By LORAN MALONEY
When my non-flying friends would bring up the matter of my flying for hours to some other airport for a $100 hamburger, I would be mildly embarrassed. As we all know, a similar hamburger can be purchased at a restaurant near the departure airport for $10. Then I discovered I was asking the wrong question.
The question is not “do I have a good excuse to fly?” The correct question is “do I have a good, solid, verifiable reason not to fly?”
There are many solid reasons not to fly — for example, I have to work, dangerous weather, chores around the house that cannot be put off, and my plane is in annual, just to name a few.
But on those occasions when you do have the opportunity to fly, ask yourself whether you have any solid reason not to fly. If the answer is no, then drive to the airport. Figure out where to fly after you get there.
I fly for fun, not to eat. Ever fly to an airport to visit a neat aviation museum? I sometimes fly to another airport just to land and take off there. I have had many fun and memorable flights to airports with no facilities at all.
The fun is in the flying. Always ask yourself the correct question: Is there a good, solid reason for me not to fly? If no, go to the airport and fly.
When people find out I’m a private pilot and then ask where do I go when I fly, I tell them “Up!” 🙂
To fly or not to fly? People who do not fly in GA, have miss one of the greatest thrills, that has dominated my thought since my first flight in 1956-1957 over the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentuck, in a 108, Stinson Station-wagon, I knew then that I would learn to fly. Took my first lesson in 1963, PPL in 1966. I have been flying or thinking about flying since. At 78 years old, I am building my second Experimental Aircraft. I have no guilt about the time I have spent flying or building airplanes.
A small, but beautiful and nicely exposition of a matter that has been, so many times, elaborated in wrong terms, but, in the end, shows the acuteness of Your point of view. Congrats.
Nicely put….
Good on you Loran. I feel the same way. If there is a chance to fly, I fly. Life is a very short journey – why waste it?
Then there’s the people who talk themselves out of flying because they feel “guilty” while others are suffering during the pandemic. It’s self-imposed psychological lunacy. One ought to feel guilty if they DON’T go flying!
+1