Fly 'n Things

Happy Wednesday

Driving can be quite tedious, especially when you’ll Rather be Flying…

To relieve the tedium of long distance driving, I always enjoy watching the rear bumpers of cars. Once, when I was considering buying  a car, a friend had suggested that he always liked to look at the rear profile of a car to see if he liked it. Makes sense, when you think about it: we tend to see the rear end’s of cars more often than their front ends.

In my case though: in addition to trying to see the model and make of a car and whether I like the rear end of it, I am also fascinated with the license plate and any decal the car happens to be adorned with.

That said, pilots can be identified almost immediately. They are happy to proclaim they’ll rather be flying or that their car stops at all airports or carry a license plate that proclaims SWPILOT, LV2FLY, LK2FLY, GOFLY and so on.

Reading car decals and other interesting paraphernalia can reduce the tedium of long distance driving. Sometimes can even lead to interesting conversations at traffic signals, when strangers roll down windows and make conversation as they easily identify you as a pilot, which has happened to me more than once.

Occasionally, this can also lead to scary situations and that too has happened to me. Without meaning to, one time I overtook and cut in in front of a car on the 101 freeway, back in California. I had not even given it a second thought when all of sudden, I was boxed in between two cars, and felt threatened enough to feel some alarm. That was the first time, I worried that my car was easily identifiable with all the  flying paraphernalia that I chose to freely adorn the rear of my car with. If you have watched the movie Duel, you will understand my concern.

I have a friend back in California who had a slogan on her right rear bumper: Flying low. I on the other hand proudly proclaim the Women in Aviation slogan: Women Fly and aviation themed license plate, it is hard to miss my car.

Despite all this, I love that I can indulge in this love of aviation and flying, and make an idle conversation on the roadside with a total stranger who happens to be a pilot!

Note: Re-posted from 2013