Realize What Is Happening Three Feet From You!

Why so much ignorance when it comes to aviation? I woke up this morning in such a bad mood...I have the local NPR affiliate set on my alarm clock radio next to my bed. Waking up with the news... Well, they announced proudly that Lakeland Linder Field would be home to a new set of solar panels that will power several thousand homes near the airport. That's great news, I agree. But not even a mention to what started today at the same airfield. Not once. Nothing about a fly-in or trade show or airshow going on at Lakeland Linder Field today...did NPR conveniently forget about Sun-N-Fun? Why would the second largest airshow of it's kind on the planet get little coverage from the media? Well, then again, this is NPR we are talking about. Extreme environmentalist people who are all about green (which is not a bad thing, not by a longshot) try to quell the hype of all the revenue that this airshow will bring to Central Florida, all the business that it brings from all over the world, and believe that airplanes are toys for the rich who deserve to give up what they earned and give it to the poorer, even if they work less to make money. I have been an avid listener to NPR. It's nothing like the starkness of commercial talk radio, or the repetitiveness of music radio. I listen to NPR because it's different from everything else. But to quash the advancement of an industry to push an agenda is not right. The many people who put their lives into aviation must be given their due respect and thanks for what they do. The flight instructor doesn't make much, but flies happily knowing he is contributing to the collective safety record aviation prides itself in. The airline pilot has had a lot taken away from him, but continues to fly, continues to be away from his family, all the while, making flying safe. The lineman at the FBO gives his all in every type of weather to do his job faithfully, while keeping his eye on the prize: his wings as a pilot. Those that give their all and fight for aviation deserve respect. If flying was as routine as driving, everyone would have an airplane and everyone would be a pilot. But such is not the case...it takes a special person to fly. It's an art that can be learned. To all my flying brethren, blue skies, and enjoy Sun-N-Fun! -GDN