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Hi Folks,
I'd like to check in too. I agree with many of the
things others have expressed.
I don't want to get into the computer gaming thing
,especially the MMORPGS, too much but I do want to say
a few things. I don't blame this on when a person was
born. I think that's beside the point. I'm sure if
these things had been available when I was younger, we
would have gotten involved in it too. Well, probably I
wouldn't have, as I have usually not been in the
mainstream of my contemporaries. But anyway, these
damn games take up a huge amount of time and are
apparently very addicting and appealing. I have a
friend who works for a prominent software company. He
is brilliant and creative, yet he spends almost all
his free time playing online games. I mean most nights
a week to 2 and 3 in the morning. I continue to ask
him questions about it as I am trying to understand
the appeal. I can understand some of it. One gets to
create characters, alter egos if you will, that do
things and look like one never could in reality. Oh,
he is not all that young either at 37, but these games
appeal to a wider audience than I had previously
thought.
The thing is, if he is so fond of fantasy and role
playing, he could be writing books which exercises the
mind and might even result in some extra income. And
if the online martial arts is so enjoyable, why not
take some real classes in those disciplines and
exercise the body and mind?
And then there are all the flight sims. As fun as they
are and I like them too, the number of folks using
flight sims are WAY out of proportion to the number of
folks flying or taking flying lessons. I'm biased
towards aviation but I do not understand how one could
fly a plane on a flight sim and not want to learn the
real thing as soon as possible. That I don't get.
Don't get me wrong, I love computers and I have a
totally computer related job, but I clearly know the
difference...
So I think that many of the kids and other folks that
would have perhaps been interested in aviation are
drawn by the plethora of dazzling technology.
I know that many of you participate in the Young
Eagles and other programs for youth. You are on the
right track and are certainly to be commended.
I wish there were similar programs for folks other
than kids who would be interested if they had the
exposure and the chance. I think we need to attract
everybody and not limit it only to people up to the
age of 18 or so, as important as that is.
With the kids, I have noticed that when they are
actually introduced to planes at airshows, fly-ins,
etc, they do get very excited and interested.
When the Collings Foundation's B-17 and B-24 visit our
area, many of the schools, from kindergarten thru high
school make it a point to bring classes of kids to see
the bombers. The teacher's use it as an opportunity to
make history come alive and the kids eat it up. I can
see it in their eyes. Most of them have never seen a
radial engine up close and they are fascinated.
I live in a rural county and there aren't nearly as
many activities to chose from as in a large
metropolitan area, so maybe that's why so many of the
schools bring classes. I hope not. I hope the school
tours are common wherever the bombers go.
My point is that I think a lot of the problem is
exposure. There are so many, many activities vying for
a person's attention. Unless one grows up in a family
that is somehow involved in aviation, chances are that
exposure to flying is minimal. (Other than jet
passenger travel, which so many folks think of only as
a convenient method to get from point a to point b.)
Someone mentioned women. Again, unless a woman grew up
in an aviation family or is very unusual and sought
out flying on her own, it's likely that she just
didn't have any exposure to it. Flying in a small
plane, or even better, learning to fly it herself and
maybe eventually owning one, is just not in her
reality.
I know that was true in my case. The first "small"
plane I was in was the ride I took with the USCG in
one of their beautiful Dolphin helos. I wasn't being
rescued. The Coast Guard was involved with a joint
research project with my school. Anyway, my reaction
to being in the air was a real shocker. I thought to
myself, "My God, I love being in the air! Why didn't I
find out about this years ago?" Soon after takeoff the
helo pilot asked me how I liked the ride. I was so
stunned I could hardly get the words out.
As some of you might remember, I was taking flying
lesson for awhile but had to stop when I lost my
former job. I have never given up on it and intend to
go back when I am financially able. I beg rides from
others as often as I dare. :-)
Anyway, my first flight in a small fixed wing plane
was my intro lesson. As soon as the instructor told me
to turn the key and the prop started moving I was
hooked forever!
Spook
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