If God Wanted Us To Fly He Would Have Given Us Wings - and He Did!
I find the story of the Wright brothers and their father Bishop Wright fascinating.
Everyone has heard the famous quote, “If God wanted us to fly He would have given us wings.” Not many people know that it was the Wright brother’s father, Bishop Wright, who uttered those words of opposition to his son’s quest for flight. As a father of two sons and a daughter myself, I can totally relate to Bishop Wright’s apprehension. It is easy for us almost a century later, having seen the development of aviation, to make light of the Bishop. But, put yourself in his shoes.
The Wright brothers are famous for the first “successful” flight! Up to that time dozens of would be aviators killed themselves flying their homebuilt “flying machines”! I repeat, up to that time no one had successfully flown an airplane! I can’t blame Bishop Wright for opposing his son’s attempts at flying. He didn’t want to see his kids get killed! I would have used the fear of God or anything else to keep my children safe. Wouldn’t you? I probably would have threatened to kick them out of the church (another theological power move).
Ironically, I interpret Bishop Wright’s stern warning as a prophecy. Many times the prophet brings a warning, thinking he knows God’s intention, but God knows otherwise. Let’s look at the Bishop’s words. “If God wanted us to fly he would have given us wings.” So what did the Wright brothers do different? They developed the first successful airplane wing. Their first airplane was a simple glider built upon the concept of what we today call an “airfoil”. Divine inspiration? Maybe. Personally I lean towards the divine, especially when confirmed with a prophecy. It makes sense to me.
So, if God wants us to fly he would give us wings and so he did. Yes, aviation has been used for both good and evil upon this earth but leave it up to mankind to make something good into something evil. Still there is something about flying – and I don’t mean passenger flying on a Commercial airline (bus). There is something about piloting your ship off of the earth and into the sky to experience the thrill of flight – flying on divine wings, the wings God had in mind, so that you can look down upon creation, the earth below, and see everything with new eyes.
If you don’t know how to fly, you can learn. If you already know how to fly I would encourage you to teach others how to fly. I believe God wanted to share flight with us. And whatever God wants to share with us we need to share with others. It is the Divine way.
Dave Hill
Lipscomb, TX
I Learned To Fly In Spain
At the Aero club military rank was temporarily ignored. Officer's and enlisted club members gave over to student pilots and flight instructors. Because I had a barracks roof over my head and free chow hall meals I was free to spend every paycheck to learn how to fly. My flight instructor was TSgt. Snowden. I'll never forget my first introductory flight. TSgt Snowden demonstrated the ability of a Cherokee 140 to do Barrel Rolls and Spins. That experience did not deter me from my eventual first solo at Torrejon.
I'll never forget my first solo flight. It was an early Sunday morning and the TSgt and I were doing some touch-an-goes and we did a full stop landing and without warning TSgt Snowden got out and told me to take-off and go around and watch him for signals to stop or keep flying. He signaled me to keep going five times. Up to that day I wanted to learn to fly, though scared to death about being upside down, but what I discovered on my first solo flight was that I loved flying. A few years later, as a CFI, when I soloed my first student pilot, I realized that I really loved flying!
The love of flying makes us a member of a community. Do you find yourself noticing road signs to airports? Do you look into the sky always checking the weather and almost subconsciously thinking, "This is great flying weather!" Do you look up everytime you hear an airplane fly over head? Do you love any movie that has airplanes in it? Does a picture of an airplane on a book, magazine, or website catch you eye? If you answered yes to those questions you are a member of the "For the Love of Flying" community.
The new Sport Pilot rules have changed everything. If you've never flown before it is easier and cheaper to learn to fly. If you want to be a flight instructor it is massively cheaper and a lot easier than before. If you want to return to flying the path is easy. If you want to own an airplane it is more econnomical than ever. (Actually, the new class of certified S-LSA aircraft are little flying cash machines if you're looking for a great investment.)
Sport Flying Friends is a community of cheerleaders and I'm here to encourage you! Now is the time - GO FOR IT! Learn to fly! Become a flight instructor! Come back to flying! Buy that airplane! Start your own flight school!
I'd appreciate your comments.
Thanks,
Dave
