john smith wrote:
Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

My father flew, that is how I got started. We never owned a plane of our
own, only rented. I got my first plane ride when I was three.
He was my first passenger upon passing my PPC checkride and J3 checkout.
I got to fly him to Oshkosh for his first trip there.

My paternal grandfather was an instructor for the Signal Corps before
and during WW1. His license was signed by Orville Wright. My dad
learned to fly but could never get a license because he was color
blind. His brother flew, and had (among other things) a T6 and a
Stagger Wing.

My wife's father was an aircraft mechanic in WW2 and got his private,
but couldn't afford to keep flying. She grew up across the street from
Bakersfield Airport. When I met her sister she told my wife "A kind
man that likes airplanes. Well, it worked for mom."

My daughter is now 21 months old. Her first word wasn't "dada" as
expected - it was "up!"