[yzrider58]

Originally Posted by TCAT

Greatest thread ever ! Thanks for sharing the pics. and info. guys! The only thing love much more than cars is airplanes. There is not a single day that goes by that I don't regret going into the health field instead of flying professionally in one way shape or form. I grew up obsessed with airplanes and wanting to fly my entire life. When I started flight training (I was almost done with single engine land private pilot license and only needed one more solo cross country to compete the requirement before taking the checkride. I haven't flown for 4 years now. I kept going to college and specifically the health field because I new I enjoyed it, and I good at it, as well as providing myself with a back up career shall the flying career not work out for some reason (ie loosing my medical, industry changes/layoffs, etc). I had many friends in the aviation industry and they kept telling me, almost begging me to go to school and only get into flying if it was something I absolutely loved. They explained the changes in the industry and how it is cyclical without a doubt, but it's worth it if you love it. I watched so many people drop out of the aviation business (specifically flying), and went on to other careers. However, I was and still am the person that almost feels I need to do it to feel fulfilled in life. It's something that I know I'd like to say I did and tried, and if it worked out great than that's perfect and icing on the cake. If not, at least I did everything I could to make it in that business. Luckily, I would be going into the industry with eyes wide open and not blinded like some going into the industry that think about only shiny jets and pushing buttons. Right now, I'm finishing my masters degree and thinking of the future. I'm not getting any younger, and I need to decide soon on which route to go. To be honest, just to come close to being able to afford the training, I'd like have to sell my Camaro and other things.

This quote is my favorite and it's more valid than ever in my eyes, "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."

Any advice from you professional pilots?

You've already dedicated a good portion of your education and efforts to the medical field. Remember that you can be a medical professional and fly for fun on the side. Lot's of people never fly professionally and have a big passion for aviation. Since aviation is their hobby, they keep the passoin for many years. I've seen some guys in the professional world who lose the "fun to fly" feeling and it would suck to lose that.