Thanks to Capt.Propwash and Larry "Patchz"

[Flying Trucker]

Goodly morning all... :)

Thanks to Capt.Propwash and Larry "Patchz" for their replies in my post:
Simviation>Screenshot Showcase>Puttin About

I got to thinking...

Oh no you all say....he is thinking again...

Many of us started our interest in aviation and our flying careers sitting on a fence, leaning on a fence, sitting on a picnic table, holding our parents hand at the local bugsmasher field.

If you were lucky perhaps a military brat on a large military airforce station or base.

Then something happened, perhaps we got a part time job or even a full time job as a ramp rat at a small airfield or a dockhand at a float/seaplane base.

As time went on we all progressed up the aviation ladder doing jobs like fueling fixed or rotary wing aircraft.

Tying loads down, loading luggage, freight and perhaps some time at the dispatch/despatch counter moved us up the aviation ladder.

If we haven't lost our enthusiasm for aviation by now, then our big moment of becoming part of the aircrew happened, we became a flying loadmaster, flight engineer or even progressed into the left seat or right seat on some helicopters after some time as a co-pilot.

Maybe just maybe we had enought money to get our Commercial Flying Licence and Water Endorsement to start right off Swamping, the Piper Cub, Cessna 180 or 185 on floats were our stepping stones up that long aviation ladder.

After fifty or so years and almost at the top of the ladder something happens.
We don't have a job, we retire.
The aviation bug still has us and we have several more rungs on that aviation ladder to reach the top.

But somehow we all get to the top of that aviation ladder, and where are we?

Standing, leaning or sitting on a fence watching all kinds of flying machines.

If we are really lucky we sit at home in front of an electronic
gizmo called a home computer and fly our flight simulator and then visit all our aviation friends at a forum called "Simviation"

Now aren't you glad I don't think too often....

Thanks guys for bringing back some fond  memories...

Have a great day.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[patchz]

Based on what you have typed Doug, life seems to be a circle for most. Mine however, would look more like a ship's helm, with each 'knob' representing where I went off on some tangent. But your basis is sound, in that even a ship's wheel with all the bumps in the road, eventually comes back around.

[Flying Trucker]

Right on Larry...

If everything was perfect I think it would be a dull old world.

I typed the post thinking about the comments made by you two, you working on the ramp at one time and Capt. Propwash loading luggage on an aircraft.

There are many folks in aviation careers that have no intention of flying and never wanted to be a pilot.

Not sure you know this but there are many many professional copilots.  They are quite happy to sit next to a captain and have no ambition to be a captain.

I never quite understood their position but I flew with several of them.

The old girl and I were playing Bridge last night and one of the nattering nannies said:
"Oh if I only had my life to lead over again"

The old girl and I looked at each other and smiled as we were both thinking the same thing.

Why would you want to lead your life over, me I would want to do something different.
Me, I would want to be a Star Ship Captain...park my star ship over top of the Legion, beam down for a cold beer or two and then beam back up again...just to give the locals and authorities something to scream and run in circles about...

Well I am off to see what John and the lads are building in the Homebuilt Forum.  Still trying to get some ideas myself.

Have a great day...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[patchz]

Quite right Doug. I do understand where the co-pilots are coming from, as I never wanted to be Chief or even Assistant Chief. Too much paperwork and politics.

[Flying Trucker]

Goodly morning all...

I wonder if the world would quit moving if we cut out all useless paper advertising/flyers and did away with some government paperwork at all levels.

As for political interference, that is just as good as reading the funny section/comics of the newspaper...


Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Capt.Propwash]

You're welcome Doug. Glad that I can dredge up some fond memories for you.

My estranged father was a C-141 Starlifter Loadmaster for the Air Force back when I was a little boy.

[Flying Trucker]

Thanks for posting that Link with all your photos...Awesome...

Thanks also for your comments...much appreciated...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug