Gerry wants to be a pilot.

[Dianne]

www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/butler-wants-to-be-a-pilot_1139952

Butler Wants To Be A Pilot

Actor GERARD BUTLER longs to follow in the footsteps of JOHN TRAVOLTA and HARRISON FORD by learning to fly a plane.

The Scottish star dreams of jetting off on breaks to escape the pressures of fame, and is keen to obtain a pilot's licence.

He says, "I often finish work and feel the need to leave town. I'm like, 'I have to go now. I have to go to Iceland or go to India, go somewhere.'

"When you are going through places like Jaipur, nobody cares who you are. That makes life a lot easier."



I believe this. I wouldn't pass this off at being tabloid fodder, Gerry seems fascinated with flying.

[canadia]

Who wouldn't be, I've often thought I'd love to learn how to fly, just a little Cessna, but I lack the financial resources. I had a BBQ once and some of my friends were from Toronto, I live an hour west of Toronto. Two of the guys had bought a used plane together and had their pilot's licence so instead of driving they flew to my hometown airport so they missed all the traffic, but we still had to pick them up - I had a field behind me they couldn't have landed there. But mainly they had cottages up north and it is a congested drive every weekend, a two hour drive can take 4 or 5 hours with the volume and accidents on the weekend so some people with cottages also get planes. My brother's neighbour was even smarter he got a plane with pontoons so he could land on the lake right near their dock. Though as time goes on it might get harder for Gerry to go anywhere he is not known but Iceland is always going to be isolated, that ash is making a mess though I hear, poor sheep.

[Chrisstine]

My folks owned a Piper aircraft sales business in San Diego for many years (in the 1960s) hen we kids were growing up. We got to fly everywhere. I was appaled that aviation fuel was 45 cents a gallon! I cannot even think of what it is now. My dad was a P38 fighter pilot during WW2 and flew his whole life. My mom was a member of the 99's women pilot's association and got her private and charter licenses and flew in many Powder Puff Derbies (remember those?). I took lessons from their friends who owned a flight school and soloed in a Piper Cherokee 140 on my 16th birthday! We flew all over the country, but most fun was flying into Mexico where the runways were marked by white painted rocks, no lights for night landings, etc. We saw some pretty amazing places. Those were the days. The folks are gone now and those are very happy memories. I didn't keep up with flying but may take it up again one of these days if I ever get brave enough!

[canadia]

Wow Chrisstine that sounds awesome, did you have any scary moments though?

Flying or sailing or both are things I wish I could pursue but have not got the funds for and in the case of sailing location is an issue too. Sailing lessons I have taken and my sister and I crewed for one summer but that was a while ago too.

Perhaps I should look into hot air ballooning, hee hee

[Chrisstine]

No scary moments personally. But Dad had my two brothers with him and had to force-land on the beach at San Clemente just below the (at the time) Nixon White House and was met on the beach by a bunch of Secret Service men in suits! Nothing came of it as Dad explained that he had mechanical issues with the plane and all was okay. Think if that were to happen these days, with everybody hypersensitive about security.

[dawne27]

wow. christine THAT is wild what happened to your dad & brothers. i agree, if this happened today....we'd catapult to orange with red polka dot alert.

hmmmm. gerry wants to pilot a plane? sounds awesome. over the years a bunch of us would charter cessna's for local jaunts especially over the northeast fall folliage. fun. beautiful. serene. amazing.

after our brothers death in 1977 one of my sisters took to skydiving...i went speilunking. go figure?

[Chrisstine]

Dad and brothers were fine; my Dad was a very skilled pilot and he landed the plane safely - the plane had a mechanical malfunction, something to do with oil pressure if I remember correctly. Anyway, never a dull moment.

My husband is currently taking lessons to pilot sail planes (gliders). He expects to solo later this summer. I'm not sure I'm ready to go 'engine-less.' He's been on some flights - with the instructor - where they were airborne for more than five hours and reached 11,500 feet - not bad for no engine and relying only on warm air for lift.