Introduced a friend to Aviation...had a blast

RyanB

RyanB

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This afternoon i was able to introduce a friend to aviation by giving him his first flight in a small airplane. He was thrilled and loved it. One of the biggest things I love is being able to share aviation with people that have never been flying before, and I am happy i was the one to give him an airplane ride. A good experience for both! Any stories of an experience like this?
 
Ryanb said:
This afternoon i was able to introduce a friend to aviation by giving him his first flight in a small airplane. He was thrilled and loved it. One of the biggest things I love is being able to share aviation with people that have never been flying before, and I am happy i was the one to give him an airplane ride. A good experience for both! Any stories of an experience like this?
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Many such experiences in my 38 years as a pilot. Quite a few years ago I counted up 100 who had flown with me. It's probably over 200 by now. Only 2 wanted back on the ground immediately. I connected with one guy years later who said his flight with me inspired him to learn to fly. Often I connect with old acquaintances on facebook etc that tell me of flights they took with me, that I had forgotten about. Flying is definitely a thing that memories are made of.
 
Awesome! I recently took my nephew and his mom up for a flight. It was mom's first time and the nephews second time. I hooked the gopro up and had it facing us. Watching the video, right at rotation you can see the biggest grins take over both of them. Truly a great moment and glad I was able to share it with them!
 
simtech said:
right at rotation you can see the biggest grins take over both of them. Truly a great moment and glad I was able to share it with them!
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Its great, I love to see people enjoy it!
 
I have two stories like this. When I first started flying I thought I would never be able to get my wife into a GA aircraft. After I soloed she decided that she should experience flying as It would be a waste of money if she didn't learn to like it. She got into the airplane with my instructor and I and loved it. She kept commenting on how much room there was. Now she prefers to fly in the 172. No security lines to hustle through and we fly on our schedule.

Earlier this summer my sister-in-law told me she would like to go fly with me. We arrived at the airport and started preflighting. I could tell she was nervous. We went over how to open the doors and operate the seatbelt. As we are taxi to the run-up she tells me that she really hates landing and take-off. As I am doing the run-up I go over the instruments as well as some things to combat motion sickness. We take off and after we are about 2000ft AGL she makes a comment about how great of a take off we had. She loved the view. We are on short final and she told me it is a little weird to see the runway. It ended up being my best landing I have ever had. Greaser didn't even describe it. I honestly was not sure we had touched down. I add arrow dynamic breaking. We stop, back taxi to the taxi way. I look over and she is just beaming. I have to say that in that moment, I was quite proud of myself. I am not sure I could duplicate that landing.
 
Do it all the time between Young Eagles and Eagle Flights for EAA.
 
Took two good friends flying last Friday. One of the friends has a huge fear of flying but managed to get in the plane and go. He commented that it was a shame flying was so scary because it sure was pretty! (It made it better that we were flying to Athens and he went to UGA). We had lunch then flew home. He did great and is up for more trips in the future. My other friend asked all sorts of questions and grabbed my CFI's business card when we left the airport. Maybe another pilot in the making.
 
My sister would never go up with me when I had my PPL. The day after I got my IR I asked her if she wanted to go flying. The ceilings were 500 overcast and it was a solid IFR day and I was shocked that she actually said yes! She wouldn't go up with me on the clearest days but when it was a rainy, low ceiling IFR day she finally decided to go and loved it.
 
Congrats! I've only had my PPL a year and a half...but I've taken 5 people up that have never been before (well, 8 if you count my 3 boys). They all have loved it...including my sister-in-law who thought I was insane flying an airplane...I was going to kill myself, etc... She finally decided to conquer her fear of flying with me (she flies commercial but hates every second of it...). Since her first flight, we've been on 2 other long trips together and SHE is planning a third. :)

Here's a video I recorded of her first flight...the look of pure terror on her face in the beginning. My favorite part is the sigh of relief when we are on the ground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3LE0llqH8Q
 
I love giving first flights.. I became very popular after getting my PPL :goofy:

I have given rides to about 40 new people (not counting family) in the last year alone and 30 of them have never been in an airplane..

I love it !
 
I make not in my log book who I take flying with me on that particular flying. If they had a bad experience I make note of that as well. I haven't taken may Pax up with me yet.
 
I gave my first ride to a friend right after my checkride yesterday. He loved it. #1 down. Now, on to others. :)
 
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