AvGeeks Share Their Stories in an Awesome Series of Posts: Blogging in Formation

This last week there has been an awesome series of blog posts from incredible writers who shared their stories about how they got into flying.  It has been an inspiring series of posts that only further deepens my love of aviation.  You would think that after hearing stories from all different people over and over it would get old, but hearing about other people’s passion never gets old, especially when you share that passion.

I don’t have near the story that these amazing people do, but reading their story gets me excited about where my story will go.  None of them had any idea where flying would take them, but it has been an adventure for every single one of them.  Flying is one of those unique areas that gives you experiences and adventures that you just won’t have anywhere else.

No one talks about going down to the hospital to watch a doctor give physicals, or down to the courthouse to watch a trial, but almost everyone has a memory of going to an airshow, or of the very first time they flew somewhere in a plane.  Nothing can quite compare to the thrill of flying in any type of aircraft.

I strongly encourage you to go and check out each of the posts from these people as they will fan the aviation flame inside of you.  Even if you aren’t an avgeek, it is hard not to be inspired by each of their stories.  Click on each of their names to read their story.

Karlene Petitt (@KarlenePetitt) is an airline pilot that was motivated to pursue flying because she was told that she couldn’t.  Her’s is an inspiring story of overcoming the odds when everyone else says it is impossible.

Eric Auxier (@capnaux) is also an airline pilot flying the Airbus A320.  His flying started with a hang glider and eventually moved on to bush flying before he got to the airlines.  I love how he refers to having a long-term love affair to “Fifi”, the Airbus A320.

Ron Rapp (@RonRapp1) didn’t get bit by the aviation bug until he was a little older, but after he got started, he never really slowed down.  He has quite the diverse list of aircraft that he has flown which comes as a result of his total commitment to something he loves.

Dan Pimentel (@Av8rdan) was another late bloomer in the aviation world, but he is making up for it now.  I have followed Dan on Twitter for awhile, and I am always impressed with his passion for aviation.  He is also the organizer of OshBash13 which looks to be quite the event for anyone attending EAA Airventure Oskosh.

Andrew Hartley (@smrtflighttrain) bounced back from tragedy in his life to become a CFI where he helps to train future avgeeks.  He shared my favorite quote of the series so far: “… if you love something, it is always worth the risk. Minimize it, manage it, be aware of it; but you can’t give up something you enjoy just because it might kill you.  Life is guaranteed to kill you anyway – so enjoy it by doing what you love, what you are passionate about, what your life would be empty for the lack of it.  Fly.”  Just beautiful.

Brent Owens (@iflyblog) has been flying since he was 15 in a whole assortment of different planes including his RV-8 that he built himself.  He has amassed over 10,000 hours, and was the brains behind this blogging in formation idea.  His story reminds me that if you really love aviation then it almost doesn’t matter where you end up because all that matters is being in the air.