Thanking the plane

[Toobuilder]

Originally Posted by flywithme623

...When getting off the plane I thank the Lord for a skilled and safe flight...

Yep, that sounds like the right priority.

OTOH, the assembly of inanimate aluminum certainly doesn't deserve (or expect) any praise. It's just a machine.

[Neal@F14]

The Cessna 172 (a leaseback / FBO rental) in which I first soloed, and also passed my checkride, had a "Thank You" card in the glovebox. The card was addressed to the airplane itself, and was filled with the signatures of students who passed their checkrides in this plane over the years. Neither myself nor my CFI had ever heard of such a tradition, but the day I passed my checkride, I added my name to the card and put it away back in the glovebox.

[Rotorheadrob]

😘💋👍

Most of the time, Yes.

Sure there's gratitude for safely returning and admiration of the aircraft's ability and nice lines but for me it's something else too.

Not so much as a means of affection but rather as a moment of reflection.

That's to say, it's a post flight review or short assessment. Taking a moment to review the flight. It is a habit passed down from aviators before me. A ritual of pausing and reliving the flight afterwards to learn lessons and carry those good experiences into future.

The symbolic "thank you" or "love tap," for me, that micro moment in which the old noodle recalls the journey just experienced. Doesn't have to be a long drawn out process.

That's most of the time. Other times I forget and I have a remedial lesson later because I didn't listen the first time. Hahah

[wjb]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

And I always ask "do you want to go flying?" when I arrive.

Isn't this like asking a dog if it wants to go for a walk, or eat, or do whatever? If my dog was a plane, she'd be barking right now wanting to go fly and do her favorite thing!

(yes, girl, let's go for a walk! ... still pounding rivets)