If you haven't followed me for a while (or gone stalking through my profile!) you may not know that aviation is a huge part of my life.
Before chronic illness hit me, my career was that of a commercial pilot and I was a vintage aircraft display pilot and mechanic.
People often consider aviation to be a technical career, and obviously that's a big facet, but aircraft rarely crash because of technical issues alone, it is usually because of the errors or poor decisions of the human beings at the controls. This is where my fascination in the human factor, and how we tick began.
I trained "soft skills" within the airline, but it was in vintage aviation that I really enjoyed the connection between (wo)man and machine, and a skill where systems knowledge and procedures are not enough.
The aircraft in the photo was built in the 1920s and is entirely made of wood and fabric (barring smaller parts such bolts, screws, bearings and brackets, and the all important engine!). These organic materials swell, contract and flex with changes of weather, temperature, altitude etc, so the aeroplane never flies the same!
It has no electrics (so no starter motor!) and no brakes, so you really notice each bump, slope and surface that you are on.
The flying surfaces are held in place by small "flying wires" which "sing" often in flight if you're lucky and, as you can see, it's open cockpit, so you feel every change in airflow, hear the engine tappets tapping, the exhaust gas escaping, the air hitting each surface at different angles, and smell the freshly cut grass, bonfires or steam trains as you fly around!
It's immersive.
Having all these experiences at once can be very overwhelming on the senses for anyone not used to it, but for me it was how pilot and aircraft became one as we drifted and adjusted through the changing air currents.
I may not be able to fly like I used to, but this connection to all the senses and partnership to journey to a destination, in various conditions, isn't that far removed from my coaching career now, but this time you're the pilot and I'm your wing man!
Let's reprogramme your autopilot and start smiling more 💛.
📧 hello@rookatme.com
#coaching #aviation #vintageaviation #aboutme
Инженер самоучка при ХАИ
9moI propose a really good flying AIR CAR.