Sport Pilot Talk

But not both at the same time.
Wife yells at me, "NO I'M NOT GETTING INTO YOUR LITTLE GODDAMNED AIRPLANE!"
21 year old daughter sounded like she might go but then chickened out and SHE won't fly either.
Is there any magic words to get them to take the risk and see how much it is to skip the traffic and see Crater Lake from 10,000 feet?

Many folks, looking at an LSA, fear they'll be claustrophobic. Best thing is to take them out for a taxi test. Promise them that you won't go airborne, and assure them that you can stop, shut down, and let them out at any time (and be prepared to make good on that promise). Then, strap them in (one at a time, as you've said), close the canopy, start the engine, and take a slow stroll down the taxiway and back to the ramp. Stop, shut down, and ask them "how was that?" before you suggest anything further. If they realize it's not so cramped or scary, you may be over the huimp. (But then, let them ask for more. Don't push it.)

Good luck with that. About 30 years ago, I heard aviation author Gordon Baxter speak at Oshkosh. After his talk, he opened up the tent to questions. One guy said he couldn't get his wife to fly with him, and asked for advice. Bax merely said, "my first wife was like that."

Not suggesting anything...

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The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

I just signed in to make a post about this very topic!!!!

I was going to pose the question - how many non-flying spouses routinely fly with their flying partner? And for those whose spouses choose NOT to fly, how's that working for you?

I have the support of my wife to learn to fly - heck, she gave me ground school and a 10 hour block of flight time for my 40th birthday several years ago, but when I talk about flying.....which is pretty much every day, she doesn't even feign interest, she just doesn't care.
Last week I had a minor break-through - I mentioned to her that if we took off from the local airport near our lake home in Michigan that we could be on Mackinaw Island within an hour and a half, we could have lunch/early dinner and EASILY be back home before the sun went down.

She didnt DIRECTLY REACT, but she stopped doing what she was doing (knitting at the time) and I could see that she was doing the math- normally it's a LONG car ride, plus a ferry ride over to the island - it's a VERY LONG and complicated trip by automobile.

So for the next few days, instead of talking about ME flying, I talked about US flying to specific destinations that I know that she LOVES. Not shopping type trips, but State Parks, bed and breakfasts etc....chick stuff...you know?

But I BLEW IT!!!! I told her that I KNEW that she was thinking about flying with me because I noticed the changes in her actually listening to me.....I showed my cards too early.....now when I talk about flying, she appears to be uninterested.....again.

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Early time Sport Pilot Student after 40 years of dreaming!!!! Now I need to find a plane I fit in!!!

My wife will ask me to talk to her about flying and working on airplanes...








When she can't fall to sleep.

Women? There's no women in aviation?
Tom Hanks in "a League of Their Own"

Now SHOPPING! Maybe if I offered a cross country to Malls of America in MN?

There's women in Aviation when they're holding the CHECKBOOK!!!

I can swing the costs giving up one thing for another....she can write a check and buy a new plane. (She's my sugar-mamma)

Besides....a happy life comes from a happy WIFE!!!

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Early time Sport Pilot Student after 40 years of dreaming!!!! Now I need to find a plane I fit in!!!

My wife saw me come back from my first lesson on a turbulent day, green and praying for forgiveness.

It's a year later and I am taking my first post-cert ride, and first ride with her, tomorrow. She has been supportive. I've offered her rides with my CFI. But she's chosen not to go.

I think that she thinks that this is a marital duty. Of course I will be gentle; and provide dramamine.

We will be flying to a spectacular little BBQ restaurant on an airport 20-30 minutes away.

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Frank
Fayetteville, NC
KTTA, Sanford, NC
Allegro 2000 Renter

In that case, Frank, you have to be sure to tell her how much you appreciate her support. And, you have to tell her. Wives are terrible at reading our minds (even though they expect us to read theirs).

_________________
The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

Quit worrying about whether you wife flies with you or not, and don't feel guilty about it.
FWIW, my wife will fly with my happily. preferably on the way to see our kids or grandkids. She's flow with me in the 210 at 17,000', flown in solid IFR for several hours, flown any number of instrument approaches. But, she sees airplanes as a way to get something she wants. I see it as a way to have fun. I don't try to make the two converge.

Marriage counselling from Dr Paul.....

Like everthing else in aviation, does this cost something?

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Frank
Fayetteville, NC
KTTA, Sanford, NC
Allegro 2000 Renter

Absolutely. A similar discussion arose on CPA. A member said he bought an XYZ airplane with his wife's concurennce. Another asked him what it cost him. He said two horses.

Nope, Frank, the advice is free. It's my obligation as an elder. I only wish someone had given me this kind of advice during my first marriage...

_________________
The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

He probably got off cheap. Several years ago, my wife instituted a hobby tax (she pronounces it "hubby tax"). Whenever I buy anything for myself, I have to budget an additional 10% for her. It's not enough of a burden to deter me from indulging myself, but I have to plan for it. For her part, Muriel is more than happy to get her ten percent (which is enough to allow her some indulgences of her own). Whenever I decide to buy myself an airplane or sports car, she's more than supportive!

I'm not saying this is right for everyone, but it seems to work for us.

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The opinions expressed in this post are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the position of the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., CFII, LSRM-A/GL/WS
AvSport of Lock Haven
http://AvSport.org fly@AvSport.org

My first flight with my wife is in a couple of hours.

Last night, she asked me if I was going to do a flight plan like the ones she saw me doing when I was a student. I said, "No. I have this great tablet that you gave me for christmas."

Then it occurred to me: why not be as safe as possible. And why would I let her see me taking any shortcut. She is my passenger. She needs to be comfortable. If that includes me preparing a VFR flight plan, then so be it.

So I got out the VFR flight log, and the E6B. It's a 16 minute flight. But there's great BBQ on the other end.

I may even file a Flight Plan and request Flight Following...

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Frank
Fayetteville, NC
KTTA, Sanford, NC
Allegro 2000 Renter

So, wife and I did the first fligt.

Forecasts called for iso tsra into the afternoon. We were scheduled for noon to 2. The plan was for a 20-30 minute flight to an airport with a fabulous bbq restaurant rignt on tthe runway.

It clouded up as we got to the airport but metars and tafs indicated that ceilings would be 040-060 with rain later.

So we went. She was tense upon takeoff but I was too busy to deal with it for a few minutes. The destination airport was private so it wasn't listed on my plane's GPS but it was on my tablet's Avilution. Still had trouble finding it, it was a small airport.

I turned base too early so I was high so I tried to slip. She asked if flying sideways was normal.

All in all, she had a good time. She was very impressed with my training and will be flying again.

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Frank
Fayetteville, NC
KTTA, Sanford, NC
Allegro 2000 Renter