KQED's Forum Pilot of Experimental Aircraft Asks ‘Why Fly?”
Feb 25, 2026
Caroline Paul, author and pilot who learned Cessnas, paragliders, motorized hang gliders and gyrocopters, talks about why she took to the sky. She describes open‑cockpit gyrocopter obsession and the low‑and‑slow views that spark awe. She links learning to fly with healing during her marriage breakup and explores risks, pilot brevity, favorite Bay Area routes, and the wonder of flight.
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Gyrocopters Blend Control And Surrender
- Caroline Paul fell in love with gyrocopters because they mix focused control with surrender, offering deep absorption and perspective during a personal crisis.
- At 58, learning the open‑cockpit gyrocopter distracted her from a dissolving marriage and then became an obsession that offered awe and healing.
Low Altitude Overview Produces Awe
- Flight shifted from adrenaline to awe for Caroline; she began savoring colors, wildlife, and resilience in landscapes rather than turbulence.
- She describes an 'overview effect' at low altitude: circling meadows, elk like paperclips, and feeling 'all exhale' from wonder.
Use Pilot‑Style Radio Clarity In Conversation
- Use terse, factual communication like pilots: identify who you're talking to, where you are, and what you want to accomplish.
- Caroline notes radio calls are noun+verb only and that this clarity improved her interpersonal communication over time.
