What do you do with your pilot licence?

[Builds By Baz]

I find myself in a weird new position in life, but also in this new pursuit of flying.

 

I've wanted to fly all my life and now that I've made the decision to go for it, I am suddenly hit with internal questions like, "What then?"

 

How did it happen for you ladies and gents? Did you enter with a mission to work or just go for fun? Did your goals change along the way? How many got their qual and thought, "That will do?"

 

I spent years working in the back of military aircraft, (Photo below 1999) always coveting that illustrious front seat. I thought it might be interesting to hear your stories.

 

Baz.

[Blueadventures]

For me it's something you want to do, some don't.  I called in a hangar this afternoon as I was on my way home from being at my aircraft.  The pilot there during our conversation said he meet a pilot who had just decided to stop flying; he was 100 years young and started flying at 85; he is another who wanted to fly and did it.  Enjoy your flying endeavour, it's in your blood.  Cheers.

[kgwilson]

Everyones Aviation journey is unique. I have been obsessed with flying ever since I was a little kid. From paper darts to balsa wood cutout spitfires, kites and eventually model aircraft starting with gliders with  aerofoil doped tissue wings & then powered models with 3/4 cc diesel engines & up to 1.5cc at around age 12. A friend of my father was a pilot during WW2 & owned a Tiger Moth & he took me for my first flight. I was 9 or 10. Girls & motorbikes dominated during my teens & I travelled the world in my early 20s & saw early hang gliders in Switzerland & returning to NZ in 75 got in to hang gliding which I flew right in to the 90s. I flew my first powered aircraft in the late 70s, a weight shift controlled Quicksilver, & then began my journey to obtaining a PPL initially in a C150, then C152, C172 & my favorite touring aircraft Piper Archer 2 (PA28-181). I built my current aircraft over nearly 5 years from 2010 & fly this currently though I don't go on long trips these days.

When the sun is shining and the air is still I still get the same buzz with an early morning trip down the river and along the coast or just somewhere not too far away.

 

I have always related to the poem by John Gillespie Magee in a letter to his parents in 1941.

 

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air ....

 

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

[skippydiesel]

I am a child of post WW2. Looking back it seemed that all children/youth of that time were intersted in mechanical technology, especially aircraft. Like Kgwilson we made model aircraft, progressed to powered control line & free flight planes.

Having been lucky enough to visit the the cockpit of such aircraft as Super Constellation's and a host of others right up to the "jet" age, I was non to impressed with the job of an airline pilot but always wanted to fly small  aircraft. 

When I was posted to a central NSW job, right beside an airfield, the once in a lifetime opportunity to get my PPL came about. I eventually achieved my constant speed, retractable & tail wheel endorsements - a great sense of personal achievement.

Posted back to the Sydney Basin, maintaining currency started to become a financial burden.

Luck was on my side.

About this time a new neighbour moved in who was into RAA class aircraft (up until this point I did not know of RAA's existence). I started to fly with him, doing quite a few longish trips, having some adventures, developing a real interest in sub 600 kg aircraft. Some years later the neighbour died unexpectedly, the opportunity to purchase one of his aircraft, a homebuilt ATEC Zephyr, came about - time to convert to the RAA Certificate. 

Without RAA I would not still be flying.

I am now on my second aircraft, a plans built Sonex Legacy. Have already done one longish trip (Sydney - Rockhampton, Hobbs 6 hrs each way, 2 fuel/ "comfort" stops) in the Sonex  and hoping to do the "hop" Sydney to Perth in the not too distant future (weather & circumstances need to align).😈

[sfGnome]

I’m one of those people who, ever since I was a kid, always look up when a plane flies over. Always loved planes, but never thought that I could afford to fly. By chance I saw a magazine in a newsagent that talked about RAAus, and I started to think…

 

I never thought about flying for a living. I just enjoy being “up there” when the conditions are good, and not being forced to be up there when they aren’t. For the last few years I’ve been building, which is an experience of spending waaaay more than I ever thought I would, but one that I’m really glad I’m doing. 

[pmccarthy]

I always wanted to fly. Failed to win a Qantas cadetship in 1968 but got a flying scholarship in 1971 that paid for half my training. Flew GA all over eastern Australia, from Tasmania to Darwin. Joined RAA (the AUF) about 1990 for fun. Gave up GA a few years ago due to increasing cost of specialist reports for medicals, but still a keen RAA flyer at age 74. Currently own a Vixxen.

[johnm]

its a license to fly - no more or less ................. if you can find something convenient to fly

[Moneybox]

I wanted to join the airforce when leaving school but my parents steered me clear. I had some health issues that they knew would have prevented that so directed me into a trade instead of seeing me rejected.

 

Nearly 30 years ago I saw a Polaris Microlite for sale and grabbed it. Taught myself to fly it, taking off and landing on the limestone tracks in the pine forest. It's still hanging up in the shed waiting for me to do a little work on the Rotax 503 so that I can get it registered and flying again.

 

When I ticked over 70 I took a look at my bucket list. The most important life long ambition was to become a pilot so I sold some assets, booked some lessons and bought a plane. Now I just need a lot more time to enjoy it.

[facthunter]

I always look up when any plane flies over, STILL,. I used to play tennis on  Wednesday evening  At  Speers Point on Lake MacQuarie and the DC 6 going to New Guinea went over at about 20,000 feet. I said to myself "I wanna FLY THAT".Nev

Edited July 25 by facthunter

[facthunter]

Flying planes costs a lot of Money unless you are being PAID to do it.  For years it kept me as poor as a Church Mouse.  I got NO encouragement . No one in my family had ever done anything like it . A weeks wages got you about 1 and a 1/2 hours flying. Started training on Chipmunks (DHC-1) at District Park Broadmeadowswith RNAC.  (Newcastle)  My First ever flight however was at  Shellharbour (Albion Park  Rail. NOW the Home of HARS)  The pilot let me do the flying. ( for some reason) He didn't say much except I recall he said WE aren't allowed to fly in Cloud.  Nev

Edited July 25 by facthunter

[Student Pilot]

That used to be the main way people learned to fly Nev. If you were really keen you paid for it yourself. I did, every cent I earned went to flying training. At school when the careers adviser asked what I wanted to do I said pilot, he laughed and said a labourer was my destiny.  So I left school at 16 and did an apprenticeship. After that I thought I'd give flying a try, I'm not real smart but I can put in a big effort in when needed. TIF in late 78 and commercial in mid 80, then Ag rating. Been flying for a living since, best job ever. Taken me low level all over the world, on Ag and fire.
A lot I know who fly for a living aren't interested in anything flying apart from making money, I'm still mad about anything flying, GA and ultralight.

[skippydiesel]

 

 

It’s not where you start your working career,  its where you end it.

 

I know a person, who started working life as an apprentice electrician. He retired as QANTAS Chief Check Pilot .😈

[Student Pilot]

A mate started flying same time as I, originally he was a sheety with Qantas. Flew with Anset, All round the world and finished his career flying a sim and check Captain with Jetstar on 787's which he loved. He has a very nice original 180 to get his fix now.
I had/have no desire to fly airlines or IFR. Hands on flying looking outside is the only way to go for me.

[danny_galaga]

I just fly for fun. When I first was learning to fly I entertained the idea of going further with it. but I looked at the young instructors teaching me and all the hard work just to scrounge a few hours here and there. Then I remembered I'm allergic to hard work 😄

[Student Pilot]

Mark Twain has words for every occasion

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

[danny_galaga]

9 hours ago, Student Pilot said:

Mark Twain has words for every occasion

 

“Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

I'm 56. I suspect I'll never find a job I enjoy doing 😄

[facthunter]

It's good to be Paid for doing things You'd pay to do, but long Haul and Shift work can take it out of you. You also can't guarantee to be at Places and  Organised Sport is out of the Question. Instructing is a worthwhile Pursuit if you don't mind getting bu@@er all for doing it. Nev

[Builds By Baz]

I really do like asking questions here. You folks have a wealth of experiences that should be shared with us who want to hear it. Thank you.

 

Baz.

[johnm]

............. I suspect a fair portion of us (not all of us) - what job you do, to earn your crust, is accidental 

 

a book I am reading states 'most fighter pilots (ex RAAF) detest their airline jobs as they become enslaved to their wallets'

 

all respect to airline pilots - airline work seems to be:

- a status ? 

- big money wage because of seniority ......... counting for not much is you start with another airline

- a skill set that does not transfer easily to other occupations

- apart from the basic, joy of flight

 

 

[facthunter]

It's a 100% BS book based on what you have stated . I flew with and Knew Many ex RAF and RAAF Pilots. They didn't make much money either in the early days. There was a surplus of them.. Many had quite Low hours at the end of WW2. Not one detested their Job.  Money Insecurity exists as you can't be sure you will have a Job after your next Medical or sim check or Incident/Accident. Experience counts in a Flying job and there's a good reason for that  There's not much "Joy of Flight" on the Middle of the Night in a storm. I doubt your author is a Pilot. If He/she is they haven't got a clue. Nev

[danny_galaga]

At my hangar there were several atpl guys who like to keep it real by flying light aircraft outside of their job. One flies fuel tankers and an RV6. The other flies 727s and a Thruster! 

 

I think the RAAF guy has left and flies crop dusters now. 

 

Anyway, in both cases, they didn't 'hate' their jobs. They just liked to stay connected to flying just for fun. Which is great to see. As Nev will attest, the larger the variety of aircraft you fly, the better you must be. Which is true whether you are commercial or not. 

Edited Friday at 12:31 AM by danny_galaga

[facthunter]

Only Pilots can understand Pilots. No one else has a clue what goes on up the front where the Buck stops with the PIC when it all goes pear shaped. What ever Plane it is you have a feel for it IT (situational awareness), otherwise you're a Passenger. Not everyone has what it takes. They usually drop by the wayside. Scare themselves and stop or come to grief.. Called "Nervous on a FINE day" People. You can't hide it from anyone you are flying with.  Nev

[johnm]

 

22 hours ago, facthunter said:

It's a 100% BS book based on what you have stated . I flew with and Knew Many ex RAF and RAAF Pilots. They didn't make much money either in the early days. There was a surplus of them.. Many had quite Low hours at the end of WW2. Not one detested their Job.  Money Insecurity exists as you can't be sure you will have a Job after your next Medical or sim check or Incident/Accident. Experience counts in a Flying job and there's a good reason for that  There's not much "Joy of Flight" on the Middle of the Night in a storm. I doubt your author is a Pilot. If He/she is they haven't got a clue. Nev

the book, the words, the photo's and quote (page 1) look genuine (CT4, nomad & F18) to me and they fit my context of reality FH - I'll continue to post in this thread with any other pearlers. 

 

The book is entertaining and an easy read - I'm 20% into it so I am assuming its all in context.

 

What you can do with a pilots license can have it's disadvantages ............... another viewpoint - relevant to the thread 

SJMBS_KM_C226073122330.pdf

[facthunter]

You've adequately demonstrated what selective Perception is and seem happy to disparage a whole group of highly Trained Professional People without hesitation. Top Guns don't make good Airline Pilots. I deal in FACTS and will defend their reputation from the attack you have made. Your Author is Probably cheesed off that He wasn't accepted. or that Job would not appeal to him because it not exciting enough. It's just ONE persons opinion, John and he's Trying to sell books NOW. By  the way I'm fh  (Lower case)    Flying the Nomad is not a plus. It probably gave him PTSD. Nev

[Student Pilot]

On 31/7/2026 at 10:31 AM, danny_galaga said:

 

I think the RAAF guy has left and flies crop dusters now. 

Don't know any ex-RAAF that fly Ag, it's a different job to normal (if there is such a thing) flying. Ag flying goes from quiet spells where you might only do 300 hours a year in droughts to 12 or 1400 hours a year in boom times. There is a financial component (Ag has some prostitute pilots, only in it for the money) but you have to be really keen on flying to stick with it for very long.
WARNING possible controversial statement!  
Usually find the military boys have been given a free ride with training and life in general and don't take to Ag, it is different to what most expect. Biggest percentage go into airlines where working life has more status and is more predictable.