my dad flew quite a bit too,  but when he came to visit me
recently (via the airlines) it was the very first time that
he i) flew in a jet; ii) landed with the airplane with which
he took off; iii) was doing it willingly and for fun; and
iv) was not carrying a weapon in the process.

not sure if that counts,

–Sylvain

On my mothers side of the family, my grandfather flew several planes in
WWII.  He is probably the sole reason for my appeal to flying.  His favorite
aircraft was the PBY-Catalina.  My uncle also has a private pilots license
and used to own a taildragger.  Today though I am the only active pilot.

–
John Huthmaker
huthmak…@email.uophx.edu
"john smith" <jsm…@net.net> wrote in message

news:jsmith-FC4EB1.14032620092005@news-rdr-01.ohiordc.rr.com…

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> Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

> My father flew, that is how I got started. We never owned a plane of our
> own, only rented. I got my first plane ride when I was three.
> He was my first passenger upon passing my PPC checkride and J3 checkout.
> I got to fly him to Oshkosh for his first trip there.

news:jsmith-FC4EB1.14032620092005@news-rdr-01.ohiordc.rr.com…

> Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

> My father flew, that is how I got started. We never owned a plane of our
> own, only rented. I got my first plane ride when I was three.
> He was my first passenger upon passing my PPC checkride and J3 checkout.
> I got to fly him to Oshkosh for his first trip there.

My father passed away in 1972 having never even flown as a passenger.

My oldest brother got his pilots license in 1970, my #2 brother was scarred
to death of flying.

–
Matt
———————
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

news:gu0Ye.255669$E95.174206@fed1read01…

>> I grew up knowing that my father was a top turret gunner in the 100th
>> Bomb Group on a B-17 late in WWII. In the last few years I also found out
>> that my dad started taking flying lessons in the early 40′s in a Luscombe
>> (currently located just south of Jay H.) but never soloed. I also had an
>> uncle that use to fly until he got married in the late 30′s or early
>> 40′s. His wife forbade him from flying again.

> Weren’t the top turret gunners usually the highest ranking enlisted man on
> board?

> Why do I remember that it was often a sargeant up there?  Safer
> (relatively speaking?)

Yes, he was a Sgt/TTE. See his crew here
http://100thbg.org/mainpages/crews/crews5/guhse.htm He’s the last one of his
crew.

-Greg B.

news:433064ff$1@news1.dpn.deere.com…

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> "john smith" <jsm…@net.net> wrote in message
> news:jsmith-FC4EB1.14032620092005@news-rdr-01.ohiordc.rr.com…
>> Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

> This topic has revealed a fact that I have not thought of before: I may be
> the only person in our family that has held a pilot’s certificate. There
> may
> have been some members that flew during wartime, but I am not aware of
> them.
> Even so, I don’t recall any member of my family, mother or father’s side
> that flew airplanes privately.

> Talk about bucking the trend!

> -Trent
> PP-ASEL, trendsetter.

Only two pilots in my family history that I’m aware of:

I had an uncle who flew the photo-recon version (F6? or F5?) of the Mustang
in WWII.

I have a cousin who I’ve not seen in many years who flew two tours in Cobra
Gunships in Viet Nam and then went on to become (possibly) one of the
earliest "Mr Moms" on the planet (mid 1970′s).  He married a world-class
chemist (I’m told she invented Calgon Bath Beads amongst other things…)
and he stayed home with the kids while continuing to fly in the Army
National Guard and also deliver new GA helos to customers across the
country.  By weird coincidence, I actually photographed him flying several
years ago at an airshow … his unit was long gone back to base by the time
I discovered he was one of the demo pilots.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
AZ Cloudbusters
Chandler, AZ

news:jR%Xe.617$L45.285@fe07.lga…

> "john smith" <jsm…@net.net> wrote in message
> news:jsmith-FC4EB1.14032620092005@news-rdr-01.ohiordc.rr.com…
>> Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

> I grew up knowing that my father was a top turret gunner in the 100th Bomb
> Group on a B-17 late in WWII. In the last few years I also found out that
> my dad started taking flying lessons in the early 40′s in a Luscombe
> (currently located just south of Jay H.) but never soloed. I also had an
> uncle that use to fly until he got married in the late 30′s or early 40′s.
> His wife forbade him from flying again.

Weren’t the top turret gunners usually the highest ranking enlisted man on
board?

Why do I remember that it was often a sargeant up there?  Safer (relatively
speaking?)

Jay B

news:jsmith-FC4EB1.14032620092005@news-rdr-01.ohiordc.rr.com…

> Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

I grew up knowing that my father was a top turret gunner in the 100th Bomb
Group on a B-17 late in WWII. In the last few years I also found out that my
dad started taking flying lessons in the early 40′s in a Luscombe (currently
located just south of Jay H.) but never soloed. I also had an uncle that use
to fly until he got married in the late 30′s or early 40′s. His wife forbade
him from flying again.

(OT) My dad and I are going to Pittsburgh next week for a 100th Bomb Group
reunion. It’s great to listen to all the stories!
http://100thbg.org/index.htm

-Greg B.

Jim

"  (We live

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> under a victor airway from SAC to RENO)

We spent summer Sundays at airports.  Pilots are not an especially congenial
lot, especially when talking to casual visitors.  So we stood aloof and
watched.  I developed a love for the sheer mystery of it all.  Sometimes,
even now I look at my wings above the clouds and cannot believe that anyone,
especially I, can do this.  I take my father along whenever I can.

My mother passed away about five years ago.  She left me some money, and I
used it to buy an old airplane. I believe that machine has a benevolent and
protective soul which has saved me on more than one occasion.  My mother was
totally devoted to my brother and me, and nothing keeps her memory closer
than flying that airplane.

The first long trip in the airplane after I got my license was when I took
the family to Disneyworld.  It was a picture-perfect trip, but destined to
be our last as a family.  We divorced shortly thereafter.

On the other hand, my two boys couldn’t care less about flying.  I could
interest the older boy a little when I told him that chicks dig pilots, but
now that he’s older he calls my bluff and says well, what happened to you?

"john smith" <jsm…@net.net> wrote in message

news:jsmith-FC4EB1.14032620092005@news-rdr-01.ohiordc.rr.com…

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

> Just curious how much "trickle-down" aviation there is among us?

> My father flew, that is how I got started. We never owned a plane of our
> own, only rented. I got my first plane ride when I was three.
> He was my first passenger upon passing my PPC checkride and J3 checkout.
> I got to fly him to Oshkosh for his first trip there.