The wife told me she needed the car.....I loaded up the plane and she drove me up to the field and left me.
The weather man said it was going to rain, but I rolled the dice, and it turned out nice!
Thing is.........I was alone ALL day, till 4:00, when she came to pick me up. I managed to burn up almost 1 gallon of fuel,but, ill tell you......its just not the same with nobody to chew the fat with. Me and the 4 star did just about everything we could do.

I love it when there is no one to bug me while I am practicing maneuvers. Yes I miss the discussions after flying but it is great to have the sky all to my self.

The only time I enjoy it alone is about 5:30 AM, in the summer. The sun is just thinking of showing itself over the top of 12000 ft. MT. CHARLESTON. No one around but a few COYOTES and KANGAROO RATS. I can get one flight in before the sun or anyone shows up. very peaceful, total solitude. Until I hit the skies.

But I can't help but thinking what would happen if something were to happen that you need someone else with you..

DESERT RATT

Well that's one thing I will never do, fly alone. To many things can happen and I would rather not fly then take the chance, but yes it's nice to have the sky all to yourself.

It's kinda like scuba diving alone! Huh ART.

DUMB! but dam it's peaceful.

DESERT RATT

I should have mentioned alone as is no flyin buddies......there are always people up and down the road, and the farmer that owns the property next to the field.

It is nice to have the field to yourself, BUT....

A couple of years ago a good buddy was at the field, didn't have his plane restrained and accidentally bumped the throttle to wide open.

When all was said and done, he had managed to cut about 3/4 of the way through one finger tip and 1/2 way through a second fingertip. In about 2 more minutes he was in a state of shock.

If several of us hadn't been out there flying with him, there is no telling what would have happened to him. There is no way he would have been able to drive himself to the emergency room.

Needless to say, I haven't flown by myself at the field since then - it was just too graphic an example of what can happen in a split second.

At times when practicing 3D moves or serious aerobitcs I prefer to be along,rest of the time enjoy company.
Have a goodun,John.

One of my most memorable times was many years ago when I went out to the field on an absolutely perfect evening. I was the only one there. I put my Cub through it's paces, then, with no one to BS with, I just spent the rest of the evening shooting touch and go's. It was incredible. (Note, I was constantly aware that I was alone so I made myself extra safety conscious!)

You have to be extra careful when you are alone.

While I like flying alone, when I land, I do like someone to chew the fat with. I guess we can't have everything can we?!

I like to fly with at least one other person around from start up, to shut down. I too have had a freind who recently stumbled and hit the throttle while trying to stand up. The plane lunged forward and took a sample taste of his leg to the tune of 60 some odd stitches. Another few inches he would have been singing soprano if you know what I mean. I myself have tried to reduce the number of fingers on my left hand, and was glad to have someone there to help me bandage it, it was not bad enough to require stitches. Another reason is with the run of crashes I have had lately it is nice to have a spare set of eyes to see where it went in.

Any chance you can have your wife teach my wife that trick ??? My wife gets pissed if I spend as much as four hours, let alone the whole day, at the field. However, I agree in that it's probably not the best idea to fly alone. A few years back, a guy at my field, lost his plane up a tree. Deciding that it wasn't so high, he tried to climb it and fell off, breaking his leg and arm... NOt sure how he got help, but that just goes to show you it never hurts to have a buddy who knows where you are on the field.

I now have two built in flying buddies my two sons both enjoy flying so we go together. Its safer and more fun when we are all alone. My wife does not mind as long as we don't do it every weekend.

Let me relate a story that happened about 6 years back or so. a guy was flying at the field that was about a mile from his home alone. The prop got him real bad in the arm and there was blood all over the place. He felt he could drive home to get help so that's what he did. Well a friend was driving past the field and saw his stuff there unattended so he went to the guys house but never made it. He found his friend wrapped around a tree 2/10's of a mile from his home, dead. He had bled to death and passed out while driving and thankfully it was a back road and he didn't take anyone with him. Nope I will sit and relax till someone shows up and then I will fly my plane, some peaceful flights just isn't worth the risk, and there will be other days.

I myself believe when its your time to go, no matter what the circumstance, no way to change the due date from the man above.

True enough, when it's time, there is not much anyone can do. But when it's not your time, and your airplane has just done it's vegamatic impression on you, it is nice to have someone to help load your equipment, or possibly help bandage wounds. I like solitude as much as anyone, but this is a time I welcome some company.

Boy, you guys are freeking me out !!! I fly alone alot, and my Super Stearman/Saito 72, is more enjoyable without a bunch of winged weedeaters on steroids screaming around in the sky. To tell you the truth, I feel alot safer when I don't have to worry about the other guy. And I use my flatbed for a flightdeck, Im too old to be working on the ground. Makes my back hurt just seeing other people do it. Lets all be real careful out there.............
Real airplanes have two wings and round motors. Dennis (Red Bluff)

I love having the sky to myself and will wait until everyone is down before taking off however I'm never alone at the field as my wife is always with me. She loves preparing the planes, loves getting involved in the building of and the re-patching of my planes. She is also my favourite spotter for my flights. It's great....and I've finally convinced her to learn to fly with one of the club instructors!

Happy but SAFE flying guys (& gals)
Flying Scotsman

Scotsman,
While my wife doesn't mind my hobby, cherish the fact that your wife supports you in flying. That is great!

Scotsman,
My girlfriend does'nt seem to mind that I go flying almost every mourning and always every nite and always all day saturday and sunday, however, Your lucky, she thinks Im nuts. The only reason she puts up with it is because I use to drink a bit (alot) but I traded that disease for this one. Its real hard to get her to go to the field with me. Its eighter too hot or too cold, and always boring for her. You got a good woman there...........
Dennis (Red Bluff)

Real airplanes have 2 wings and round motors........

regarding the wives.. mine loves my RC stuff .. she likes my Maxx / Buggy but she LOVES my planes .. I build from kits, and she is amazed how it all comes together ! .. I have to admit it's great having that support...

My wife has no interest in my planes. My 12 year old daughter has some, so when I get good enough I may try and teach her (she is too shy to have one of the other instructors, all male, at the field teach her).

Anyway, there is this 19-20 year old who comes to the field and drags his wife (yes, wife) each session and she either cleans up his stuff or sits in the car and stares into space. Either way, I think they are headed for problems.

Moral of the story, if they ain't interested, leave them at home.

GB

I am happy that I am still single