Gunnies and Pilots

[Packman]

This threads mainly for the pilots on the board...

So I took my Instrument Rating today, and passed. I had to go past the range on the way home, and it reminded me of a guy I'd met at the airport a while back. Big time gun collector. As I was driving home, I got to thinking.

How many of you gun guys are pilots? I seem to meet an awful lot of pilots who are pro-gun.

As pilots, what's your view of the FFDO (Federal Flight Deck Officer) Program?

Does your view change from the standpoint of a gunny?

Are you a professional pilot? Do you consider yourself a pilot who's a gun guy, or a gun guy who's a pilot?

Why do you think there's as strong a base of support in the aviation community for shooting as there is? I find it interesting, the overwhelming majority of pilots I meet a conservative/libertarian, and in favor of gun rights.

I once heard someone say that the general aviation community has a lot in common with the shooting community. Both are relatively small (I know, I mean active shooters like on this board, not the guy with granddads old shotgun in the closet.) and often under attack by the media. Both wield a decent amount of political clout (EAA, AOPA, NRA). Both have a huge grass-roots support base.

Thoughts? Comments? Observations?

 

[737Driver]

Congrats on your instrument rating, enjoy the extra freedom it gives and now you have even more reasons to go flying and practice!

I am a professional pilot first and a gun guy as a close second!
I would agree that many pilots are gun owners and shooters, not too suprising seeing as they both deal with mechanical devices, are challenging and use technical jargon Not to mention most gun owners and pilots share a distrust of the feds.

Not going to comment too much on the FFDO program as it is rightly so a secretive society, gotta keep the bad guys guessing, and that is a good thing.

 

[Golden Hound]

You have to be intelligent to be a pilot.

You have to be pro-gun to be intelligent.

All A's are C's.

 

[ClemY]

I have been a shooter my whole life. I was a military pilot for 10 years. I haven't been able to keep up with the flying, but I will never give up the shooting.

 

[Pilot]

Well, I'm a pilot and have a little Grumman Tiger that I've owned for many years and have flown all over the U.S. I've used it to fly places to shoot and always keep a pistol in my flight bag as part of my survival gear. I think both are avocations as we have to maintain proficiency, so I hesitate to call either a "hobby". I've been shooting most of my life and a private pilot for the last 15 years. With avgas (100LL) at $5.35 a gallon at my home airfield its getting expensive, just like buying bullets. I can reload my own ammo, but I can't make my own gas.

Congrats on the IR. It really is necessary if you want to actually go places.

 

[AFRetired]

I am a retired military pilot, current professional pilot, lifelong gun guy and am intimately familar with the FFDO program. Most of the gun guys I know at my airline are or are considering becoming FFDO's as well.

Flying and shooting as hobbies both require some measure of disposable income, perhaps these individuals enjoy some of the same political views due to their similar ecomomic status. That's a gross generalization, of course. I've known pilots who were flaming liberals and those who hated guns as well. But in general, pilots seem to value personal freedoms, including gun ownership.

 

[AlaskaErik]

I'm a pilot who's looking to sell his plane. But with av gas prices being even higher than automotive fuel prices, it's just too expensive anymore and the market is very soft. I'm looking at taking up sailing when I do finally sell the plane.

 

[Chipperman]

Just tell Congress that you are a struggling airline about to go bankrupt. They'll bail you out.

Sorry you have to sell your plane.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Been flying almost as long as I've been into guns, 48 years.

Started private flying in 1960.


Went through the Army Warrant Officer helicopter program in 1964.


Flying for a living ever since.


A few years ago I retired from Petroleum Helicopters Inc, after flying for them 29 years.


Shortly after 9-11 we didn't need no stinking Feds to tell us to protect ourselves.

 

[Pilot]

I'm a pilot who's looking to sell his plane. But with av gas prices being even higher than automotive fuel prices, it's just too expensive anymore and the market is very soft.

Between HUGE maintenance bills and high fuel prices, its getting really hard to justify owning an airplane. I've toyed with selling mine too, but as you say its a soft market. I just had the annual inspection from H*ll, but I have to remember like many others its a 30 year old plane. If I do sell it, I may look into a partnership on a newer Mooney or Cirrus.

 

[Bobarino]

i'm a private pilot with no medical at the moment. congrats on the IR! that's awesome! i know lots of pilots locally and i can't think of a single one that is anti-gun. my cousin is a pilot for the Air Nat'l Guard (OH58's and UH60's) and he's as big a gun nut as i am, if not more so.

i think its a personal responsibility and personal freedom thing that makes for the common bonds. there's probably a lot more to it than just those though.

i'll be going to my first open carry event tomorrow. looking forward to that. wish i could fly though, wx is great this weekend.

Bobby

 

[def4pos8]

Yeah firearms and flying things tend to go together. I've been a private pilot since '73 and a gun fanatic since '80. A while back I was a Minuteman 3 combat crew commander. What's not to love there! Mach 21 approach speed, incredible G-forces and a few megatons at your fingertips! --sort of the ultimate firearm. For me, it's the technical/industrial art aspects that are most attractive. Recoil/G-force induced endomorphs are a close second.

The airplane I restored/own/fly is a "straight tail" 172 Cessna -- the 170 with a nosewheel conversion -- built prior to the existence of the FAA. Does that make me a Libertarian?

I'm not a commercial aviator but Son #1 (aka: Airline Boy) has finally lined up a training slot to become an FFDO.

So it goes!

 

[mgkdrgn]

Pilot here also. 12 years co-owner of a PA28-180D in Suburban MD, now a co-owner of a Mooney M20-C here in central South Carolina. Been around guns all my life (all 52 years). Most of the pilots I know well (mainly from MDland) are also "gunnies", some in a pretty big way.

Ride motorcycles too if that counts for anything.

 

[Pilot]

Nice Mooney! I love the M20 series. I have a decent amount of time in an M20F. Have you seen the usefull load on the newer Mooneys, and newer planes in general?

 

[Poper]

I'm a former GA pilot, but it got way too expensive, way too fast for my budget. As a low-time pilot (less than 150 hrs.) I had to give it up, but still have the yearning to fly. I let the AOPA membership lapse, but still maintain EAA and NRA.

I found flying and shooting sports have much in common. To name a few:
Both require great discipline to do well.
Both can be deadly due to carelessness or loss of attention.
Both require strict attention to detail (especially if you reload).
Both require dedication.
Both the gun owner and the pilot assume great risk and great responsibility when they practice/apply their skills.

To date, I can honestly say I never had an accident of any kind while pilot in command, nor have I ever had a negligent discharge.
<Knock's on wood.>

JM2C

Poper

 

[blackcash88]

Former Navy helo pilot here. Have commercial helo, multi-engine fixed wing, instrument, CFI/II single and multi-engine fixed wing ratings. Haven't remained current due to the expense.

 

[Hk91-762mm]

I am a private =SEL and I used to own a PA-28-180.
After so many times I would ask friends -Its a beautiful day Lets fly to erie Pa for Lunch and they say NAAaaa There a football game on and we want to see it --- and the cost of tiedown and anual Inspct. I sold it. Never regreted it eather .. I used the money to start a Gunshop.
Owning an aircraft is like having a second wife ---And a HI mantainance one at that....
I have driven 310 /402/172/and 152 cessena.
Cherokee 180s and a Huey.
Now I have hi BP and I think My flying days are done -

 

[blackcash88]

Like they always say...

If it floats, flies or f^cks, it's cheaper to rent.

HK, as for your high blood pressure, there are FAA approved medications you can take. I don't know what your situation is, but I lowered mine quite a bit by doing moderate exercise and a half-assed attempt to improve my diet. Less caffeine, too. If you smoke, drink, etc quit or cut way back. No medications or waivers needed for me.

 

[mgkdrgn]

"Have you seen the usefull load on the newer Mooneys, and newer planes in general? "

Yes, which is one of the reasons I rather like the old ones!

 

[oneshooter]

If you think the gas bill is high on your Cessna or Moonie? Try filling this one!!

And it can be yours for a paltry $2,450,000

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[COK]

Been a corporate pilot for 30 years and an avid shooter for 40 plus years.

 

[Mike OTDP]

I'm chuckling...I've got a private ticket (SEL, plus 7.9 hours airship dual time), but went through the Navy Test Pilot School as an engineer. Flew 22 different types, from a Pitts S2A to a KC-135. A most educational experience.

Pilots & gun owners are both pretty conservative/libertarian. I think it's a combination of the no-excuses responsibility and the desire for precise control. Touch-&-Go landings = shooting practice.

 

[taprackbang]

Pilot here

NOW we're talking.

Did someone say "pilot and progun?" That's like saying, "Fish LOVE water."

I am a Christian first, family man 2nd, pilot 3rd, and gun lover 2.5nd.
Here are some pics you guys may enjoy. I used to fly a Beechjet 400 and now I fly a TBM 700 for a corporation. I fly through some pretty intimidating weather, esp. in the Midwest at night on a scheduled freight run. My career is a little backwards; I went from flying the Beechjet 400 to flying freight at night.

BTW, I CARRY my Beretta 96 FS in .40 SW while in the air. (Shhhh.... No one needs to know.)

Congrats on your IFR rating. That is a big deal..

Homeland Security is a nation Riflemen.

 

[Packman]

Wow, I knew there were some pilots on the board, but I didn't realize there were this many!

Thanks everyone for the congratulations. It was a HUGE relief to pass the checkride.

Any of you pilots in Florida? I've been itching to fly a plane out somewhere to go shooting. There's some deserted Islands south of me, but I don't know about the legality of going there...

any of you ever been to River Ranch? I know they've got a skeet/trap range out there...

 

[blackcash88]

I've been itching to fly a plane out somewhere to go shooting. There's some deserted Islands south of me, but I don't know about the legality of going there...

Um, you gonna just up and land in the sand on the beach? If there's an airstrip there, then it isn't "deserted". Unless, of course, you are talking about using a float plane, but you didn't specify.