Turkey, Trimmings, and Touch-and-Goes: The Parallels of Flight School and Thanksgiving
0
3
0
Thanksgiving dinner is a cherished tradition. A time when families gather to celebrate, share stories, and indulge in a feast that’s as complex as it is rewarding. Strangely enough, the process of flight training bears some similarities to preparing and enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. Both are layered, require preparation, and are ultimately worth the effort. Here’s a lighthearted comparison to show just how much learning to fly resembles your favorite holiday meal.
1. The Appetizers: Ground School
Just like the appetizers set the stage for Thanksgiving dinner, ground school lays the foundation for your flight training. The theory, weather charts, regulations, and aerodynamics might not seem as exciting as the actual flying, but they’re essential. Ground school is where you build your appetite for the main course and gain a taste of what’s to come.
Think of it as the cheese and crackers before the turkey—simple but crucial to the overall experience.
2. The Turkey: Flight Lessons
The turkey is the centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner, much like the hands-on flying lessons are the heart of flight training. From learning takeoffs and landings to perfecting steep turns and touch-and-goes, these lessons are what you came for. They’re challenging, rewarding, and leave you craving more every time you leave the cockpit.
Pro tip: Like cooking a turkey, success in flight lessons is about patience and practice. Overcooking the bird or rushing maneuvers can leave a bad taste.
3. The Sides: Simulators and Extra Practice
Stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole—Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without the sides, and flight training wouldn’t be complete without extra practice sessions, maybe even using simulators. They might not seem as glamorous as actual flight time, but they round out your education, allowing you to refine your skills and experiment without the high stakes of being in the air.
Whether it's a full-motion simulator or steep turns on a calm Sunday, the sides help you feel prepared for the main event.
4. The Cranberry Sauce: Checkride Prep
Ah, cranberry sauce. It’s the side dish that not everyone loves but is always there on the table. Checkride preparation is much the same. For some, it’s the “tangy” part of training, filled with mock checkrides, endless review, and maybe a few nervous moments. But when done right, it ties the entire flight training feast together.
A little bit of preparation here sweetens the whole experience and ensures your final checkride isn’t too bitter.
5. Dessert: Your Pilot Certificate
At the end of Thanksgiving dinner, there’s dessert—pumpkin pie, pecan pie, or whatever sweet treat you love. In flight training, that dessert is your pilot certificate. It’s the ultimate reward for all your hard work and preparation, the perfect conclusion to a journey filled with learning, challenges, and achievements.
And just like dessert, your certificate is not the end—it’s the beginning of more great experiences to come!
6. The After-Dinner Nap: That First Solo Flight with your Certificate
After the meal, you lean back, satisfied, and perhaps take a well-deserved nap. In flight training, this moment is like your first solo flight. You’ve put in the work, followed the steps, and now you’re savoring a milestone achievement. It’s a time to reflect on how far you’ve come and get excited for what’s next.
Final Thoughts
Flight training, much like Thanksgiving dinner, is a journey filled with preparation, practice, and joy. Sure, it has its challenges—burnt rolls (bumpy landings), dry turkey (less-than-perfect lessons), or spilled gravy (weather cancellations)—but the end result is always worth it. Both experiences leave you with memories, stories, and a sense of accomplishment.
So, the next time you sit down at Thanksgiving dinner, think about how your flight training parallels the meal in front of you. Like a perfectly roasted turkey or your first solo flight, the journey is just as fulfilling as the destination.
Happy Thanksgiving, and happy flying!
