Flying is Cool

“Flying is awesome. I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to do it?”

These were the words of my 13 year old niece, Emilie, as we were completing our final circuit to land back at Attitude HQ after an early evening flight around the Fylde coast.

So, flying is officially cool.

I’m certain of this because not only was my niece impressed but also my 10 year old nephew, Elliot. To be fair, Emilie has been flying with me several times now and always enjoys herself, but it was Elliot’s first time and he was unusually focussed and smiled, a lot!

“Wow that was cool!” – the 60 degree 2G turns always go down well with younger student pilots I find…

As an aside, I was particularly pleased that neither of them used the word ‘sick’ – or any other random phrase that I wouldn’t understand because I’m over 17 – to describe their evaluation of the flight. Especially just after the 2G turns…

However, I understand that had it been called ‘sick’ that would also have been complimentary hyperbole.

To be fair I remember when I was a kid, we adopted our own language as part of our identity which I’m pretty sure my parents rolled their eyes at too.

Anyone remember phrases like “That’s rad man!”?

Oh, ok, maybe it was just me then…

Anyway, why am I so pleased to have received external validation from young people for something that I already know to be true?

Simple really.

I’ve had numerous conversation with people around the field about why more young people aren’t coming to do what we do. Even the ones who have a relative with an aircraft, seem apathetic to how much fun and enjoyment can be had and is available to them. I know my own kids are to some extent certainly an example of that. I’ve offered to teach them all to fly and none of them are interested.

I’m hoping that one day that will change.

Before this weekends flight, this post was already in draft and was entitled “Why aren’t more young people interested in flying?” Well, ok it wasn’t really going to be entitled that, as that’s just a question, but that was going to be the essence of the title, when I’d got around to finishing it.

Anyway, I’ve since rewritten it (you know this, you are reading it) as I’m thrilled to have been able to take my young niece and nephew into the sky to experience what we do and to open their eyes to a sport that needs more young ambassadors to make it rad, erm, sorry I mean cool, or possibly even ‘sick’.

Elliot has already proclaimed to me that when he is 14 he is going to Flight School – and I’m sure Emilie will continue to enjoy flying every opportunity that she has and maybe she would like to learn to fly? Who knows?

For those of you reading this with access to an aircraft, get out their and spread the word. Take a young relative flying and show them what its all about.

Flying is cool!

And for those of you who are younger and perhaps wonder what the big deal is? Ask someone to take you flying and see for yourself. It will open the door to a perspective you will not forget and might change your view of the world. If nothing else we can always do some ‘non-aerobatic’ manoeuvres to make you smile – 2G turns anyone?