I just received my private pilot certificate, and it's surprising to see all of the similarities between pilots and hackers. And by hackers, I mean the real hackers, not the new breed of cyber-terrorists. "Old school" hackers always try to learn about their computer, how they work and how to improve or alter their performance. Pilots, from my somewhat limited experience, are required to learn much more than just how to actually fly, and once a pilot receives their private certificate, he feels the need to keep going, to get more ratings. I just received my private certificate and I already want to start on my instrument rating.

Both hacking and flying give an intense adrenalin rush. Pilots feel it during take off, or a maneuver done correctly. I'll never forget the rush I felt flying solo for the first time. Hacking gives me the same rush, though it's not the same in intensity. That euphoria felt the first few seconds of a brainstorm, an idea that can help me get around some problem, be it security on some system or getting a program to work, gives you a natural high.