I have run into quiet a few of these folks, my brother included. When I did
finally get the chance with my brother I took him through the preflight and
tried to relate it to his car. Believe it or not most folks do a preflight
on their car before every drive. They just don't know it. Once you point it
out to folks that they look at the tires on the walk up and how dirty the
windows are they get the point.

In side I relate the gauges to a car once again. The difference is that just
like in a car you need to know how fast you are going, in an airplane you
need to know how high you are going too. As an added benefit I have a timer
that tells me how fast I will get to my height (VSI).

I tell them I get to talk on my CB radio(s). Oh yea I have a hi-tech compass
that points to where I am going.

I talked my brother through each phase of the flight telling him what I was
doing before I did it. I explained to pass the checkride that a steep turn
and turns around a point were necessary and went to demonstrate. Although at
about 25-30 degree bank I had exceeded his fun meter so we balanced out and
flew around.

The worse part for him was the wind shift in flight. When I got back I
needed to slip for the crosswind which really un-nerved him. Cleaned it up,
did a go around and departed the area and talked him through what I had to
do.

Needless to say we got back and now he is driving me nuts about going up
again.

Fred
"Gerald Sylvester" wrote in message
news
I recently got my PPL and find that most people are scared sh*tless to
go up. One friend came along and was just blown away and had a ton
of fun. Just about everyone else is "oh my god, I am so scared
of airplanes." This weekend I was going to go with my CFI to celebrate
my passing my checkride in a brand new SR-20 and people are still
shaking in their boots scared to hell and simply will not go.

Is this me or is it just the general public?

Any ideas? I hope this doesn't sound stupid but just my impression the
since passing my checkride.

Gerald