Why do some people like to fly?

[Rebecca]

Monica's sticky on flight anxiety, where she offers the technique of turning a negative into a positive, has stuck with me. (Is that why you call them stickies??) I'm using it to get ready for my first flight with my newly-licensed husband ... trying to give myself a different view of the fearful issue itself.

In one post, Barb wrote that I could encourage my husband to take more training (the part about aerobatics was PROBABLY in jest!!), but then she wrote, "It's all flying ... and all good for body and soul."

That resonates with me ... SOMETHING is making its way to my consciousness in this whole process, and I think it might have something to do with an element of enjoyment in the very thing I fear ... please don't strawberry me!!!http://takingflight.us/forums/images/smilies/duck.gif

So...why do some people LIKE to fly? I am NOT talking about those people who seem to fly hither and yon without even registering that they're not in their easy chair at home.

I am wondering about the small plane pilots here, and Ray, or people we know that actually LIKE to fly. http://takingflight.us/forums/images/smilies/nod.gif

Why do they like flying? What are the POSITIVES to them about flying? How do they FEEL when they're enjoying the flying?

Perhaps understanding more about that would be a tool for turning around some of the fear ...I don't expect the fear will be transformed to enjoyment, but more little windows could open.

[spleisher]

Hate to answer your question with a link to another thread, but this one was pretty good in response to your question:

http://www.takingflight.us/forums/showthread.php?t=2280&highlight=freedom

[Rebecca]

Wow! Should have known you guys would have covered this ... I'll be studying THAT thread for a good while!!!

:read: Thanks!!!

[WillFlyToDisney]

Rebecca,

You can also look at it from a passenger's perspective. Why do passengers love to fly? To see the world, to visit loved ones, to do their job.

Flying allows us all the opportunities to experience the world!

Kelley

[tabbygirl]

Before my FOF reared its ugly head in 1978, I loved flying. I loved so many things: the excitement of going somewhere, the astonishing views....but what I particularly loved - and continued to love, even when I was terrified in later years - was what I think of as the "time travel" factor. You get in what feels like a building, you sit down for a couple of hours, and you get out to find yourself in another place and maybe even another time (zone!). I guess the reason this seems so amazing to me is that you don't go through the transitional process of, say, traveling in a car or bus. You don't feel yourself drive through different climates, for example.

I get this feeling a little bit on a train, too, though it's more like driving in that it takes FOREVER (but it's pretty wild to fall asleep somewhere in Washington, then open your eyes in the middle of the night to find yourself gazing out at a moonlit, snowy forest in Oregon - or at Mount Shasta at sunrise), but it's so pronounced on a plane. It's like magic to me.

Last trip, I left Seattle on a barely-light Seattle morning (43 degrees) and stepped off the plane in Phoenix amidst a blast of bright, hot sunshine! HEAVEN!!

I'm looking forward so much to my next trip, which will be Seattle-Amsterdam-Athens. I can't even imagine falling asleep, then waking up in the Netherlands. I suppose this will all become old hat after awhile, but I hope not! Even in my most terrified FOF days, I still loved the "magic" factor.

Angela

[aerobat]

I think that for some of us, a passion for flying arises out of the detritus of our fear of it as we recover. This transformation of fear into passion was quite dramatic for me. I still have the notes I made on my fifth flight after having been grounded for 13 years. I was on my way to Seattle and then Vancouver, via Denver and Portland, to see old and dear friends. I was keeping an 'anxiety log' to be shared with a therapist after my return, and wearing a heart rate monitor with stored memory that was synched with my notes (and the HRM readout showed arousal, that's fer sure). My log was filled with hyperbole about how beautiful it all was, and how miraculous it was that I could love to be up there. I saw my first sundog and just about flipped. I could hardly contain it; my mirth and appreciation for flying bubbled out of me as from a shaken-up, just-opened bottle of champagne. I remained in this state for several months and I was absolutely moochy to fly. I managed to get on an airliner an average of once a week, and if I didn't get my "fix" I started to go into withdrawal...not kidding. I needed to be up there...not only was it the place where the best anti-phobic work was accomplished, but it was a beautiful affirmation of triumph and success and deserved pride. It centered me to fly; it kept me focused on the "still point" amid the emotional tidal wave that was roaring through my life as I busted through the fear.

It's no longer a tidal wave. But I still love to be up there as a passenger. Hundreds of commercial flights later, I see that that love is not going away. Of course, most of the flights I take are to pleasurable destinations--trips to see family and friends, or to attend academic conferences and workshops or to lead archaeology tours...and then there was that hoo-hah trip to Hollywood last April :tongue: that y'all know about, and the wonderful camp reunion in Idaho in August :happyguy: . In all cases, flying has been much more than just the means to get there; it enhances the pleasure and delight of the journey. It is part of the "rightness of it all".

Who knows how it would have been if I had not had and overcome a fear of flying. I am sure I would still be appreciating the geographer's paradise and to a lesser degree, the technological wonder of it...but I have to question whether I would have become a pilot had I not gone through this metamorphosis. It was that tidal wave that carried me into flight training, certification, aerobatics and all the rest. I don't know that I would have gotten around to it as a "normal".

[tabbygirl]

There definitely is a "high" for me, too, since the old days of fright. I recall getting off the plane after my first post-fear flight and basically wanting to dance a jig out to the parking lot. I was just jazzed! I'd kind of forgotten that; it was good to feel the old "magic" of my prefear days but there was also the huge added dimension of having conquered my fears and getting back into the air. It was certainly a feeling I'd never have known without having had the sheer terror I knew for so many years.

Angela

Rats, I'm not flying again until MAY!

[EyesSkyward]

As far as why I love to fly commercial, as a passenger, I'd agree with TabbyGirl. The fact that I can get from here to Las Vegas in just several hours, instead of several days, is as cool as "the other side of the pillow". :cool: We take it for granted, but if you mentioned this to someone from 100 years ago, they'd be absolutely astounded and think you were the luckiest person in the world!

Now, as far as why I love to fly as a pilot, well...

First of all, it's the view. Plain and simple. It's just amazing to look over the nose and see that sky, and that earth. Yeah, you can see this from your passenger seat on a airliner, but to see it from behind the yoke is really something else.

But also, it's the challenge. Piloting an aircraft is fulfilling to both mind and soul. I think Lindbergh said it pretty well:


Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Aviation combined all the elements I loved. There was science in each curve of an airfoil, in each angle between strut and wire, in the gap of a spark plug or the color of the exhaust flame. There was freedom in the unlimited horizon, on the open fields where one landed. A pilot was surrounded by beauty of earth and sky. He brushed treetops with the birds, leapt valleys and rivers, explored the cloud canyons he had gazed at as a child. Adventure lay in each puff of wind.

And if that doesn't make you want to start taking flying lessons, maybe this (http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/hiflight.htm)will.

:airplane:

- Jeff

[Rebecca]

Reading the thread Scott referred me to, and the posts on this one, I'm really feeling like a lot is falling into place ... they represent the BLENDING of fear and excitement, and a spiritual element too, all of which put together really represents the whole picture of who we are ...

Barb wrote: I think that for some of us, a passion for flying arises out of the detritus of our fear of it as we recover. Maybe fear masks the joy and passion, weighs it down ... as my fear begins to lift, the passion is right behind it, fighting to get out after all these years.http://takingflight.us/forums/images/smilies/boxer.gif I'm gawking at planes, talking about them too much, asking too many questions ...

I must welcome this. See where it takes me.

Perhaps to "the high untrespassed sanctity of space ..."

Oh, thank you, I think.

http://takingflight.us/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif

[aerobat]

Rebecca, I just sent you a private message!! :) Barb

[kari]

When you've seen the Eiffel Tower without ever having had the trauma of setting foot in France in your life, you know that you could fly all day and be happy about it.

I have always loved to fly. In fact, that's one of the reasons I'm here - I figure that if you could only see what I see then fear would be a thing of the past. Something about flying has always amazed me: the massive product of human engineering, even just the airport where you hand over your bags and they magically turn up in the right place on the other side of the world (even after the time they didn't!). I've always loved it. When I was much smaller (say 5) I wanted to be a pilot. So, why am I here not-being-a-real-pilot and with a somewhat embarrassing logbook? I thought girls weren't allowed. Now, where's that dang violin?! :violin: *eee eee eeeeeeeee poor wittle meeee!* Okay you can stop crying into your beer now.

As for the logbook, it looks set to remain 'somewhat embarrassing' for the next few months, owing to there being not enough days in the week. If I get elected, I'm going to add an eighth day to the week, between Wednesday and Thursday, called Flyday. That is happiness.

[flightwise]

Jeff and Rebecca,

I think the quotes from those who get real joy and passion from flying are probably some of the best things a fearful flyer can hear.

Hearing from others who've overcome their fear - or bravely in the midst of it but clearly determined to succeed - offers great modelling.

But hearing others' passion takes it to another plane altogether :eek:.

When I was contemplating going for my PPL, the book that was most recommended and which I enjoyed thoroughly was William Langewiesche's "Inside the Sky: A Meditation on Flight". William is the son of Wolfgang, who wrote the legendary "Stick and Rudder" book on the principles of flight more than 50 years ago.

William's book was reviewed by the New York Times here:
<http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/06/28/reviews/980628.28gainest.html>
and will surely ignite a passion for flying if you are ready for it. And it will also warn against believing you can totally control your world. (Remember the dangers of kitchens!)

It is highly recommended as an insight into the flyer's mind and world.

Les

[kallieb]

I think the quotes from those who get real joy and passion from flying are probably some of the best things a fearful flyer can hear
That's a good way to sum it up Les. I couldn't agree more. Speed of getting to one's destination is certainly a great motivator. Also not disappointing family members, not missing out on opportunities, etc etc.

But....

What has really *hooked* me/kept me moving forward in acheiving comfortable flight, is that it is so d@mn beautiful up there. I like to call it my million dollar view. And no photo or tv shot or any other third-party media form can replace the sheer wonder of seeing it for myself.

That is why I love to fly. That, and to feel pride in myself that I kicked a 25 year old monster off my back.

[WillFlyToDisney]

Kallie did the monster look like this? :troll:

[aerobat]

dunno 'bout Kallie's monster, but my monster looked like this! :eek:

[kallieb]

You two are just plain funny!!! Kelley, thanks for the dancing hairy dude smiley, he just has the groove don't you think! And the blob...well, need I say more!

Ahhhhh, aren't B movies grand!

[flightwise]

It's such a pity that I can no longer organise for people to visit the flight deck, even in relatively safe Australia, post 9/11.

There was a time when clients would sit enthralled by the views from the flightdeck, watching the crew calmly go about their business, with me crossing fingers that the crew would allow us both to stay for the landing.

When it was allowed, I went into a different mode, strapping the client into the jumpseat harness, discussing "sterile" flying below 10,000ft, and pointing out clouds ahead and expected bumps and getting them to watch the altimeter to see how bumps they felt hardly registered.

This entire experience, plus the knowledge they had entered a flying "zone" few people could ever have (apart from crew) seemed to have a profound influence. Next time they flew, they had a different perspective. They could call up in memory what they saw and heard on the flight deck, "saw" the crew calmly and professionally going about their business" and found a new sense of calmness. It was really remarkably profound. They knew they had seen something few people were allowed to, and for many the thought that this was the crew's office with its million dollar views was also profound.

Now that has come to an end, perhaps forever. Who knows? Now the best I can do is show videos "from the pilot's view" and try and capture the moments this way. It's effective for some people, but doesn't match the real McCoy.

Les, whistfully...

[kallieb]

Whistfully indeed,

Your story evokes images in my minds eye that in real life must be just breathtaking.

Thanks for sharing. And as far as your other links to further readings, you have given much for me to explore. Off I go to google.ca (in Canada of course):canflag:

[FlyingFromTheNorth]

Many people have told me that when they fly, they experience some kind of a "high" like a drug. They love the sensation of flying for this reason. Personally, I would like to fly for my loved ones. Like you Kallie, I would not want to stop them from visiting different places and there is nothing like going on a holiday with your partner. It can be so romantic.

[Agne]

Yesterday I was walking in the Champ de Mars in front of the Tour Eiffel. Today I am in Italy, watching the pictures and thinking about the wonderful time I had in Paris.

We took off at 9 pm, it was a clear night. We flew over Geneva, then over the Alps where I could see the lights of the little towns; then over Turin, and Genoa, where the coast was only a thin line of lights.

Getting on the plane in Amsterdam at 11,30 am and getting off the plane in San Francisco at 1,30 pm. 11 hours in the air, but it's still early afternoon.

Taking off in the evening, and seeing both sunset and sunrise before touching the ground.

Boarding the plane in Bologna with coat and gloves in a cold winter day, and getting off the plane in Florida in a warm and sunny day.

That is why I love to fly!:sunshine: