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  #11  
Old 10-14-2008, 07:13 AM
the_other_dougreeves the_other_dougreeves is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ironflight View Post
So where, I ask…where does the airplane’s soul reside?
In the minds of the pilots who fly it. Without a airplane, a pilot is an ordinary person, tethered to the ground. Without its pilot, the airplane is simply an assembly of parts that cannot fly.

(inspration from the rifleman's creed)

TODR
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Last edited by the_other_dougreeves : 10-14-2008 at 08:38 AM.
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  #12  
Old 10-14-2008, 07:17 AM
FredMagare FredMagare is offline
 
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Location: Kyle, TX
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That's an interesting question, Paul. An airplane is a conglomeration of parts. If the engine is worn out, it can be overhauled or it can be replaced. If a wing or control surface is damaged, it too, can be repaired or replaced. If one were to replace everything on their aircraft one major sub-assembly at a time, would they view their plane differently?

In my opinion, the soul of the aircraft resides in the heart of the builder (or owner) and no matter how many pieces are changed (or even if it's later sold) it will always hold a special place in that person's heart.
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  #13  
Old 10-14-2008, 08:58 AM
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Geico266 Geico266 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Huskerland, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asav8tor View Post
The airplane is the aircraft data plate.

The engine is the engine data plate.

Everything else is just parts.
Fine wine is just crushed grapes.

The Giant Redwoods are just trees.

The Grand Canyon is just a ditch.

There is no difference in a live play -v- movie.

All women are the same.

The Huskers are just another football team.
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Last edited by Geico266 : 10-14-2008 at 09:01 AM.
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  #14  
Old 10-14-2008, 09:15 AM
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N941WR N941WR is offline
 
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Location: SC
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Paul,

I like to think of my plane like I do my wife (well sort of like my wife), the relationship we have is based on the things we do together, enjoy together, see together, and how we treat each other.

If any of those things change, then the relationship changes.

Say we stop going placed together, then the plane is just a burden. If the engine lets me down, then I might not be able to trust it again, same as my wife but different.
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  #15  
Old 10-14-2008, 09:29 AM
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kentb kentb is offline
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Canby, Oregon
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Default Paul, you have gone off the deep end....

I love my plane, but I know that it doesn't love me.

There is no part of my plane that if I replace it with a new or better part, would change how I feel about my plane.

Also keep in mind that my plane won't get jealous if I fly another plane. Won't get home sick it I go on a long trip. I don't think that it has feelings of any sort.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but your on your own on this one.

Kent
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  #16  
Old 10-14-2008, 09:45 AM
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plehrke plehrke is offline
 
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Location: Defiance, MO
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Default I see this especially in Vintage Aircraft

Quote:
Originally Posted by FredMagare View Post
In my opinion, the soul of the aircraft resides in the heart of the builder (or owner) and no matter how many pieces are changed (or even if it's later sold) it will always hold a special place in that person's heart.
I am based at an airport where experimentals aircraft are few and antiques are everywhere. Many of them are re-built from just a dataplate. The builder/restorer gives it life and adds the soul.
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  #17  
Old 10-14-2008, 10:25 AM
iwannarv iwannarv is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Olathe, KS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvmills View Post
Anyway, them's my thoughts, and yep, I waved and grinned as I put 'er away after going around the patch a few times today (OK, I'm a geek...er, romantic!)

Cheers,
Bob
Especially reminds me of my friend's dad who flies a C340. Every time he gets done flying and leaves the hangar he pats the wing and says "Thank you baby". He did this once after I rode with him on a cross country and he turned to me to say "Always pat and thank your airplanes."
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  #18  
Old 10-14-2008, 10:51 AM
the_other_dougreeves the_other_dougreeves is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iwannarv View Post
Especially reminds me of my friend's dad who flies a C340. Every time he gets done flying and leaves the hangar he pats the wing and says "Thank you baby". He did this once after I rode with him on a cross country and he turned to me to say "Always pat and thank your airplanes."
I give the airplane a "thank you" pat, even when I fly commercially. Those birds have thankless jobs and do them for years and years, one hour at a time (how many seat-miles is 30,000 hr for a MD-83?)

It's not how the airplane thinks about you, it's how you think about the airplane.

TODR
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Last edited by the_other_dougreeves : 10-14-2008 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Fixed typo
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  #19  
Old 10-14-2008, 11:50 AM
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Mikey Mikey is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dayton, NV
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Unhappy Tell me it isn't so, Paul!

Quote:
Originally Posted by kentb View Post
Also keep in mind that my plane won't get jealous if I fly another plane. Won't get home sick it I go on a long trip. I don't think that it has feelings of any sort.
Paul, you and Louise have been hiding me from this ugly side of life. Are there really pilots out there who don't listen to their RVs? That think we don't care if they don't fly us regularly? Who don't understand how we thrill to climb, dive, and roll? Please tell me it ain't so! If these disbelievers could only have heard the engine chatter among us planes on the ramp at LOE last weekend, they would understand the depth of our souls.

(BTW, that green "card game" -8 was sure attractive. Do you know if she's unattached? )
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  #20  
Old 10-14-2008, 12:03 PM
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Louise Hose Louise Hose is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton, Nevada --- A34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick6a View Post
I would offer that the airplane's personality is an extention of our own and is lost when we stop loving it because that is when the airplane's soul recedes back into the recesses of our own.
Nicely put.

I'm glad that I've developed an intimacy with my plane, despite not being the builder. Like the cowgirl and her horse, I feel an interdependence with Mikey. I need to provide the necessary care and feeding, paying attention to every change in his moods, in order to ensure that he provides me with the best service.

It seems the best of human nature, in my opinion, to instill/recognize the personality of those things to which we trust our lifes. It helps keep our nurturing nature sharp. My plane has a name and a personality, and I make a great effort to care for him. The Val's personality also demands my full respect. (I can't imagine anyone living with the Valkyrie in their backyard failing to recognize a personality there!) My trucks/cars haven't had names or strongly developed/recognized personalities, and I have never given them as much detailed care.
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RV8, N188PD "Valkyrie" (by marriage)
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