Answering this without reading through all the other comments first, so I may well be saying things other people have mentioned. Sorry, but if I read first, I tend to get sidetracked.
I think flying is an integral part of John's makeup, because it is part of mine. I can't imagine my life without the sky in it. And yet, until I (nearly accidentally) learnt to fly in my early 20s, it had never occurred to me to want to. But once I had... it became something I couldn't let go.
So I can understand that once John found flying, even if he hadn't had a passion for it as a youth or child, it would stay with him in some respect.
What I do get annoyed with in fics is the way it is portrayed, that if John left the airforce he could never fly again. What rubbish. If he left the airforce he'd have the freedom to fly what ever craft he liked (money permitting and he has that - right?) where ever he wants. What he wouldn't have is the purpose to his flying that the military gives him. That I think is the important point.
And because of that, I can see John becoming one of the Reno Jet pilots, or a Red Bull air racer or something equally high adrenaline, with hero worship attached. I can't see him taking up wingsuit flying, because that really is suicidal with no purpose (although he might try it once for fun). I toy with the idea of having him fly gliders and competing internationally in that very challenging game, but I can't really see it.
To me, being a pilot, means being just a little bit better than the rest of you that walk around on the ground and never know the existence of air currents, wind direction or how to recover from a spin. Being a pilot makes me special. John needs to be special. I can see him, in a similar situation to me once, being told off in a work situation, and I sat there, and looked at this woman, and thought, "Yes, I might have stuffed up. And Yes, you are quite possibly spoiling my career. And yes, I am supposed to respect you and look up to you. But. I can fly. (and you can't.)" John would do that in his head too.
My two cents. Going to go read the other comments now.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-09-22 02:52 pm (UTC)I think flying is an integral part of John's makeup, because it is part of mine. I can't imagine my life without the sky in it. And yet, until I (nearly accidentally) learnt to fly in my early 20s, it had never occurred to me to want to. But once I had... it became something I couldn't let go.
So I can understand that once John found flying, even if he hadn't had a passion for it as a youth or child, it would stay with him in some respect.
What I do get annoyed with in fics is the way it is portrayed, that if John left the airforce he could never fly again. What rubbish. If he left the airforce he'd have the freedom to fly what ever craft he liked (money permitting and he has that - right?) where ever he wants. What he wouldn't have is the purpose to his flying that the military gives him. That I think is the important point.
And because of that, I can see John becoming one of the Reno Jet pilots, or a Red Bull air racer or something equally high adrenaline, with hero worship attached. I can't see him taking up wingsuit flying, because that really is suicidal with no purpose (although he might try it once for fun). I toy with the idea of having him fly gliders and competing internationally in that very challenging game, but I can't really see it.
To me, being a pilot, means being just a little bit better than the rest of you that walk around on the ground and never know the existence of air currents, wind direction or how to recover from a spin. Being a pilot makes me special. John needs to be special. I can see him, in a similar situation to me once, being told off in a work situation, and I sat there, and looked at this woman, and thought, "Yes, I might have stuffed up. And Yes, you are quite possibly spoiling my career. And yes, I am supposed to respect you and look up to you. But. I can fly. (and you can't.)" John would do that in his head too.
My two cents. Going to go read the other comments now.