A reluctance to take the controls

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip

It is a rare person, indeed, who refuses the chance to "steer" -- but
it happened Friday with a 24 year old girl in the right seat.
Actually, Mary was up front with her, while I was in back with her
boyfriend (which is still a very weird feeling, sitting in the BACK of
your own plane, in flight) -- and when Mary offered her the controls,
she politely refused.

I have found that children ALWAYS take the controls and attempt to fly. It
is only adults that make no attempt to attempt to fly.

Danny Dot
www.mobbinggonemad.org

snip

TROLL ALERT !!!

I think there is another interloper in our midst. Anyone else
notice that, from the few posts already made?

Not you, Jay ! g

Since Jay's quote above was in response to me, are you referring to me?
Did I say something wrong?

Don't feel bad -- the way Jim's response is written, I can't tell who
he is calling a troll, either! My guess is it's me, but it *might* be
you...

:-)

This was a topic I have had personal experience with -- being a woman, a
pilot, having people so eager to want you learn to fly that you feel
like they're trying to *convert* you to a religion (!), and having a
strong passion for flying, but knowing what it feels like to be pushed
into something you simply aren't ready for...yet.

I actually didn't remember that you were a woman pilot. This puts your
response into a different perspective entirely, of course. Glad you
pointed it out.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Judah wrote:


Name 3.

Myself and because I don't, my two kids are not allowed to while they
live here.

Yeah, because God knows, if she *really* enjoyed being there, she SURELY
would have been waiting anxiously to take the controls, no question!
shaking head Why make all the negative assumptions just because she
declined Mary's offer? Not everyone has to be *at the controls* to prove
they enjoy it.

I think she would have gone flying with Mary, but I think she really
enjoyed just flying as a passenger with her boyfriend (and me) along.
As I've said, she's flown with us before, for as long as 2.5 hours at a
crack, so she has no fear of flying. Which makes her reluctance to take
the yoke doubly confusing, to me.

But I often wonder what makes some people timid about trying new
things, while others leap in recklessly with both feet. In my
lifetime I've observed such a wide range of human behavior that I often
remark that it's a wonder we're all related to each other.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay, you sound like one of these guys "who just can't understand how
somebody could be DIFFERENT than you are". I mean, just HOW could that
be???

No, that's not it. I understand that humans are all uniquely wired,
and that different folks are interested in different things.

However, I simply can't understand any sentient being passing up the
opportunity to do something unusual, educational, affordable,
challenging, and fun, in a safe, friendly environment.

This young lady was offered the chance to do something that very few
people will *ever* get to do, doing something that many would give
anything to experience. Her refusal to take the yoke was an unusual
display of timid behavior coming from someone who is normally far from
timid -- which is why I remain puzzled and post my experience here.

Your saying, by way of explanation, that "Everyone is different" only
states the obvious, but doesn't really address the situation or explain
the experience.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
Pathfinder N56993

And that's the point you're not getting. The answer to both of your
questions is a resounding "yes!".

Life is about new experiences. To pass them up is to deny being alive.

Life is about whatever the person in question wants it to be about. Not
whatever Jay thinks it's about.

Maybe instead of "make a pot..." I should have said "vote Democratic",
or "get an instrument rating".

In any case, it is quite easy to get a chance to try potting, or run
spotlight. Have you done that? Why not?

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

In article ,
Peter Duniho wrote:
"Scott Post" wrote in message
...
I think it's because I knew it would be a sham - I wouldn't really be
flying the plane, so why bother? It would have felt patronizing. I'd
flown with my wife enough to know how much is really involved with flying
a plane and I had great respect for her skills. Taking the yoke for a
bit after she'd trimmed for straight & level wouldn't really be flying
so it didn't seem worth doing.

While I'm a strong supporter of your right to your own opinion , I'd still
like to point out that there is a difference between "flying" and
"piloting".

IMHO, the point of offering the controls to a passenger is to allow them to
"fly". That is, there really is something enjoyable about simply being in
control of an aircraft, and this can be shared with passengers.

I was only answering for myself. I still offer non-pilots a chance to
"fly" and most are tickled pink. My 8 year old "flew" with me on Friday
and had a ball. It just didn't interest me before I could do everything
myself.

snip

It's a moot point now, but I'll point out that you were probably flying the
airplane in your very first lesson (as all students do). The lack of
training should not have diminished the fact that you were flying, and just
as it shouldn't have then, it shouldn't in a non-training situation. The
only real difference between the two situations is that in one, a qualified
instructor is providing training. What *you* are doing is the same, and
that is flying.

The difference between being handed the controls briefly as a passenger
and taking a lesson is that the typical passenger only gets to hold the
plane level and maybe do some gentle turns. A student gets to take off,
climb, do climbing and decending turns, etc, all in the first lesson.
In fact, I got to do stalls and steep turns in my first lesson. My wife
(and most non-CFI pilots) wouldn't have been comfortable with me doing
much of that. A lot of people would be content just touching the yoke
in level flight, but that didn't interest me.

Someone else mentioned that it'd be like turning down an offer to drive
a friend's Corvette. I turned down an offer to drive my Brother in Law's
Corvette because driving it on the street didn't seem worthwhile. I
used to race motorcycles and get offers from friends with *really* nice
race-bred modern bikes to swap during street rides and I almost never
take them up on it. If I can't wring it out on a track I'd just as
soon pass. I understand I'm in the minority with that opinion.

As far as Jay's initial question - I think others have hit the nail on
the head that the passenger was probably just enjoying the scenery and
didn't want to be distracted by flying the plane.
--
Scott Post

But I often wonder what makes some people timid about trying new
things, while others leap in recklessly with both feet. In my
lifetime I've observed such a wide range of human behavior that I often
remark that it's a wonder we're all related to each other.

When are you getting your instrument rating?

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Maybe instead of "make a pot..." I should have said "vote Democratic",
or "get an instrument rating".

I've voted for Democrats, and I'll get the IR someday.

In any case, it is quite easy to get a chance to try potting, or run
spotlight. Have you done that? Why not?

I've worked a potter's wheel -- but no one has offered me the chance to
work a spotlight, yet.

Which is, of course, the whole point: When offered an opportunity,
don't turn it down!

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Scott Post" wrote in message
m...
I was only answering for myself. I still offer non-pilots a chance to
"fly" and most are tickled pink. My 8 year old "flew" with me on Friday
and had a ball. It just didn't interest me before I could do everything
myself.

Your prerogative. IMHO, you're missing out. Why limit your experiences to
things you can only do to some minimum standard? You're sitting there.
You've got nothing better to do. Why not take the moment? (I ask
rhetorically...IMHO, there is no suitable answer to that question).

The difference between being handed the controls briefly as a passenger
and taking a lesson is that the typical passenger only gets to hold the
plane level and maybe do some gentle turns.

So, in other words it had nothing to do with "how much is really involved
with flying a plane" as it did with your dissatisfaction with the amount of
"stick time" you'd get. That is, IMHO, different from what you originally
said.

At the time, did you tell your wife that you would fly if you got to do more
than just guide the airplane in straight and level flight? I have had had
plenty of passengers do lots more than just hold onto the yoke while the
airplane flies itself. But if a passenger declined to control the airplane
without telling me that they simply wanted to do more, I would have no
reason to suggest that.

A student gets to take off,
climb, do climbing and decending turns, etc, all in the first lesson.
In fact, I got to do stalls and steep turns in my first lesson. My wife
(and most non-CFI pilots) wouldn't have been comfortable with me doing
much of that.

Doing much of what? One doesn't normally do stalls or steep turns in a
typical flight anyway. As far as climbs, descents, turns during those, etc.
go I don't see why your wife wouldn't be comfortable with you doing those
things. I've had my share of passengers handle that sort of thing.

A lot of people would be content just touching the yoke
in level flight, but that didn't interest me.

Someone else mentioned that it'd be like turning down an offer to drive
a friend's Corvette. I turned down an offer to drive my Brother in Law's
Corvette because driving it on the street didn't seem worthwhile. I
used to race motorcycles and get offers from friends with *really* nice
race-bred modern bikes to swap during street rides and I almost never
take them up on it. If I can't wring it out on a track I'd just as
soon pass. I understand I'm in the minority with that opinion.

Yup. You are unnecessarily limiting your experiences. Your loss and, as I
said, your prerogative. Me? Sure, I'd just as soon race a car or bike
around a track if I'm allowed, but if what's available is to just putter
down the street and back, well...that's more than I would have been allowed
otherwise. I'm not going to turn that down, just because I can't fully
utilize the experience.

I wouldn't give up doing something more fun, but if I'm just sitting around
twiddling my thumbs, doing *something*, anything, is better than just
continuing to twiddle my thumbs.

As far as Jay's initial question - I think others have hit the nail on
the head that the passenger was probably just enjoying the scenery and
didn't want to be distracted by flying the plane.

Could've been anything. Some passengers really are panicked by the idea of
controlling the airplane, some simply are enjoying the moment of looking
outside, and some just don't think it's worth the trouble. If you don't ask
the passenger, there's no way to know.

Pete