I've never liked Air Force pilots much.
I've always thought that they were a bunch of egotistical bastards who were too full of themselves for my liking, and are/were incredibly clique-y.
I still think they're egotistical, but I understand the clique-y-ness now. My husband and family have gorwn tired of my trying to explain to them the feeling of incredible lightness that occurs as you pull back on the controls and are airborne. We were driving around the perimiter road this afternoon and saw a plane taxi-ing on to the runway. I gave a running commentary about what the pilot was doing: as he hesitated before getting on the runway "he's getting permission from the tower to get on the runway. I did that too...": as he was aligned on the runway and started moving down in "now he's giving it full throttle and waiting to get up to speed; once he gets there he's going to ease back on the control and away he'll go..." : as he was airborne and banking to the right "it's awesomely cool to be in control of a machine that's hundreds of feet above the earth and to be able to see what's going on down below you".
They sighed and rolled their eyes. I think, though, that had they been on that plane with me or had flown a plane themselves, they'd understand why I talk about it the way I do. They'd know the feeling I'm trying to describe to them, they'd have felt it themselves and would share my enthusiasm for it.
I once knew a bomber pilot who became ill and who wasn't allowed to fly anymore. He said that he stood at the window of his hospital room and watched as his fellow fliers took off, and he just laughed hysterically before breaking down and crying hysterically ....because he knew that he'd never, ever, get to do that again. (The illness he had would be a lifelong thing and meant he'd never be able to have a pilots license again).
I understand that reaction now. I'm determined to fly again, I'm determined to go to flight school and learn what I need to know. I'm going to try and get through this medical transcription class as fast as I can so I can get a job and pay for flight school. The thought of never feeling that lightness again brings an overwhelming sense of disappointment with it already, and I've only flown once.
I understand why pilots seek out other pilots to talk to now. I undertstand why they want to talk to other people who have had the same experiences as themselves. The need to share, the need to talk about it and have someone else understand what you mean....I get why they need that. I need it too.
I asked my instructor if he ever got tired of flying, and he said "Hell no. I've been doing this for 40 years, and I've never got tired of it. I don't think I ever will"
I believe him.