Airplane Withdrawals
Airplane Withdrawals
Well I haven’t flown the RV since December 1st and it’s really getting to me. I endeavor to fly weekly even in the winter, but the last month and a half have been tough with work, family, and the weather.
I can usually detect the onset of withdrawals. It starts with a nagging sense that I am missing something. Then it evolves into an irritation that I can’t shake. And finally, when left untreated it escalates into a full-blown psychosomatic episode that can only be described as an adult temper tantrum. I am truly a grouch.
At this point if I don’t get relief, there will be consequences. I start to say things like, “I’m going flying, I don’t care what’s on my schedule!” I’m also prone to verbally threatening the TV weatherman if the forecast isn’t favorable, refraining from actual throwing my TV down a flight of stairs.
This whole thing is really unnecessary. One of my challenges is being :25 minutes from my airplane. I would fare much better if it was with me at KCMH where I work. I keep threatening to move it, but I’d miss the charm of my current abode at Buckeye (9OA5) – and the cheaper hangar rent. I am sure this will be a topic of a future post, or two.
As I pout, I do perceive one good thing that happens when time separates me from my airplane; it makes our reunion so much richer and I will usually savor the moment even more.
So even if I have to crawl those 25 miles, I will hopefully make my way to the airport this weekend to get my fix. When I do, I’ll make sure to report back and let you know that Mr. Hyde has been transformed back into Dr. Jekyll.
Let me know how you handle your addiction…
by Brent
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I think you missed a withdrawal symptom particularly evident in Great Lakes area pilots during the winter: incessantly checking weather forecasts! Which reminds me…what’s in store for this weekend?
Chris,
You got that right!
Brent
winter flying where you live can be an iffy thing. If you miss a week or so because of bad wx, then it becomes easier to miss the next week too. My wife is from a farm town about 60 miles north of Columbus, O. so I know what the winter wx is like. One reason we now live in Tucson, AZ. That said, I have only flown 1 hour this month. Now the seats and carpet are out of the plane for re-upholstering and replacement, so it will be another couple of weeks before I can fly again. I do miss it. This will be a good time to repaint the plastic inside where it has gotten scuffed. But, it is hard at times to juggle life so you can get to the airport to fly. My drive is only 15 minutes and that is not too bad.
Glenn,
I envy you living in the land of sunshine.
Brent
Tell me about it! I’ve been frustrated by just getting my instrument rating in late October… only to be unable to fly IFR much since then thanks to living in the Midwest where ice in clouds is the biggest risk. I actually haven’t flown at all since a big celebratory IFR trip to Austin Texas. On Monday I am taking one of the club planes up for a couple of checkout flights since it just had a new engine installed. It’s going to be 10º out. Brrrrrr.
As for keeping planes nearby, our club learned that lesson when we moved from KCMI up to KTIP. It’s only 8-10 miles further away, but that was all it took for flight hours on both planes to drop precipitously. We kept them there a couple of years and eventually moved them back to Champaign and just bit the bullet on more expensive hangaring.
Charley,
Hopefully you make it up on Monday. Have fun!
That’s interesting about the flying club. It’s $85.00 more a month for me to hangar nearby at KCMH, and I’m thinking the time and gas money spent going out to my current location makes it a no brainer. New goal for Spring; move airplane to KCMH.
Brent