Flying

[ClaireBlooming]

Any aviators/aviatrixes?  We had an aviation thread on here but it may have been a casualty of the crash.

Been flying for almost 30 years, I'm flying widebodies at a legacy airline now.  I've also gotten back into GA.  I fly a 182 regularly and I'm getting my helicopter add-on, which was always a lifelong goal of mine.  Next stop after I financially recover from the helicopter rating  will be a taildragger endorsement.

It's amazing how many gender-diverse people I've met that are in aviation.  Back in the old IRC days, when our computers ran off of steam power, mentioning aviation could turn a trans chat room into a hangar flying session.  In fact, the first trans woman I ever met was a helicopter CFI. 

--Claire

[BlueJaye]

I was a student pilot several years ago. I ended up quitting due to financial constraints. But I am currently part of an aviation startup that I might be saying more about in the near future.

[D'Amalie]

I too began flight school but found it a richer citizen's game.  Now my health precludes trying again.

Good luck with the venture.  Find your balance and keep on keeping on!

[Donica]

I got my PPL back in 1988. My time consist mostly in Cessna 152's, 172's, Piper PA-28's, and recently a PA-18 Super Cub, that a dear friend owns. You're not catching me at my best in this photo. This was 2 weeks post-op from GCS revision.


A fellow lady with wings.
Donica

[KathyLauren]

I just discovered this thread.  I joined the RCAF (except it wasn't "royal" back then) when I was in university.  I trained as a pilot and then a flying instructor.  I totally loved the flying and especially the instructing.  I was in the air force for 8 years in all.

But I wasn't cut out for military life.  It would be many decades in the future before I figured out why.  I got my civilian commercial pilot's license when I got out, but there were unemployed pilots sweeping hangar floors at the time, so I went with my Plan B and got into IT, another career that attracts trans people.  The attraction is likely the same: machines don't judge.

I kept up my medical for a few years, but found that I was renting a Cherokee every three months just to stay current enough that I could rent it again three months later.  That seemed a bit pointless.  I still love to talk about flying, though. 

Back in the old IRC days, when our computers ran off of steam power, mentioning aviation could turn a trans chat room into a hangar flying session.

LOL.  That is still true, as our long-suffering host discovered on a trans Zoom meeting last Saturday!

[BlueJaye]

Can you introduce the aviation startup you are working on in detail? I'm really curious about that

No, we are still fundraising and it would be risky to say much more about it.