Missing in Action

[Arnulf]

"Allowed to" being the important statement here. My wife is really great and gives me freedom to do many things but unfortunately she is really scared of the safety aspect and the risk that I may just fall out of the sky leaving her and the kids to fend for themselves. This is really a difficult debate to win as she has some valid concerns. It is not just about microlights but flying in general. She has flown in a trike and thinks it is great but at this stage of our lives she thinks the risk is not worth taking. I do after all have to think about the kiddies as well. I agree that there are risks with driving, etc but the perception of the uneducated will always be a negative one, just mention the word microlight and many people say "NO WAY....ARE YOU MAD ".

I will not give up though and one day in the future I will be able to participate in this forum as an active trike pilot. It will remain a dream until fulfilled. In the interim I catch a flip when available, it helps to keep the juices flowing.

I understand - And also understand your wife's concerns.

D

In full understanding of your wife's concern. Thats the reason why I did not start microlighting earlier. Waited till kids were on short finals finishing school, and enough ash on the side to see them through tertiary education. Bonus was that when I started microlighting, my son was old enough that we could do it together.

Regards,
Arnulf

[Barnstormer]

Gentleman

I really respect you..., and your wifes.

When I wanted to start training, I could see that my wife was worried. But we talked it through, and she agreed.

Things changed a bit when we learned of a planned Pink Foot being on the way. I really do not want to leave them alone and offered to stop if she was too scared. However, she said that she will not stand in my way. But I really have to be super safe, which I really try to be. We are now even looking for a fairly priced 3-axis!

To those having the will power and (can't find the right word for deursettings vermoee) to wait, I salute and respect you.

I really enjoy flying, in safe conditions!

Greetings!

BTW: On the real topic, I agree, I miss all the dudes who do not comment anymore! Any of them want to sell at a young man's price

[zucac]

my ex woud not let me fly .i do not miss her,love my new plane.

brett

[slysi]

my ex woud not let me fly .i do not miss her,love my new plane.

brett

Trouble is you can't have sex with a plane

[Dish]

If she wasnt loving him flying, he wouldnt have been having sex anyway... ?/

Rather be flying and not getting any, than not flying and not getting any cos she is dikbek...

Hell we aviators have some tough decisions to make....

:D

[Morph]

Now comeon guys, everyone knows that if you love your wife more than your plane you must be gay

Seriously, I waited for my kids to be out and about before I shook off the shackles of gravity. I know you young'uns might think differently but wait until you have a family of rug rats to look after. The female protective instinct kicks into high gear and she is not going to let you go off and wipe yourself out. It's easier when the kids have moved out.

[DieselFan]

And here I thought I'd fit a baby chair...

[Tailspin]

My Wife and i discussed the matter and we have the following agreement.

As long as i am safe and i let her know where and what is going on she is sorta ok.
Not allways happy but willing to let me live my dream.

[slysi]

Now comeon guys, everyone knows that if you love your wife more than your plane you must be gay

Seriously, I waited for my kids to be out and about before I shook off the shackles of gravity. I know you young'uns might think differently but wait until you have a family of rug rats to look after. The female protective instinct kicks into high gear and she is not going to let you go off and wipe yourself out. It's easier when the kids have moved out.

Well said Sir Morph. Kids change everything! The better half was quite willing to jump out of a perfectly good plane with a piece of cloth on her back before we had kids. Ask her if she will do it now. NOT

[zucac]

my new girlfrend loves sex.flying is now on my terms

[Dish]

You are a master !!!

[Barnstormer]

Aaaahhh...

What will I do to try and relax, take a break from the stress of slaving on some work


Check may mail for any "admin@migrolighters" mail, Read, and laugh at your comments

Thank you Guys!

BTW I really love my wife

[Miskiet]

If your wife has any scientific background it should be easy to convince her - if she's irrational and emotional and easily upset you might struggle a bit.

Ask her to come with you to an airfield and evaluate the "microlighting scene" rationally and thoroughly. Look at the accident reports. Take her out to an airfield and get a good instructor to switch the engine off overhead and land the plane. Measure out the distance it took from the wheels touched till standstill. Let her watch the air speed indicator while your'e landing. Let them explain everything that is happening while they are flying.... Most often people that say it is dangerous is not educated on the matter - EDUCATE them! After all it is you wanting to fly!

I do not understand where this perception of "microlights is dangerous" come from.

1. They land at 30mph - if everything comes undone and you totally mess up you are still likely to walk away without anything more serious than a scratch

2. They can land in a really, really short distance. You can put them down almost anywhere without hurting yourself should the engine stop. Try that with a Cessna!

3. You can fit a ballistic chute for around R17k - This is insurance against a structural failure.

4. Any injury you sustain is likely to be your own fault - No taxis cutting in front of you, old ladies banging into you, cars skipping red lights etc. If you take meticulous care you will be OK. Flying is very intolerant of mistakes (Think Demon said that....)

5. Wear a helmet! You won't allow your kids to cycle without one! This will drastically improve your chances of survival in a crash. All microlight pilots should wear them.

99% of the fatalities that occured in microlighting has been pilot error (Flying low, powerlines, risky manouvres, overweight, stalling near ground, flying in poor weather etc. - If you drive a car like a cowboy your'e chances of survival is also slim. Why should you think it will be different in an aircraft?) Like almost everything in life you will be Ok if you do it responsibly. We cannot protect ourselves against the one in a million freak accidents that happen.

I'm amazed that some people have no issues with their kids riding quadbikes (deathtraps) but yet are dead set against trikes.

[PhilWest]

My wife is really great and gives me freedom to do many things but unfortunately she is really scared of the safety aspect and the risk that I may just fall out of the sky leaving her and the kids to fend for themselves. This is really a difficult debate to win as she has some valid concerns. It is not just about microlights but flying in general. She has flown in a trike and thinks it is great but at this stage of our lives she thinks the risk is not worth taking. I do after all have to think about the kiddies as well. I agree that there are risks with driving, etc but the perception of the uneducated will always be a negative one, just mention the word microlight and many people say "NO WAY....ARE YOU MAD ".

I will not give up though and one day in the future I will be able to participate in this forum as an active trike pilot. It will remain a dream until fulfilled. In the interim I catch a flip when available, it helps to keep the juices flowing.

Hi Simon....I'm in the same position as you and for now i think its just a dream to come true somewhere in the near future.

I respect my wife's concerns. So, i have decided to go for the next best thing and thats to buy myself a yacht. If i can't fly to Langebaan at least i can sail there.

[DieselFan]

It's interesting that your wives are so concerned about safety yet imo are mislead, I agree with Miskiet on this one. Before doing anything I try to do loads of research, my wife trusts my judgement and in terms of safety I wouldn't fly if I or her thought and found it dangerous.

As an example
My mate bought 3 mountain bikes and in 4 months he has had quite a few prangs that weren't always his fault. Another guy's brakes failed and plowed into him, knocking himself and his 3 year old daughter (backseat) over, sustaining minor knocks, bruises and scratches. He in turn knocked his 7 year old. She almost lost her front teeth. BUT he will continue to ride as will his daughters. His bikes cost almost as much as some trikes in the for sale section! I've done the 4x4ing, road and offroad cycling, quad bikes etc.

In the last 10 months and over 200 hours I've yet to bump my lip and thats been in high winds, turbulent wx, and cold winter days - I did get frostbite on my hands once.

The way I see it a trike's stall is a tad quicker than a bike - slowing down on mine to 64km/h-40mph. It should be like coming off a bike, although the chances of having a forced landing are less than falling off a bike.

As far as parachutes go, my instructors have been flying for over 15 years and 5000+ hours, their take is well they haven't needed one yet. I think it might encourage me to fly gungho?

We make "safety" choices all the time - 4 stroke or 2, Rotax or VW or, when I had to premix and the attendant put more than 10ml too much I would trash the petrol or compensate on 2nd Jerry can. Would I use the syphon pipe thats been sitting on the fence? No engine instruments or insufficient for your engine type is like have blind faith - in man. All things to make flying even safer.

My wife's biggest concern is becoming a Microlight Widow and not from my death but from me flying too much