150's and 172's about the only planes flying!!

By the way, Margy didn't mention it, but one of the stipulations of
being "on exhibit" is that you gotta stand around and talk about
your aircraft (which is not a problem for most aircraft owners).

That was a wonderful experience for us. Mary and I put together a map
of the US, showing all of our far-flung cross-country flights, and
propped it up against the nosewheel pant. The four of us then just
stood there (like museum exhibits!) and greeted folks as they streamed
past.

Some of the comments and attitudes were priceless! More than one
person stared at us with that distant, disinterested look that one
gets after seeing too many museum exhibits. They would then stop,
look puzzled for a moment at Atlas, and then back at us. Then they
would see the map, showing Iowa as our home...

You could really see the gears turning, as they digested the fact that
we had flown into Dulles International in a vehicle no bigger than
their minivan. More than one person blurted out "You and your family
flew here from Iowa in *that*?"

It was a fantastic opportunity to show the general public that general
aviation is more than just flight for life helicopters and businessmen
jetting off to Aspen. I think we may have ignited a few imaginations
that day in folks who simply had never been exposed to GA.

One thing I observed and Jay and others who were there can also say,
unlike some disaster public fly-ins (the Dulles Special Olympics
Plane Pull event for instance), the public is REALY REALY well
behaved at these.

Yep, it's a great crowd. Almost too timid, really -- but that's
better than the alternative.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jay Honeck writes:


But you're right about computers. They have sapped the life out of
our kids, by allowing them to experience the world without ever
leaving their chairs. I suppose you might look at this as a good
thing, from an evolutionary standpoint, but I find it terribly sad.


Computers are the effect, not the cause. Kids resort to computers because
just about anything with the slightest element of risk is now forbidden to
them. Everything that requires movement or strenuous exercise or being away
from constant supervision for more than a few minutes or involves any type of
insurance or liability (which covers practically everything) is no longer an
option. They live with their parents in a state of fear of everything, and
about the only thing that carries very little risk is playing with a computer.

Damned but I hate to agree. Athough I think much of the computer craze
is now a cause. They are very attractive and everyone has one and they
are right there. Couple that with "don't go out until I get home from
work", "No friends over until I get home from work", etc. and you have
the perfect set up for computer kids. A friend who is a professor of
mechanical engineering summed it up quite well, she said, "computers
have been a leveler, it used to be girls couldn't DO anything, now no
one can DO anything". Refering of course to those basic skills our kids
no longer have (cutting, sawing, soldering, attaching, etc.).

I always had a model club at school and lots of people thought I was
nuts letting kids (7th and 8th graders) near exacto knives, etc. I
didn't have on injury (but I did lay the law down pretty thick).

Margy

Morgans wrote:
"Ron Natalie" wrote

I used to be based at Dulles (and Margy actually learned to fly
there), but it's much busier now both for the airlines and all the
bizjet traffic that was effectively kicked out of National.

Do you think they will ever open National back up to the smaller guy again?

I personally doubt it. Government rarely cedes control that it has
taken. Although it does happen occasionally. I was amazed when PA
repealed its helmet law a few years ago*. I still can't believe that
happened, but it does show that if enough people lobby long enough they
can occasionally make a difference. Maybe the same cam be true with
National. I'm just glad I made one flight in prior to 9/11. I had to
fly in at night as I couldn't get an IFR reservation until after 7 PM in
the winter, but it was a neat flight. I got to hold over the city for a
few minutes waiting for a break in the airline conga line. I could see
several of the monuments and buildings and it was very cool.

* Just for the record, I'm a big believer in wearing a helmet while
motorcycling and bicycling and never ride without one, but I'm not a fan
of helmet laws for adults. I think adults should make that decision for
themselves. I am in favor of insurance companies charging higher
premiums for people who ride without a helmet, or smoke, etc., but I
much prefer to let the market deal with such things rather than
government. If someone is willing to pay the cost of taking a higher
level of risk, I say more power to them.

Matt

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

Morgans writes:

Myself, I will not allow my life to be ruled by geeks, bean counters,
and lawyers at insurance companies.

You may not have a choice, if someone decides to bankrupt you with a
lawsuit.

You're a fjukktard

bertie

Morgans wrote:
"Margy Natalie" wrote


Also debuting this year for "Become a Pilot" (if we can get it done in
time) a C-150 inside the museum that, when staffed, kids will be able to
sit in and learn how to use the control surfaces. Of course right now
it's sitting in the barn, filthy and with no wings on. Guess what I'm
doing on Wednesday!


Your old 150?
No, it was in the collection, it belonged to a former curator. The
museum was fortunate enough to get Bill Kerschner's 150 and there can't
be two of the same in the collection so the other one was transfered to
education. It's going to be very nice to actually have a plane that
kids can touch. It's going to take lots of soap and polish. It's a
very average 150 that's been in storage for 20 years or so.

Margy

Margy Natalie writes:

Damned but I hate to agree. Athough I think much of the computer craze
is now a cause. They are very attractive and everyone has one and they
are right there.

I'm sure people said the same thing about telephones and electricity in their
early days.

It should also be kept in mind that, like telephones and electricity,
computers are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Working on a
computer could mean just about anything, since anything that involves
information can be put on a computer. So a kid could be looking for porn, or
doing research for school, or reading about sports, or learning calculus.
Just because he does it with a computer doesn't make it good or bad, any more
than having electricity in the house is good or bad.

Couple that with "don't go out until I get home from
work", "No friends over until I get home from work", etc. and you have
the perfect set up for computer kids.

True.

A friend who is a professor of
mechanical engineering summed it up quite well, she said, "computers
have been a leveler, it used to be girls couldn't DO anything, now no
one can DO anything". Refering of course to those basic skills our kids
no longer have (cutting, sawing, soldering, attaching, etc.).

There is less and less need for those skills, since most items today are
manufactured by semi-automated production lines. The average person will
never need to saw or solder anything, so the skill is not useful, and he won't
miss it if he doesn't have it.

I always had a model club at school and lots of people thought I was
nuts letting kids (7th and 8th graders) near exacto knives, etc. I
didn't have on injury (but I did lay the law down pretty thick).

If there had been an injury you would have been bankrupted by a lawsuit. You
were very brave.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

Margy Natalie writes:

Damned but I hate to agree. Athough I think much of the computer
craze is now a cause. They are very attractive and everyone has one
and they are right there.

I'm sure people said the same thing about telephones and electricity
in their early days.

It should also be kept in mind that, like telephones and electricity,
computers are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Working on
a computer could mean just about anything, since anything that
involves information can be put on a computer. So a kid could be
looking for porn, or doing research for school, or reading about
sports, or learning calculus. Just because he does it with a computer
doesn't make it good or bad, any more than having electricity in the
house is good or bad.

Couple that with "don't go out until I get home from
work", "No friends over until I get home from work", etc. and you
have the perfect set up for computer kids.

True.

A friend who is a professor of
mechanical engineering summed it up quite well, she said, "computers
have been a leveler, it used to be girls couldn't DO anything, now no
one can DO anything". Refering of course to those basic skills our
kids no longer have (cutting, sawing, soldering, attaching, etc.).

There is less and less need for those skills, since most items today
are manufactured by semi-automated production lines. The average
person will never need to saw or solder anything, so the skill is not
useful, and he won't miss it if he doesn't have it.

I always had a model club at school and lots of people thought I was
nuts letting kids (7th and 8th graders) near exacto knives, etc. I
didn't have on injury (but I did lay the law down pretty thick).

If there had been an injury you would have been bankrupted by a
lawsuit. You were very brave.


You're an idiotl.


Bertie

On Thu, 03 May 2007 10:03:58 -0400, Margy Natalie
wrote:

Another BIG problem with GA is we aren't getting enough kids involved.
The Young Eagles program is great, but it's not enough. Kids can't hang
over the airport fence anymore, model airplanes have just about died, RC


They do here and we even are installing a picnic area where the public
an sit and watch. I've taken a good many "fence hangers" for rides.

is expensive for a 12 year old. It used to be kids wanted to grow up
and learn how to fly and airplane, now they want to grow up to be a game
programmer. That's a problem! If you look at the kid's birthday party
supply places there are NO airplane things, and you can't buy an
airplane shaped balloon. That says a lot.

WARNING SHAMELESS PLUG FOLLOWS

So if you want to bring the kids out go to

http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventD...fm?eventID=602

It will be a great day for the kids! Kids = ages 1-101

Before you ask, all the fly-in spots have been filled for this event and
there is already a waiting list.

Margy

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

Jay Honeck writes:

But you're right about computers. They have sapped the life out of
our kids, by allowing them to experience the world without ever
leaving their chairs. I suppose you might look at this as a good
thing, from an evolutionary standpoint, but I find it terribly sad.

Computers are the effect, not the cause. Kids resort to computers
because just about anything with the slightest element of risk is now
forbidden to them.

You're an idiot.

Bertie

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...

Computers are the effect, not the cause. Kids resort to computers because
just about anything with the slightest element of risk is now forbidden to
them. Everything that requires movement or strenuous exercise or being
away
from constant supervision for more than a few minutes or involves any type
of
insurance or liability (which covers practically everything) is no longer
an
option. They live with their parents in a state of fear of everything,
and
about the only thing that carries very little risk is playing with a
computer.



Oh yeah, roller skates, bicycles, pogo sticks, 4 wheelers, skate boards, BB
guns, fireworks, baseball, football, RC airplanes, swimming pools, lawn
mowers, sling shots, go-carts, coaster cars, mini bikes, unicycles, play
grounds, tree swings, pocket knives, pet rodents, water skiing, horse back
riding, calf roping, and many others - have been outlawed for participants
less than 21 years old in the United States now for gosh, how many years MX,
I don't even recall.

Actually children that lock themselves in a room with a computer, and use it
for nothing more constructive than running flight simulator, and pretending
to be something their not on the Usenet, are actually few and far between.