Tech Topics - Winter 2008 - (Page 23)

STUDENT LIFE “It’s the freedom aspect, and that’s what Americans love. You’re literally in control of your own destiny when you’re flying a plane.” Club members take their passengers through preflight inspections of one of the group’s Cessna 172 aircraft before taking off to give them an aerial tour of Atlanta. freedom of movement, the absolute control and heartthumping movements. “It’s the freedom aspect, and that’s what Americans love. You’re literally in control of your destiny when you’re flying a plane,” said Jud Ready, MatE 94, MS MetE 97, PhD MatE 00, the club’s faculty adviser. He cited the Leonardo da Vinci quotation: “For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” Ready joined the club while a graduate student. And though he’d never been in a small plane before, he took to it in “about 12 seconds.” Before long he had his license and would fly to break from the stresses of school and work. “It was such a great way to literally clear my head,” he said. “I didn’t think about anything but flying that plane and making sure I didn’t crash it.” Having a pilot’s license also has been of romantic benefit, Ready said. When his wife, Jamie, was working in Carrollton, he one day flew out with flowers. Another time he took her on a weekend trip for her birthday, and he’d arranged with all the air traffic controllers along the way to wish her a happy birthday. “She liked that a lot,” he said. Ed Hotchkiss, Cls 78, had worked in the civilian air patrol and joined the club with another Tech alum in 2003. Hotchkiss said it’s the challenge of flying that keeps him coming back. “It’s essentially applied physics,” he said. “You’ve got to be a weather forecaster on your own, because you want to make sure you don’t get caught in something turbulent. What’s fun for me is all the club members. We’ve got students involved and alumni. It’s great fun interacting with all of them.” Club members can take the planes on crosscountry trips, and Rodd recently returned from a fall break excursion to Florida. The club also leads many members into flying as a profession. Ready said members have gone on to fly in the military and for all major airlines. Others have started their own aviation companies. In addition to learning to fly, club members learn about plane maintenance and work to raise funds to replace engines or procure new aircraft. The club also has had alumni donate planes. The club uses more fuel than any other person or organization at Fulton County Airport — that includes Falcons owner Arthur Blank — and so the planes go through a lot of wear and tear. That’s another factoid one tries to push out of mind circling over downtown Atlanta and heading back for a landing. Within sight of the airport, Rodd warned his passenger, “When you slow down, that’s when it gets bumpy.” A few jolts aside, the plane coasted in for an easy landing. Rodd isn’t sure whether he’ll fly commercially once he graduates or if he’ll just keep flying for fun. But the point is obvious: He’s going to keep flying. It’s a point Hotchkiss drove home as he reflected on another good day at the airport. “We love flying.” TechTopics | Winter 2008 23

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Tech Topics - Winter 2008 Contents Letters Buzz Around Town Alumni House Rockin’ Good Time State of the Institute The Hill Presidential Search Going Airborne Student Life An Architect’s Eyes Weight Coach Robot Burdell & Friends Ramblin’ Roll Rural Readers Leading Ladies Yellow Jackets Beyond His Years Leading Change Real World

Tech Topics - Winter 2008

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