Michelle Duggar and John Duggar
-John Duggar
The return of Counting On is still more than two months away, but we are still posting regular Duggar updates. In this video, John-David Duggar shows off his 10-seater plane, which he purchased used to serve his family.
Photo/video courtesy TLC
SO can't wait - I feel like I'll get to see my friend that I haven't seen in a while!! LoL
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of quote is that, JD? It's a backhanded statement that your family is not organized enough to make commercial flights on time.
ReplyDeleteThe family has been very open that they aren't the timeliest family around. Not exactly a backhanded statement, just a repetition of something they've stated for years.
DeleteThey have talked for years about running on "Duggar time". Just like the Bates family calls themselves "the late Bates".
DeleteWith as many kids as they have /had...yeah they are always running late lol
DeleteYou mean two months away đŸ˜¥
ReplyDeleteThis young man must be quite wealthy to be able to afford a 10 seat plane. Does his family reimburse him for the costs of flying them around?
ReplyDeleteI would hope they reimburse him the cost of flying them around. It's not cheap.
DeleteJohn David's new "girlfriend". I must say she's lovely and he seems so happy.
ReplyDelete?????
DeleteThat is his mother w him on plane
DeleteHow do you know she’s his girlfriend? She looks like Kendra’s sister and if so, then she’s way too young for John David.
DeletePoor guy, every time a girl gets within 30 feet of him everyone starts assuming it’s a girlfriend.
I think Anonymous 9:31 AM meant the airplane was his new "girlfriend"
DeleteLook closely; that's his MOM. She has a wedding ring on. Definitely Michelle.
DeleteI think the OP was making a joke about the new plane.
DeleteGood Job , John David! That is great you have your own plane to serve your family!
ReplyDeleteWho's the blonde?
ReplyDeleteLauren Caldwell, Kendras sister
DeleteIt looked like Kendra's sister Lauren, and the little blond sitting across from her was their younger sister. Seeing Joe on the ground waving makes me think this would have been when Kendra went to look for her dress. Joe said on that episode he flew commercial to keep things quiet. Just my observation
DeleteJohn David is funny.
ReplyDeleteTime 12;33PM
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday 5/18 well I never seen this clip pf JD flying his mom in the plane. I love this family some people say means things for us fans to hear to make us stop watching. No matter what those mean people say Us fans wont stop watching this great family.
time 12:43PM
ReplyDeleteLily & Ellie I got a question since Josiah is marrying Lauren. who will be the next duggar in a courtship?
I am not Lily and Ellie but I think we are in for a quadruple wedding (beating the Bontrager triple wedding weekend). Both sets of twins all back to back to back.
DeleteLily and Ellie is there someone else in a courtship now? Or having an interest in someone?
DeleteSince Josiah and Lauren's announcement, no other courtship announcements have been made.
DeleteHave a wonderful day,
Lily and Ellie
I like John David, he seems very mature and grounded (ironically since he's a pilot) even for his age. Also a nice change of pace that he actually has a job (flight instructor) other than working for the family business.
ReplyDeleteHowever, while he may have saved money on the plane itself, there are many costs associated with maintaining one, paying rental fees to store it in a hangar, etc. Not to mention the fuel costs. I'd hope his parents reimburse him for at least those. It's not like he's just shuttling them around in a used van.
I would not hire any flight instructor with only 6 or 7 years of fight experience. Teaching his siblings is also not a good idea. You should be emotionally detached.
DeleteIf he said that he worked for a flight school as an instructor where his teaching ability could be monitor and the students would have the advantage of ground school,that would be better. I doubt that is the case.
I think they own a small airport, so no hanger fees. I assume they also make use of some planes with their other company Duggar Aviation.
DeleteOwning private aircraft is almost never a money-saving or money-making endeavor. Even owners who lease out aircraft during idle time do not turn a profit. Flying commercial is the best cost, even for a family of their size. The only reason to use private aircraft is as a luxury.
DeletePretty sure the required hours to become a flight instructor are actually very low, much lower than those required to qualify to fly even the smallest of commercial planes, even as a co-pilot. Whether that's a good idea regulation-wise or not, is not my call. And at least JD has a way to sustain himself independently if he wants to.
DeleteHe’s a sweet guy. Very cute with Joy! However, I think talking about “buy used and save the difference” about a private aircraft is a little out of touch!
ReplyDeleteI think that comment MAY have been a joke and not really meant seriously...but not sure. JD tends to have a wry ironic sense of humor. His comments while he was helping Joe set up for Kendra's birthday party were hilarious.
DeleteWhy not "fly private" if you can afford to own, maintain and pay the airport fees for a plane? Sounds like a good idea as the Duggars travel a lot.
ReplyDeleteI don't know when this interview was done, because John is now 28 years old, but in this video he said he's 27, but in the clip from May 2016 (with Joy) he's only 26!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! What a wonderful way to serve; flying private fits the Duggar family as it expands & spreads its wings! Blessed wishes! ����✈
ReplyDeleteI think you meant the return of Counting On is two months away (not two weeks), unless something changed? I thought Counting On was not returning until late July... Did I miss something?
ReplyDeleteWow!!! That must be nice. Their own 10 seater plane. Obviously money is no object. That cash could have fed a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteI believe an apostle said the exact same thing to Jesus about a bottle of expensive perfume and he shut that down pretty quickly. We need pilots and who cares if the Duggars are rich.
DeleteSuch a bizarre comment. If you live in a house, perhaps you should rent a tiny apartment and give away the rest of your money. If you own a car, perhaps you should sell it and ride a bicycle or walk and give away the rest of your money. If you are jealous, then work harder to make more money. The only people who are jealous of someone else's material possessions are those who are too lazy to make changes in their lives.
DeleteYay,and that plane helps them to help alot of people by flying supplies to natural disasters and such, they do more for charity than most and probably more than some of the posters who do not know them or what they do ,other than what they read in trash mags...blessings y'all đŸ˜‰
DeleteNatural disaster relief makes up what part of their flying? And wedding dress shopping or flying out for a meal or for a vacation makes up what percent? Huge difference.
DeleteAnon @ 9:50 There is a big difference between a plane and a bottle of perfume oil, plus the Duggars own more than one plane. I personally don't care who owns what, but for years the Duggars pushed their frugal lifestyle and 'buy used save the differance' motto, they have obviously changed a great deal since those days, and should really just be honest about things. They can afford to fly to another state for a free wedding dress, that says so much.
DeleteIf another poster on this topic is correct the Duggars actually own a plane company called "Duggar Aviation" so the plane in that context is not an impractical luxury, but actually a business investment. No different than if someone owning a limo business, bought a stretch limo, even if he used it to chauffeur family members around on his off-time as well.
DeleteFlying supplies to natural disasters? Where did that spring from? I would think that an area that’s has been declared a disaster zone wouldnt allow private planes to fly in and out. Making sweeping statements usually need to be backed up with fact not wistful thinking from a loving fan
DeleteYou must be a liberal...
DeleteTell that to the celebrities who own their own planes! The Duggar family does a lot more than they do charity wise
DeleteThe commenter who stated that the Duggars use their flight training to fly supplies to areas that have experienced disaster is correct. The Bates help with that, as well.
DeleteLily and Ellie
Lily and Ellie: Thanks for contributing actual FACTS to the discussion and setting the record straight. I recall Nathan Bates also has a pilot license and he did go to Puerto Rico to assist the rescue efforts. But then the Bates got accused of just using the disaster for PR purposes because they showed the footage on their show.
DeleteSo, sadly I am sure people who have already judged the Duggars as "out of touch rich celebs who have forgotten their roots" won't be swayed by your information. But more reasonable people might.
Love that he has gone after his dreams! He is able to stand on his own financially. He has even said he has his own place. Good for him! I wish Jana went after her dreams, and was able to stand on her own financially.
ReplyDeletejohn David has had his own place since he's been about 20. It was on one of the older episodes. He was able to buy and fix up a rental home his dad owned. He said he wasn't going to live in it until he is married. So john is a 28 year old still living with his parents, sleeping in the boys dorm room. The boys have the dave rules the girls do when it comes to not being able to move out of the house and live independently until marriage (per michelle and Jim bob. They stated that fact on the show)
DeleteAlthough I don't agree with the rule about not being able to move out until marriage, I admire the respect the young adults have for their parents. Not to mention the love. Legally they can do whatever and Jimbob and Michelle couldn't stop them. I work in a public middle school, and the lack of respect for authority is so prevalent. They are not afraid to argue, backtalk or curse their authority.
DeleteHey John-David, can I have a RIDE?????!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow cool to own and fly your very own plane!!!
ReplyDeleteThe poor guy... in the middle of talking about planes and what he does and they throw the courting question at him.... LEAVE THEM ALONE ABOUT IT - they'll let us know when they're ready... and that's not the only thing in life. I love them, this isn't against them but the show and how they portray the family.
ReplyDeleteIf he didn’t like being on the show he could simply quit. Sometimes life means taking the bad with the good.
DeleteI agree, let him talk about he does and his interests without the courting question. That was really bad timing for that question.
DeleteGo John David! To earn your pilot's license and instruct others is wonderful. It's great to see someone turn their initial hobby into a livelihood and something that benefits others.
ReplyDeleteThe whole Duggar time concept is downright disrespectful. At this point, the Duggars have no reason to run hours behind schedule. Set a time to leave and set in contingency time so you don't inconvenience others. It does a disservice to the kids to think other people's time isn't worth valuing. Even if they are flying private, why make John David waste his time waiting around for them?
Maybe it’s a good thing Joy doesn’t have her pilots licence. Having your pilot screech mid-flight wouldn’t be very reassuring
ReplyDeleteJoy is a "squealer". At her age there's no chance she'll out grow it.
DeleteWow! The Duggars showing us how to buy used and save the difference........on a 10 seater plane. This sure isn’t the same family I started watching years ago for their unique, modest lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteYou said it. Only wealthy people buy their own planes. Long ways from where they started.
DeleteSo, modest people shouldn’t fly planes for a living or use their own money to help their career?? Interesting.
Deletenothing wrong with being successful.
Delete...But there is something wrong with being successful and flaunting it, or forgetting where you came from and who put you where you are now. We don't see a lot of gratitude for the church that used to support them, or thanks to the companies who furnished their house. What we do see is a growing sense of entitlement, which goes against those strong humble Christian values this formerly "struggling" family touted so much. There's the problem.
DeleteMaybe it's an older plane
Delete11:15 - Please explain your accusation that they have a growing sense of entitlement - what have they said or done to make you think they feel entitled?
DeleteOh please 11:15. You just want to complain. All the complainers always want to know what they do other than court and when they show us you complain about that too. He wasn't being obnoxious and showing off like many other stars do. He is successful and shouldn't need to hide it.
DeleteIs the reaction that the Duggars are entitled our perception of people with money, so it is really us not them? Maybe too fans used to relate to the Duggars struggle maybe people found hope in them like look at them struggling and suceeding at feeding 19, I can feed two kids. But now they aren't an inspiration in that same sense. They are out of reach the 1%, they don't kust own one plane but many. Not so relateable.
DeleteIt's called prospering people...Should we not evolve and grow or stay stagnet forever...think about that statement...seriously!!!!đŸ˜’
DeleteHow is this man not in a relationship yet?
ReplyDeleteLadies! He has his own plane! Think of all the romantic dates you could go on lol.
Imagine John David proposing in the plane while flying over something symbolic (with someone else piloting.) Tell the young lady to look out the window and when she turns around he's there on his knee with the ring.
Years later taking his own kids up there for rides, saying this is where we had our first date! This is where daddy proposed!
It's a good investment lol.
He may have his own plane but it comes with baggage, too.
DeleteOoh, a plane and baggage? How convenient! ;)
DeleteI am so impressed with John David. He is clearly a hard worker and down to earth. Plus, that plane is beautiful.
ReplyDeletewho is that pretty blond young lady.
ReplyDeletethe clip was from when he flew some of the girl's to Renee's bridal shop for Kendra's wedding dress. The 'pretty blonde' is her sister Lauren
Deletethe clip is from when John David flew a few of the girl's to get Kendra's wedding dress at Miss Renee's. The pretty girl is Kendra's sister Lauren
DeleteIt's Lauren Caldwell i think
DeleteJohn David seems like a happy well adjusted guy, glad to see him enjoy flying....nice how his hobby helps the family.
ReplyDeleteIt was refreshing to hear about John-David! Jill and him have a lot of similar facial expressions, don’t you think?
ReplyDeleteI always said that John D and Jill look more like twins than him and Jana do
DeleteBeing late isn’t cute. “Duggar time” doesn’t work in regular school or regular employment. Being on time shows a measure of respect for those you are meeting. Hey, it happens and I have small children too-not 19! But we teach them to respect others by valuing their time. Tardiness=lost opportunities and a poor ability to plan. It’s not lighthearted or funny.
ReplyDeleteThat has always bothered me on the show. There is no excuse for being consistently late.
DeleteAgreed. I don’t have 19 kids either, and there are mornings when it’s a struggle to get out the door on time, but we don’t joke about it. If we are running late to school, we talk about what everyone could have done differently so we won’t be late the next day.
DeleteThat's the trick, 5:45. If you're late one time, you figure out where there's room for improvement so you don't repeat what you did wrong. You don't make it a family habit and laugh it off. The people who are waiting for you won't find it nearly as amusing.
DeleteAnother reason homeschooling worked for them
DeleteMaybe if they all had to get up and get on a school bus, it would have taught them to be punctual. Not being late to school is one of the first lessons most of us learn!
DeleteWe homeschool and we're rarely late to anything. We don't appreciate when other people are habitually late and inconvenience us and we wouldn't perpetrate that on someone else. Their time is valuable too.
DeleteJon David if this were your job away from your family you would be out of a job very quickly for being late. Make your family accountable for their lateness.
ReplyDeleteThey just laugh it off. It's a bad Christian witness and selfish to keep people waiting.
DeleteWhy?
DeleteIt's not loving your neighbor (the other person) to keep them waiting. You're creating a domino effect for the other person who has multiple things to do in their own day. Your being late makes them late for the next thing they need to care of or do. It's very selfish, even more so when you're well aware of it and aren't actively or consistently working to change it. You're holding yourself in higher regard than the other person- treating them as if their time is less valuable than yours.
DeleteWOW PEOPLE TAKE THEM SELVES SO SERIOUS!!! THEY ARE LATE, GET OVER IT
DeleteRe @ 6:26, I think sometimes loving your neighbor is showing a willingness to accept others where they are, even if late. Loving others also means trying to be on time with people who are bothered by lateness. If we did this, timeliness wouldn't be an issue.
DeleteAnonymous @ 12:30- Responding to your comment, my sister-in-law is habitually late and has been for over 20 years. Sometime, we're annoyed when she's late and holding up a family event or meal (some family members have health conditions requiring regular meal times), but we love her dearly. :) We know she struggles in this area (she has a hard time judging how long a task actually takes) and has no support or help from her husband getting other family members in gear. She has so many other good qualities though and we try to focus on those instead. Same with my brother-in-law on the other side (he suffers from anxiety, particularly when it's a family gathering with larger numbers)- we really love him dearly too. He's not exactly enjoying the anxiety, it's not something he asked for, and he's sought professional help with some coping strategies. We show them grace and understanding-we'd never dream of making them feel worse than they already do. But neither do they just laugh it off and act as if everyone should just accept it and get used to it, with a "some things you just can't change" attitude.
DeleteJohn David purchased a used plane to "save money". Like 90% of us could even afford to rent a plane if we wanted to "fly private". This family is so out of touch with ordinary folks it's sad.
ReplyDeleteYep. Finances look different for folks!!! Why always comparing as if they should be like you? Are you jealous? GET OVER IT
DeleteWhoever said the Duggars are required to be "in touch" with people who can't afford a plane? Do you begrudge people spending their own earned income?
DeleteIt's unfair for posters to assume that others are jealous or begrudging anyone anything when others point out the ways in which the Duggars have changed since their show began. It's true that their lifestyle has changed and seemingly some of their values and convictions (values being evidenced in how they spend their time and money, as evidenced by what the viewing audience is being shown). If TLC is calling the shots, as viewers are treated to endless rounds of parties, over-the-top weddings and pricey honeymoons (far removed from Jim Bob and Michelle's frugal example), nail salon visits, and family/sibling retreats, then the Duggars aren't all that concerned with their platform for Christ. If this is really the measure of the current Duggar lifestyle, it's a far cry from their professed witnessing platform in the beginning. If they're following TLC's lead to make them more "marketable" to increase ratings (and thereby, revenue), what does that say about their faith and priorities? If the shallow stuff is all they're willing to share, you can't blame the viewers for perceiving the family as shallow.
DeleteIt's also arrogant to assume that other posters (whom you know little, if anything about, are jealous. Other posters/viewers may actually have higher bank balances than than the Duggars and be very successful entreprenaurs, but may have chosen to have fewer children and don't seek a reality TV show career. Accusations of "jealousy" and "begrudging" are emotionally-laden and seek to shut down the conversation and announce a weak position in debate. Generally, they're used by people who cannot defend their position with documented facts.
who pays for this plane and all the associated costs? Also the lack of respect for other people's time isn't a good thing to teach your small children.
ReplyDeleteDoes he live at home with his parents and share a room with his siblings, or has he moved out? I'm curious how this works in IBLP families and if the sons have more freedoms than the daughters.
ReplyDeleteI had considered John David a nice young man who I respected, however this self serving video with his new toy has caused me to change my mind. He seems to think that owning a plane and taking his family on trips in it is the same as owning a van and using it to transport family. Apparently he has no idea of how much more expensive it is to own and operate a plane than it is to own and operate a van. Amazing how out of touch he is with reality.
ReplyDeleteYou seriously think he doesn't know the cost difference between owning and operating a plane and a car? Consider the fleet of vehicles they have owned for years, the maintenance they've done, the numerous gas tanks they've filled, and you think he's completely unaware of the disparate costs?? It's not as though they have butlers and chauffeurs and maids and gardeners. These people know how to work hard and they've been doing it their whole lives. I'm also curious how you think this video is self-serving. Honestly, the people who are making a big deal about them having this airplane just sound kind of jealous and upset that the family isn't still crammed into a small house and that they aren't having to scrimp to make ends meet.
DeleteJD also works as a flight instructor so the plane is not just a toy for him, it's something he uses for his job. And it was TLC who taped the clip, not JD himself, and he likely got paid to appear in it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
DeleteHow can you say that? He saved up and purchased the plane. I think he has a pretty good idea about all of the costs involved. His family also buys and sells used cars so they know all about the expenses involved there as well. He could use the plane to fly others and then it is needed for his job. We don’t know his whole life and shouldn’t make assumptions.
DeleteAnon at 9:38AM: I agree that some people are jealous and using the "Duggars are flaunting their wealth" accusation to justify their reaction, instead of looking inside their own hearts.
DeleteWhile many people posting here have compared JD owning a plane to a "normal" person owning a van, There are many people in the world (including many in the US) who'd find it a luxury to own a van or car and pay to maintain one, too. Many people rely on public tranportation, bicycle, or their own two feet to get from point A to point B. I know because I used to be in that group. I bought my car used more than 10 years ago and still own it, though now I can afford to upgrade if I wanted to. But I still don't think JD is "out of touch" just based on this clip.
Others would find it a luxury to own a home, or a computer, or consistent Internet access, or to have ANY schooling at all, or to be literate enough to read this blog. In a way everyone who participates here is also "flaunting" good fortune and "out of touch" with the conditions most of humanity live in. Would those judging the Duggars really want to be judged by the same standards? Hmm.
My take on this is that John David has become so accustomed to his affluent lifestyle that he's lost touch with the working world most of us inhabit. When the TLC gig comes to an end and more and more Duggars are born, his ability to support his preferred lifestyle will come to a screeching grinding halt. I hope he's ready to join the mundane working world.
ReplyDeleteYour comment is out of touch with reality. John David does work like the rest of us, he lives in his family home, doesn't dine nightly on steak and lobster, doesn't wear designer threads, doesn't drive a Mercedes, doesn't have an expensive college degree, doesn't flit to Europe for the weekend, etc. Your comment smacks of jealousy that he happens to have his own plane. They have so many connections, that I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to get a really good deal on it. No doubt the show has enabled them to buy things they wouldn't have otherwise, but I do know that they are also very generous. While their house is very nice, it's not opulent. Their clothes aren't extravagant. Their food certainly isn't. They haven't had to fork out thousands and thousands of dollars for college, etc. Live and let live.
DeleteYou know, I grew up poor (as in below the poverty line) and I recall once getting that "you are so out of touch" feeling when a classmate was talking about getting a pair of shoes on sale and stated "they were only a 100 dollars!"
DeleteHowever my sense of righteous indignation was cooled off not long after, when another classmate asked me if my parents made a lot of money. Surprised, I told her, they did not, not at all. She then told me "Oh, I thought they did because you wear different clothes every day, I've never seen you wear the same thing twice".
Well that was an eye opener. I DID have a lot of clothes. Most were hand me downs from relatives or bought at garage sales, discount stores, etc. But for all I know this other girl thought *I* was an out of touch "rich" person, compared to her.
So...yeah, "rich" and "poor" is very subjective. Most people in the US are "rich" compared to people in developing countries. Something to consider before judging the Duggars.
LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE, SO LATER YOU CAN LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE! Just because these people have always been frugal and have money doesn't mean you need to be jealous, it means you should have been like them!!!
DeleteSorry Anonymous @ 8:58, most posters here weren't born into a 5th generation real estate business. Few here are standing on the shoulders of their grandparents and parents who built the family business like the Duggars are. Jim Bob and Michelle have worked hard, but they didn't pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and they're not the self-made success story on their own.
DeleteWOW! My brother flies that very type of plane for work. He said that a used one is between $250,000 and $500,000! I miss the “old” modest family.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that information. I knew planes of that type were very expensive but that sort of price for a plane makes John David seem way out of touch with the rest of us when he suggests that "flying private" is "cheap" and better than commercial flights. Then there's the expense of maintaining the plane, storing it at an airport, take off and landing fees and aviation fuel that make owning a plane out of reach for all but the very affluent.
DeleteFlying private is obviously not cheap, BUT commercial plane tickets, especially if bought last minute, aren't cheap either, they can cost hundreds of dollars. If 10 of the Duggars have to pay $500 each that's $5000 already for them to fly commercial. The cost of a single trip on JD's 10 seater plane might indeed be less than that.
DeleteOf course that doesn't take into account the other fees and expenses of the private plane. But I don't think what JD said was that outrageous. And his tone made me think he was being a little sarcastic about it, too.
Some of their plane trips that we’ve seen on this blog are pretty silly, in my opinion. Flying out of state to get a wedding dress?? Seems wasteful for a frugal family.
DeleteConsidering that the Duggars often fly to paid speaking engagements or while they're being paid to film segments for TLC,I seriously doubt that the Duggars are paying full price out of pocket each time their family members fly commercial. Let's be real here.
DeletePersonally, I think the plane is excessive, even if the Duggar family can’t get it together to be on time for commercial flights, and makes the Duggar’s frugality claims highly dubious.
ReplyDeleteI also have to say that the concept of Duggar time is offensive. Their jokes about never being on time shows a deep disrespect and disregard for everyone else. I won’t wait more than 15 minutes for someone without a really good reason (my surgeon brother in law can’t predict when he’ll really be able to leave the hospital, for example), because I have no patience, and little use, for people who don’t value my time as much as they value their own.
Anon @ 3:37 Agree with your comment. It is just rude and poor form to keep people waiting. If they were/are aware of their tardiness then they should plan ahead and leave a LOT of extra time to get out the door on time.
DeleteSo they need to work on timeliness and you need to work on patience! Good luck with getting the plank out of your own eye. Maybe people
Deletecould take a clue from other cultures and not be so driven by the clock. Life is too short to be obsessed with time.
The Duggars should honor their commitments. Continually arriving places late is selfish and shows you don't value others. They are taking time away from others by making them wait for them to get their act together. Running hours late is ridiculous.
DeleteAnonymous @8:19- Thank you for reminder. As someone who's struggled most of her life with being on time, you're exactly right. Being on time should be considered a commitment to be honored, particularly as the time has been discussed and set between two parties. It should be important enough to spend time evaluating why I'm habitually late (not starting preparing soon enough, underestimating how long a task takes, failing to supervise/coach my children in getting ready, etc.), mapping out measures to solve the problem, and consistently practicing those measures on a daily basis. Re-training me! ;) Thank You!
DeleteHey! Go John David! Do your thing.
ReplyDeleteSo is flying John's job or his hobby? I can't tell.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a bit of both. However justifying the purchase of a plane that costs about 3 times as much as the average house in his area comes off as pretty strange for a "frugal" man.
DeleteIt seems to be both, as he did mention having students he is teaching to fly. Some lucky people do get to work doing something they actually enjoy doing. Unlike others here I don't envy JD for that, I think "good for him"!
DeleteSome of you seem to have missed the part where he said there was bartering involved in buying the plane. He didn't just go out and slap down the cash. Probably cost a lot less than you're thinking. John seems to be a saver. He's had different jobs throughout the years and invested in property to make money. I doubt he receives much of a check from TLC since he's not on the show very often.
ReplyDeleteThe Duggars have always come across to me as a kind of 'fly by the seat of your pants' family- light on details, oblivious of time, buying used to save a buck, etc. My dad was a WWII Marine Corps pilot. He talked about his grueling training and I aways felt safe flying with him because he had such an attention to detail and safety. I'd think twice about flying with JD or having him as a flight instructor. You never know what short-cuts were taken in his training or in procuring a used plane to avoid costs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments about Duggar time. It's rude to keep others waiting ALL of the time.
ReplyDeleteI have read all these comments & I am very sad to say that you folks are just jealous, & in a very not nice way. If you follow the family then you should know that they go to auto auctions....they sell more than just cars, trucks, & vans ! Also if you follow the family what makes you think they don't work for a living ? If you follow the family you can tell they travel alot....what do you think plane tickets cost for even just 10 to 12 of them. If they only flew 5 or 6 times - they have already paid for the plane !!! If you follow the family - then try to enjoy the fact they are sharing their lives with us, try being happy for them, not critical. He is doing what he loves & has grown up to be a nice young man. If or when he courts - he will be the one to decide if or when we need to know ! As far as Duggar time - have you ever tried to get 19 kids all going in one direction at the same time ???? Really - I had one child & I think I would never have been on time with that many bodies to line up & get in one place to be on time ! Think people before you type on this nice site that is giving us this wonderful view of this family. If you do not care anymore - just leave the site alone, & stop ruining it for the real fans that like to hear what is happening with the family ! If you can't play nice - get out of the sandbox !
ReplyDeleteThis is not a sandbox. This is a discussion about a real family with real problems. It's not right to pretend that everything is perfect all the time. The Duggars have admitted they're not perfect. Are we all watching the same show? Sometimes I wonder.
DeleteTime 2:07PM happy Tues 5/22
DeleteAnonymous good point I seen mean comments on there counting on page even video clips of the family on youtube. Its not right some people call them breeders just because these women want to be stay at home moms. Some make funny jokes about Josh which is not right. What he did was years ago these jealous people need to get over it. But I do agree with your comment 100%.
Of course it's not a sandbox, the OP's point was that sometimes people here act awfully juvenile. I feel like I'm in the junior high hallway and the mean girls are whispering catty comments behind locker doors on this blog sometimes.
DeleteI haven't seen anyone here arguing the Duggars are perfect. Being late all the time certainly isn't. But there are many cultures where being late is really no big deal, and isn't a horrible sin against punctuality (some parts of Europe, for example).
DeleteEven in the US, Southern culture is in general not as fast-paced as Northern culture. I live up North but have travelled to visit people in the South, so I can definitely tell there is a difference.
I also understand people honestly feeling they can't relate to a family that can afford to own a private plane. But that's different than accusing the Duggars of flaunting their wealth or being "out of touch" or having forgotten their frugal roots.
I also get the feeling many people make snap judgements without all the information. Knowing the Duggars actually own an aviation business, and have used their planes for charity work, certainly changes my perceptions of whether the plane is a "luxury" or not.
I get the whole "that's a lot of kids to get ready to go anywhere" concept, but they've had a lot of kids for years! That means they've had a lot of time to figure out what isn't working and fix it, in order to get anywhere on time. Not to be mean, but the obvious answer is that if you have too many children to be able to manage, you shouldn't have made decisions to have that many children. I know that's a very unpopular truth but it's still true. If you can't manage your responsibilities, no one's going to give you more responsibility.
DeleteOn what planet is being late all the time "cute" or "funny"? I bet the people the Duggars inconvenience don't see it that way. I don't think the Duggars should be that irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteIf John David is being paid to teach people to fly, I hope he's a certified instructor.
ReplyDeleteHe's not listed in the directory of Certified Flight Instructors so I'm not sure why people are paying him to teach them to fly.
DeleteIt must be terribly frustrating and stressful to be an orderly, well-organized, and detail-oriented Duggar and live in their household. They have to continually contend with being late to events. The quieter children have to continually contend with all the noise and busyness, lack of any real personal space and real privacy in their household. I have strong Christian friends with 10 children and know they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and temperaments. The children do get stressed and overwhelmed at times. It's disturbing that the Duggars have never addressed that aspect of larger-than-normal family life. Instead, they paint a pretty unrealistic picture. I feel sorry for their children.
ReplyDeleteI think children in large families are usually well adjusted because they are of different temperaments and can to learn to adjust in the safety of their own home. I know they can be frustrated and/or overwhelmed at times, but they learn, with the parent's help, to overcome and deal with it. It's called life, and whether they learn to adjust at home or outside the home, they will all eventually have to learn to deal with all sorts of situations and people.
DeleteI don't think anyone here 'judges' the Duggar women because they want to be stay at home mothers. I, myself, was a stay at home mother. The difference is that I worked real jobs in the real workforce before I had my children and had experiences in which to mature. People call them out for the unusual amount of children they conceive. There really is no regard for providing for these children, IMO. The children are not as well off as their parents are.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @4:32-Good observation! The family businesses will not go far, split 19 ways. Depending on how Jim Bob handled the finances for the # Kids and Counting series, the money may not go that far split 19-22 ways either over the long haul for the Duggar offspring and their growing and future families. Counting On will not be on forever, nor supply income long-term for the young marrieds or the up and coming younger Duggars and their eventual families.
DeleteI love John David's wry sense of humor; he reminds me of some of my family members. LOL I think he, Jana, and Jennifer are likely the quieter, more introspective ones of the family.
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