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-   -   Naming (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=97156)

n5lp 03-04-2013 06:57 PM

Naming
 


I recently made a post about a flight with this woman who had never flown in a small airplane before. It turns out she is thoughtful. After the flight she asked me if my airplane had a name. I told her that it doesn't really. I made a stab at that but it never really took, although Doug Reeves has used it a few times. I also mentioned that it is just an inanimate object.

Today I got this e-mail from another location along her travel route, slightly edited for English not being her first language. Some good points there.

I thought more about the topic of names...

There is always a story behind names, both of persons and of "things", and sometimes it's not easy to find the right names... but every time man has discovered something new, he has named it. I think it's a way to say "I know what it is, it is not something unknown anymore"
We need names because we need to feel the world around us as something we can understand.

So throughout history, people have named mountains, peaks, rivers, caves,.... each little corner of the earth has gotten its name. But we also give names to cats, dogs, horses... Anything with which we have a kind of relationship. That's the reason why people don't give a name to an animal who is going to be killed and eaten; they avoid it just because a name would create a kind of relationship that they don't want to have with that animal.

In the case of your airplane, even if you think it is an "inanimate" object (i don't think so...), in my opinion you do have a relationship with it. You know it and you are even its creator! It takes you a long time and much energy and knowledge to build it, so it represents something really important in your life. It also gives you great emotions and allows you .... to fly!

I strongly believe it deserves a name!


Wow!

Bob Redman 03-04-2013 07:16 PM

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
 
Thanks Larry, and to the lady.

I have not named our aircraft. I had never before considered the sentiments expressed by her in your post. Now I will reconsider.

Best regards

Louise Hose 03-04-2013 07:19 PM

Well articulated!
 
So, are you embracing Blackbelly or will it have another name soon? :)

I have to agree. Most of us have a relationship with our planes and a name helps clarify that relationship. I know the names of our planes all have significant meanings to us.

n5lp 03-04-2013 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louise Hose (Post 749805)
So, are you embracing Blackbelly or will it have another name soon? :)

I have to agree. Most of us have a relationship with our planes and a name helps clarify that relationship. I know the names of our planes all have significant meanings to us.

I really don't like Blackbelly very much. I have never been a good namer. She suggested a rather good name but you can't rename your airplane can you? Wouldn't that be against some kind of law?

Jeff A 03-04-2013 07:30 PM

Funny, everytime I tell a guy I built an airplane they ask how fast it goes. Every girl asks what I named it.

rene@felker.com 03-04-2013 07:46 PM

.....Mine is Curious George...........

Rene'
N423CF

Don 03-04-2013 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5lp (Post 749806)
... but you can't rename your airplane can you? Wouldn't that be against some kind of law?

Actually there's a long history of renaming people (probably places too). With the renaming comes a new level of maturity, wisdom, or direction. Robertson Davies wrote about this in one of his books (and I'm not Canadian and love his work and morned his passing). It's been a while, but I think he discusses this in the book, Fifth Business. If not, it was likely part of that Deptford Trilogy. Another example a lot of folks from many religious traditions will recall is God renamed Abram and Sarai and they became Abraham and Sarah.

So, I'd say as the creator of your aircraft, you're on solid ground renaming your airplane. There plenty of precedent and from the highest authority.

SHIPCHIEF 03-04-2013 08:04 PM

Often a pretentious name is given, but after a while, the true 'personality' of the airplane (boat, car, motorcycle, chainsaw, kitchen knife whatever) is revealed, and a more appropriate name emerges.
My T-18 was named 'Blue Max' by the previous owner. Now, after about 20 hours of flight we call it 'Feisty'.
The Cessna 172 somehow became 'Trusty' after that...
My RV-8 has a name, but that could change in a single event.
That's the way it goes sometimes...

mannanj 03-04-2013 08:19 PM

Naming
 
Larry,
Quite a lot of thought went into that soliloquy. No going back now, you have to give her a name.

My 46 Aeronca Champ acquired the name "Old Girl" because she, like me was old. My -8 got the name "No. One Girl" because of the fact there are 3 women In my life (wife and two daughters) and they needed to know how they ranked:rolleyes:

MauiLvrs 03-04-2013 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff A (Post 749809)
Funny, everytime I tell a guy I built an airplane they ask how fast it goes. Every girl asks what I named it.

"Now that's funny ... I don't care who you are" --- LtC

The Gal is right... Seems you'be been schooled;)


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