View Full Version : Would you accompany your partner on their first flying lesson?
DH got a flying lesson in a Cessna with a trained pilot, obviously, for his birthday. He chose a Saturday so that I could go with him.
I have a million commercial miles in the air, but somehow this is different.....
What do you think?
happystuff
12-3-21, 2:52pm
I think I would go to the airport, MEET THE INSTRUCTOR, find out the details on the lesson itself, and make my decision then. :)
Didn't vote for any of the poll options. Good luck deciding!! And I hope dh has a good time!
iris lilies
12-3-21, 3:10pm
We have important parental responsibilities towards our bulldog, so one of us has to survivor to take care of him. My poll response was “hell no.”
Sure, I'd go. On a first lesson the trained pilot will surely have hands on the controls, it sounds to me like a great adventure.
Having taken such a flight after doing several evenings of flight training, I took off with an experienced flight instructor. It was one of the highlight adventures of my life. I wanted no one else on this first flight. As I considered the cost of flight training with the expense of two teenagers, I was filled with gratitude for the opportunity but decided no additional training
I would not ever want to have to be considering if my partner was comfortable or anxious during that magic moment. Having said that if it was something that my partner really wanted to do but felt the need for support, I would go.
early morning
12-3-21, 4:08pm
Small planes are great fun! I don't much like commercial flying (it bothers me that the glide path of a commercial behemoth is approximately a 90 degree angle), but I'm up for a light plane flight any day. I voted GO :)
Sure, I'd go. On a first lesson the trained pilot will surely have hands on the controls, it sounds to me like a great adventure.
Part of the reason my eldest son gave his dad this gift for his birthday was that my DS remembered the hours and hours that DH spent on his home office computer on Flight Simulator.
So maybe one of the reasons I'm slightly nervous is that on the first of my two emergency landings, when the pilot was explaining why we had to turn back to Phoenix quickly, he said, "Don't worry folks. I've done this lots of times on the flight simulator. All I pictured in my mind's eye was the number of times at home when I heard the computer rumble in a crash when DH didn't quite make it to the runway on Flight Simulator. The pilot was less than reassuring for me.
I'll go, but I can't say I won't be a little nervous.
It's probably harmless, but I've had a harrowing experience with a small aircraft related to a work assignment and would personally avoid all voluntary pleasure flight in helicopters and small fixed wing. Probably goes for hot air balloons, too. Could be a personal problem.
Helicopters? No, never, nope, not me. Those are not aircraft.
iris lilies
12-3-21, 5:02pm
Helicopters? No, never, nope, not me. Those are not aircraft.
Oh! Helicoptors are not meant ro fly. The number of crashes supports that.
Haha, sorta.
Technically helicopters are a rotary winged aircraft, but avoidance is still a good choice and could have a flexible definition.
Technically helicopters are a rotary winged aircraft, but avoidance is still a good choice and could have a flexible definition.
That's fake news. They are deathtraps, not aircraft. I work with them every week, and you won't see me getting in one myself unless I am dying :-)
That's fake news. They are deathtraps, not aircraft. I work with them every week, and you won't see me getting in one myself unless I am dying :-)
On my first helicopter flight I asked if the pilot was good. The answer was, he's 44 years old.
I have stories about small fixed wing too and I would not voluteer to get in either. Hot air balloons are not aircraft and I'd not ride in one of those either.
EDIT: But it could be a personal issue. A simple training flight in good weather with an experienced pilot and maintained aircraft is pretty low risk and could be fun. I voted great (one time) adventure, but would not make a habit of it and would check a few details of the plane and pilot.
My answer was "Hell no!" because I wouldn't want to be a distraction. Although I'd welcome a video.
I think I'd want to go to the airport and then watch from the ground (and video it). I agree with Jane about being a distraction. The same as how if I were teaching a teenager to drive I wouldn't let them bring their best friend along, at least not for the first few outings.
That said, if your DH really really wants you there then I suppose I would go since this is probably not going to become a regular thing.
ToomuchStuff
12-3-21, 11:20pm
Wrong question.
The correct one, is while your husband choose a Saturday so that you can go with him, will the instructor, allow the distraction of another person?
Teacher Terry
12-4-21, 12:46am
I hate small planes so definitely no!
rosarugosa
12-4-21, 7:38am
If DH wanted me along, I wouldn't miss it for the world!
I'm sure it will be a dual control plane so it's not like your husband will be in solo control of the flying at this point. How do you feel about small planes with professional pilots in them?
My ex was a trained pilot, got up to nightflying instrument rating. He bought a plane. I only went up with him once and I was terrified. It's just so tiny and claustrophobic, and it didn't help that I did not trust his judgment. It was just like being on a roller coaster ride--really scary because of the size of the plane.
If he wants you to go, and you are not scared of flying, then go for it. I don't think you are in any danger.
But personally, I would never do it again.
iris lilies
12-4-21, 12:11pm
I'm sure it will be a dual control plane so it's not like your husband will be in solo control of the flying at this point. How do you feel about small planes with professional pilots in them?
My ex was a trained pilot, got up to nightflying instrument rating. He bought a plane. I only went up with him once and I was terrified. It's just so tiny and claustrophobic, and it didn't help that I did not trust his judgment. It was just like being on a roller coaster ride--really scary because of the size of the plane.
If he wants you to go, and you are not scared of flying, then go for it. I don't think you are in any danger.
But personally, I would never do it again.
I agree that she’s not in real danger, it’s just that for me it would not be fun.
I've gone up twice and my husband did not want to be there or even know that I was doing it. I was fine with that. One was in Georgian Bay Ontario and one was in Frederick MD . Both times I was able to take control...did not like that part much...just liked the ride!
So here is what happened:
This morning DH sent all kinds of text messages to the kids about flying up into the Wild Blue Yonder and maybe doing a barrel roll or two. The day was absolutely perfect for flying--not a cloud in the sky. So when we got there, our instructor, Matt, reassured us by telling us he's been flying since he was 18. Slightly less reassuring to hear that he's 21 and that these hours he puts in go towards Aviation School credits. We went over all the expectations for the flight and Matt set our flight plan so that we would fly up to our house in the Islands, and we could take pictures, and then swing around and follow the coastline back down to Burlington.
So we go out to the field where the Cessnas were and he told us that we were flying one of his favorite planes--even though it's one of the older ones. DH asked "How old is it?" Let's just say, that the plane is considerably older than Matt.
DH gets into the captain's seat and Matt explains how to taxi and how to take off. We do the checklist, get on the headsets, and start up the engine. DH did a great job taxi-ing, considering accelerating and braking are not exactly like driving a car.
We get to the runway, and Matt tells DH that DH will be pulling the throttle when they hit 50 knots. I'm sitting in the back taking videos and shooting them out to the kids and keeping quiet. I don't want ANYTHING to distract DH.
So ATC gives us the go-ahead for take-off, the prop spins, we accelerate--and then take off. I think I remember Matt saying that the altimeter read about 1,000 ft when DH says, "How high are we going to go?" Matt tells him to just keep accelerating. And then--
DH's acrophobia kicks in BIG TIME. He tells Matt, "I want to go back." Matt is a bit surprised but asks, "Do you need assistance?" DH says no he just wants to go back. So Matt informs ATC that we are headed back, to which ATC asks, "Do you need assistance?" Matt says, no someone is just not feeling well. DH tells Matt about his fear of heights and Matt says, "It will help if you just keep your gaze straight ahead." To which DH says, "I have my eyes closed." Matt says "That won't help." Meanwhile, DH is gripping the ceiling.
I have flashbacks of our honeymoon in Acapulco when we went parasailing and I thought it was so much fun, and the staff had to peal DH's fingers off the rope when we landed. I recall DH's favorite joke that the highest he likes to get is on a bar stool.
DH flies commercially often and has no problem with it. But this Cessna was almost if the plane was less like an instrument of transport and more like a motorized article of clothing--it was wrapped so tightly around us, which freaked out DH. Our flight into the Wild Blue Yonder lasted about 4 minutes.
It is a wonderfully unique experience that you shared with him. Sometimes, one has dreams of some activity; the reality just doesn't measure up but the wisdom and insights gained are worthwhile. That has happened to many people including me.
iris lilies
12-4-21, 8:50pm
Yay for your DH, clearly a man of common sense.
There are certain phobias we just don't have much control over. Hopefully there will be some entertainment in telling the story without causing anyone embarassment some day.
There are certain phobias we just don't have much control over. Hopefully there will be some entertainment in telling the story without causing anyone embarassment some day.
Yes, that's what I told DH: I praised his ability to taxi and take off so well, and I told him that true phobias are visceral responses. Frankly, I've always been amazed, knowing about this phobia, that he was able to rappel out of helicopters in the Marines.
I'm glad you went with him, now you both have another lifelong memory of a shared adventure.
Yay for your DH, clearly a man of common sense.
Yah on that. Heights get me too.
Oh dear. It will make a good anecdote some day...:help:
rosarugosa
12-5-21, 7:28am
I'm sorry it wasn't a more enjoyable experience.
When I was a kid (teen/young adult), one of my favorite things in the world was to go to the little airport in the White Mountains (North Conway) and ride in the small planes, open cockpits and gliders. If you were up for it, the pilots would do fun maneuvers and I was always up for it! I was never the one piloting though.
That's fake news. They are deathtraps, not aircraft. I work with them every week, and you won't see me getting in one myself unless I am dying :-)
Few things in life compare to being strapped into worn canvas netting with the doors open while an exuberant spirit pilots an aging UH-1 close to the ground.
happystuff
12-5-21, 12:33pm
Definitely an experience and great that you are both considering it a successful one! Congrats all around!
My experiences were doing high lake surveys for the state in a Mash type chopper with a bubble cockpit and open doors. Exploration geologists had tied up more altitude capable crafts like the Jet Rangers at the time. We flew over herds of elk browsing in meadows and among breathtaking mountain scenery. Downsides were the buzzers and red warning lights that came on at about 12,000 feet and a non-functing fuel guage. The pilot fueled up based on flight time and used a wooden yardstick dipped into the fuel tanks as a guage. One time we landed in field to check fuel and the yardstick was barely moist. Auto rotate had been discussed.
An incredible experience for a live forever youth, but the start of my flight avoidance. I'm even not too hot on commercial airlines, but it can be a necessary evil.
The pilot fueled up based on flight time and used a wooden yardstick dipped into the fuel tanks as a guage. One time we landed in field to check fuel and the yardstick was barely moist.
This reminds me of that classic scene in "And Justice For All" when Al Pacino goes with the crazy judge in an airplane (or was it a helicopter?) and the judge tells him about the game he plays where he guesses when he's used up half the gas in the tank to see if he can make it back safely.
This reminds me of that classic scene in "And Justice For All" when Al Pacino goes with the crazy judge in an airplane (or was it a helicopter?) and the judge tells him about the game he plays where he guesses when he's used up half the gas in the tank to see if he can make it back safely.
In our case fuel was a weight consideration and would have been ok except for having to go around a storm and then getting lost.
Oh my goodness, Rogar, that is an amazing set of memories. I love the vision of the elks from the air.
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