Just Lucky, I guess!
First let me say, without my wife's support I would not be building, but it took some time to get her on board. This is how it has worked for me.
I have been married for 15 years to a wonderful woman who has known from day 1 of my love for flying. When we met I did not have the PPL, but I had fallen in love with flying when in the 82nd Airborne as a Cobra Crew Chief and I had stated my goal of getting the PPL.
In 2005, after 12 years of marriage we were in a position financially for me to take flying lessons and I earned my PPL. At the time she was happy to see me achieve my dream but stated she would not fly with me. After some prodding I convinced her to go up with me "just once". I took her out and flew her over our home and her work, and we survived (imagine that).
Next I worked on her to take a trip with me to Calloway Gardens for dinner, 1 hour flight each way and we returned at sunset, how romantic - Almost hooked.
Finally I rented a 182 and we took some friends to the beach for the weekend, Got Ya! That was all it took, she's hooked on the travel possibilities of small airplanes and then I brought up the idea of building (we could have a plane faster than the 182 at 30% of the cost), SOLD!
Now she is my building partner, she loves it when its time to buck rivets - her favorite part. She spent our vacation last years at OSH and fully supports me. As others have said it gives me something to do that keeps me out of trouble and I keep reminding her of all the wonderful trips we will "share". Remember it?s always about her!!
The hardest part for me was trying to convince her the RV8 was the way to go. I wish I could say I got her a ride in one, but that wasn't it, I myself have not yet flown in an RV (all you guys better be right). I love the idea of tandem seating and but she didn't want to look at the back of my head all day. Well with the help of an article written on this forum by Kahuna's wife talking about the wonderful view from the back on his 8, she gave in. Thanks Kahuna!! (I did a search but I couldn't find it).
Now I have the Emp done, the wings are 80% done (sealing the tanks now) and I'm almost ready to order the Fuse. As I said I'm a lucky man and I look forward to many flying adventures with the wife, because as I said it?s all about her (yea right).
First let me say, without my wife's support I would not be building, but it took some time to get her on board. This is how it has worked for me.
I have been married for 15 years to a wonderful woman who has known from day 1 of my love for flying. When we met I did not have the PPL, but I had fallen in love with flying when in the 82nd Airborne as a Cobra Crew Chief and I had stated my goal of getting the PPL.
In 2005, after 12 years of marriage we were in a position financially for me to take flying lessons and I earned my PPL. At the time she was happy to see me achieve my dream but stated she would not fly with me. After some prodding I convinced her to go up with me "just once". I took her out and flew her over our home and her work, and we survived (imagine that).
Next I worked on her to take a trip with me to Calloway Gardens for dinner, 1 hour flight each way and we returned at sunset, how romantic - Almost hooked.
Finally I rented a 182 and we took some friends to the beach for the weekend, Got Ya! That was all it took, she's hooked on the travel possibilities of small airplanes and then I brought up the idea of building (we could have a plane faster than the 182 at 30% of the cost), SOLD!
Now she is my building partner, she loves it when its time to buck rivets - her favorite part. She spent our vacation last years at OSH and fully supports me. As others have said it gives me something to do that keeps me out of trouble and I keep reminding her of all the wonderful trips we will "share". Remember it?s always about her!!
The hardest part for me was trying to convince her the RV8 was the way to go. I wish I could say I got her a ride in one, but that wasn't it, I myself have not yet flown in an RV (all you guys better be right). I love the idea of tandem seating and but she didn't want to look at the back of my head all day. Well with the help of an article written on this forum by Kahuna's wife talking about the wonderful view from the back on his 8, she gave in. Thanks Kahuna!! (I did a search but I couldn't find it).
Now I have the Emp done, the wings are 80% done (sealing the tanks now) and I'm almost ready to order the Fuse. As I said I'm a lucky man and I look forward to many flying adventures with the wife, because as I said it?s all about her (yea right).