“Into the Wild Blue”, published monthly in FlyKC, focuses on issues of particular importance to current or would-be aircraft owners.  This month Chris looks at how the more aviation professionals an owner knows, the more they are likely to have a more positive ownership experience.

It’s Not WHAT You Know…

You’ve heard the saying.  It’s not what you know but who you know.  People sometimes repeat that expression when they’re sure they know more than the other guy but the other guy won out.  I know I’ve said it with that meaning before and I’ll bet you have too. 

The trouble is, I was probably wrong.  Actually, there’s no probably about it.  I was wrong. I was wrong thinking I knew more than I did.  I was wrong thinking the other guy wasn’t as smart as I am.  And I was wrong to assume that the only important means to achieve success should be based on facts alone. 

Pilots have that problem sometimes, don’t we?  Especially those of us that have the cautious thinker (engineers) or the dominant driver (CEO’s, entrepreneurs, etc.) personality types.  And, it seems, the majority of us fall into one of those two categories.  Less experienced pilots also can exhibit this trait.  They’ve worked hard, think they’ve learned a lot, and want to go out and show the world what they know.  I remember this time in my life quite vividly.  Boy, did I do some dumb things.  And many of them were in airplanes.  Too many of them, in fact.  Looking back it’s a wonder that Executive Beechcraft’s rental fleet at IXD actually survived my know-it-all attitude and free-wheeling antics.  I’ve encountered this attitude among other pilots, fellow instructors, and surprisingly, among some highly experience folks too.  Now, with a tinge of gray in my hair (okay, maybe more than a tinge), I know exactly why these people scare me.

As you age you’re supposed to figure out that the more you learn the less you know.  Some of us learn this a littler slower than others.  Relying on what we know, or think we know, can be a huge obstacle to furthering our learning about flying and/or owning an airplane.  You know who I’m talking about.  They’re the “experts” that think they’re God’s gift to aviation.  They know what’s best.  You can’t tell them anything.  They’ve done it this way for years.  Blah, blah, blah.  I don’t know about you but when I start hearing someone – anyone – telling me they’ve got it all figured out I find myself going into a trance while my eyes are trying to figure out the quickest means of escape.

That attitude is not just silly, it’s dangerous.  There are loads of resources available to today’s aircraft owner that can make them better and safer.  There are aircraft owner’s groups, local mechanics, other pilots and owners, instructors, and on and on.  Mr. Warner, my high school biology teacher, said that a good biologist is a jack of many trades but a master of none.  A good pilot could learn a lot from that adage.  Naturally, as pilots of airplanes we own and operate, we have to be a jack of all trades and a master of some, but once we start thinking we’re the de facto expert then we’ve stopped learning and stopped contributing to aviation. 

Of course, the challenge in General Aviation is figuring out where to turn for that information.  Most importantly, however, each of us has to foster a spirit of continual learning in ourselves and in the pilots we’re associated with.  If we meet someone that shows a special expertise in an area that might be important to other airplane owners it’s critical that we let everyone know of this person.  Sometimes though, because of our family lives, careers, businesses, and other activities, it’s difficult to get out and meet people in our local aviation community.  Sure, there are wings programs (which are great), but the sheer size of these events makes it difficult to get some one-on-one time with a professional or fellow pilot we’d like to meet.

We’ve developed an idea to help bridge that gap and I’d like to ask for your help.  WildBlue is sponsoring a get-together this fall that will include very brief presentations from local aviation resources.  You’ll start seeing advertisements and may even receive a personal invitation in the mail.  We’re going to keep it small so that each person will have the opportunity to actually meet others in a comfortable environment.  WildBlue will provide the food, drinks and venue – you just need to show up with a spirit of learning and a sincere interest in furthering General Aviation here in Kansas City.  My hope is that it will prove to be a fun, interesting, and valuable occasion for all. 

Will you join us?

Chris Kirk is a Kansas City native and owns WildBlue, LLC, a Platte City, MO based aircraft sales firm that sells quality owner-flown piston and light-jet aircraft world-wide.  He is passionate about growing a vibrant general aviation community and believes in the possibilities it has to offer.  Feel free to contact Chris at 816.479.2723 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .