesn’t cut it for me.” I get that but it’s a good fit for me though.

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My last commercial flight I was on I was wearing an Oshkosh shirt. While boarding an FA asked if I'm a pilot and said I am. She then let me know that we are boarding a brand new first revenue generating flight for this airbus and then asked if I would like to go see the cockpit. There was a line of people around me so I declined, but she knew I could help if needed from that point on. Otherwise I never speak of being a pilot when I'm flying commercial, I figure they don't give a rip and the last thing they want to do is entertain some nut job.
 
simtech said:
My last commercial flight I was on I was wearing an Oshkosh shirt. While boarding an FA asked if I'm a pilot and said I am. She then let me know that we are boarding a brand new first revenue generating flight for this airbus and then asked if I would like to go see the cockpit. There was a line of people around me so I declined, but she knew I could help if needed from that point on. Otherwise I never speak of being a pilot when I'm flying commercial, I figure they don't give a rip and the last thing they want to do is entertain some nut job.
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Screw the other people, I would have done the tour.
 
This is right up there with people who want to land at Class B airfields so they can mingle with "the big iron."

<-- rolls eyes and shakes head.
 
...or "the big aluminum"?
 
Ryanb said:
I’m sure we’ve all done that at some point.
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I've snuck a quick peek but I would feel like I was bothering them if I tried to chat with the pilots.
 
The best cockpit visit I’ve ever pulled off was frontier with the FA rattling off the things available at extra charge for this and extra charge for that and on and on. My friend Mike is a captain with Frontier and I told my wife “next time I see Mike I’m going to give him an earful about all the extra charges for everything”. Next thing I know is “Welcome to flight xxx ...” from the cockpit and it’s Mike. I ask the FA if I have time to step up and say hi. The door was still open so she said sure.
At the cockpit door I asked “how much extra for a picture with the captain?” I could see him cringe until he turned and recognized me. He jumped up and said “Here! Take my seat and help this guy out (pointing to the FO). Gimme that phone!”

a78dc8a77f596352622376784d8c1776.jpg
 
I greatly enjoyed my Cape Air flight which was on a 404 (?).. I was surprised how low tech the cockpit was.. the 430 was the most hight tech thing up there!

Machines are cool.. on a Valentine's dinner cruise I couldn't help but peek into the bridge. Planes are no different
 
Tantalum said:
I greatly enjoyed my Cape Air flight which was on a 404 (?).. I was surprised how low tech the cockpit was.. the 430 was the most hight tech thing up there!

Machines are cool.. on a Valentine's dinner cruise I couldn't help but peek into the bridge. Planes are no different
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*402. Being replaced by Tecnam P2012's.
 
This is my seat time in a Falcon 900, of course I happened to be related to the chief of the flight department, so he was happy to open up several of their Falcons and turn on the power cart to show me the basics.

I told him if he needs a right-seater who is in no way qualified, he could call me up.
e4333c3853f2d969f1f3c7a16bb5380e.jpg
 
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