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09-18-2011, 09:53 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Hadath
I built an F1 Rocket and learn to fly it. I fly my family and friends in it. I learn to race it. I learn to perform with it in my local Airshow in front of thousands of people. I built an RV 10 so I could take my whole family flying. I am scared every time I come into land and most times when I take off and sometimes in between.
When I had my first child I remember carrying her down the stairs and how scared I was and using the stairs would never be the same again.
I remember the first time a friend died in a motorcycle accident.
I remember the first time a friend died in an automobile accident.
I remember being struck by lightning and my brother dying.
I remember when a homebuilder pilot friend died in a sailing accident.
I remember when I decided to ride my bicycle to the hangar when I was building my F1 and I was struck by a dump truck.
I am taking my 16 old daughter driving and I am so very scared.
I remember 911.
I remember Reno 2011.
I hope I never get too scared to live.
Wayne
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I appreciate the way you put this.
I expressed to my CFI, after my PP and a good year of flying on my own, that I was often nervous, a slightly scared kind of nervous, before take off and at various times during a flight; she said "good".
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09-19-2011, 12:40 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The Midwest
Posts: 42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne Hadath
I built an F1 Rocket and learn to fly it. I fly my family and friends in it. I learn to race it. I learn to perform with it in my local Airshow in front of thousands of people. I built an RV 10 so I could take my whole family flying. I am scared every time I come into land and most times when I take off and sometimes in between.
I remember ...
I hope I never get too scared to live.
Wayne
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Very well stated, sir.
Reminds me of something I heard a U-2 pilot once say:
"As long as you turn final scared, you'll be alright."
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09-19-2011, 07:59 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 174
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I've been where you are. About a year ago I learned that my flight instructor who had turned 10,000 hours while I was with him was killed flying night IFR. It scared me a lot. He was the person in aviation that I looked up to the most. In my mind he could do no wrong, he was as natural in an airplane as I am walking. I really thought to myself, "if he can't do it, what business do I have trying?"
I wish I could, but I can't say what it is that got me over that feeling. In some ways I still haven't. But I can say that statistics were never part of the equation. Whenever I hear about statistics saying how dangerous a particular activity is, there's one that rules them all: "100% of people who participate in life will eventually die from it." You can't beat that one...
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09-19-2011, 08:12 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Adelaide South Australia, Australia
Posts: 193
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wow
Quote:
Originally Posted by gasman
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The hair stoodup on the back of my neck!! That is unreal. Mind you it would not take much for it to all go very ugly very fast!
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09-19-2011, 08:16 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 554
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Risk factor too high?
__________________
A&P RV-10 Flying 1000+ hours
SuperSTOL Flying 170 hours
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09-19-2011, 09:16 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Freericksburg, VA
Posts: 624
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I've had two close calls about 26 years apart in airplanes. First time I was a recently soloed student who, upon turning final at an uncontrolled field in an Aeronca Champ, had the thrill of seeing the landing gear of a Comanche pass in front of the windshield about 3 feet above me as it came straight in to land in front of me. Always look twice turning base to final even at controlled fields. Second was landing my RV-4 in trees. In both cases the reaction came later when on the ground once I pondered how close I came.
But I still fly and will but try not to take too much for granted.
__________________
Richard Bibb
RV-4 N144KT
Fredericksburg, VA
KEZF
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09-19-2011, 09:36 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: La Feria Texas
Posts: 3,822
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Here is one I have had stick with me over the years, it seemed to fit me well:
"A coward can sit in his house and criticize a pilot for flying into the mountain in a fog, but I would rather by far die on a mountainside than in bed. What kind of man would live where there is no daring?"
Don't know who wrote it, but Dick Rutan (flew around the world non-stop on one tank of fuel in a homebuilt plane called the Voyager with Jeanna Yeager) used to have it hanging in his shop. I have never forgotten it.
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09-19-2011, 10:26 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Colleyville
Posts: 299
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peterk
So if you're dead...what do you care how you died. Your family wants you around as long as possible. If your values place them anywhere near the top, you think twice before taking personal risks just because its gives you the rush you think you deserve. Sometimes it takes more courage to wear the diaper than to make your loved ones live without you. Just another "reflection".
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I agree with this statement 100%.
My wife didn't sign up for me going out in a ball of fire, I owe it to her to stick around.
I wont stop flying but I do minimize my risk as much as possible.
__________________
Tim Blake
Colleyville, Tx
RV8a Purchased flying (many changes) Sold
RV-10 Purchased flying.. Panel upgrade complete.
G3X/Dynon/TT
All new interior complete.
Flyin like a dream.
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09-19-2011, 10:34 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,686
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Interesting thread
David,
I applaud your courage for putting your thoughts and feelings out there. I have to agree that this year has been bloody. Starting with Amanda Franklin and now Reno, with lots of other fatalities in between - and the year isn't over yet.
I'm still comfortable with the risks, but having just started flying my -8 this August my family (read wife) is really shook. I'm trying to take it easy and limit my flying with the hopes that time will help this problem.
It doesn't help that on my 3rd flight, a Lancair 235 augered in just :30 prior to my flight at a nearby airport and my wife got a phone call saying an experimental went down while I was up - not good.
I have resolved to be more cautious and if the boogey man gets me, so be it...
Last edited by panhandler1956 : 09-19-2011 at 11:40 AM.
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09-19-2011, 11:08 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lake St. Louis, MO.
Posts: 2,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DonFromTX
''A coward can sit in his house and criticize a pilot for flying into the mountain in a fog, but I would rather by far die on a mountainside than in bed. What kind of man would live where there is no daring?"
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Some 25 years ago, a time I found myself surrounded by others who seemed quick to settle for life's low hanging fruit, I came upon that phrase and its few compelling words instantly resonated. So moved, I carried a copy of it around in my wallet for many years.
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Which death is preferable to every other? "The unexpected".
Julius Caesar
"Nobody gets out alive."
Al Swearingen, "Deadwood"
__________________
Rick Galati
RV6A N307R"Darla!"
RV-8 N308R "LuLu"
EAA Technical Counselor
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