If flying an aircraft is "hard" how could a 7 & 9 years old girls do it!?

Question

Jessica Dubroff & Vicki Van Meter were only 7 & 9 respectively when they flew, The latter one flew across the US and Trans Atlantic, They did actually fly the planes from take off to touch down although they didn't do it solely.

Does that mean flying is much easier than what the public percieve?!

Answer 1

The actual manipulation of the controls in as easy as riding a bicycle.

What is difficult is abiding with and following all the rules and regs that go with flying.

These young girls did not do these flights without an experienced pilot riding in the other seat !

By the way, you can start flying at a young age. However, you can not fly solo (alone) until you have at least a "Student Pilot Certificate", which you have to be at least 15 1/2 years old to get.

Answer 2

the physical act of flying is easy.  crosswind takeoffs, landings, airspace, rules/regs, etc.  is the stuff a seven or nine year old cant do.

Answer 3

Well if they flew in a single engine prop at cruising altitude with no winds then yea anyone can do that.  You can do it with one finger actually.  But I bet they didn't takeoff or set up the approach and land.  Flying is easier then the public perceives, but it takes a lot of practice just like anything else.

Answer 4

Who said it was hard?  G.W. Bush was a pilot so that should tell you something

Answer 5

If I remember correctly, Jessica Dubroff died in the attempt.  She was flying with an instructor who for some reason felt pressure to complete the flight unwisely.  It was later reported that she had resisted the idea, and did not really want to set a record for the youngest pilot.

Turned out she was right, didn't it?  They got into a classic stall/spin type of accident on takeoff somewhere like Cheyenne, Wyoming, only 24 hours into their planned coast to coast trip.

Vicki van Meter was eleven (11) years old when she flew across the USA with her flight instructor, and 12 when she flew across the Atlantic ocean.  She committed suicide by self-administered gunshot at age 26.

One wonders what the psychological connections are in all this.  But in any case, it seems the answer is that certain aspects of flying are within the capabilities of a pre-teen girl.

But other aspects of flying, as well as the process of figuring out life, are not within her capabilities, nor those of some parents and some flight instructors.  Are they?

Answer 6

idk, it denpends?

Answer 7

I'm not sure who told you flying an airplane was hard.  

Most any one can do most anything given enough time training and money

Answer 8

aint hard at all. who told you it was.

Answer 9

I'm not sure any pilot will say it's 'hard'... it can be challenging at times and the learning process can be as difficult as the first time you learn an instrument or a new language.

As a professional pilot and flight instructor I can tell you that there is far more to being a pilot than just the hands on aspect.  If you think these young girls were hand-flying the airplane, working the radios, setting their own navigation and making all the decisions, you're crazy.  They were merely puppets of a tragic plan, which eventually killed Dubroff and 3 others.  Any prudent pilot will tell you all about Center of Gravity limitations... 2 large men in the back of a Cessna 177 with a 7 year old up front?  Not surprising that the stall was unrecoverable.

Hard?  Nah... but that shouldn't discredit the years of training it takes to shape someone into a skilled and safe pilot.

Take an introductory flight and see for yourself.