until today, when our neighbours (who own a Cessna 180) graciously invited us on a little outing.
While I couldn’t talk them into letting me take off or land, I got to take the controls and - under careful supervision - dabble with course and altitude (reasonably clean turns, as far as I could tell), play with trim etc.
Noone’s ever said “increase altitude to 4500 feet” to me before - admittedly, when I got it trimmed for level flight, we were at 4400, but still… Outrageously fun!
When I get a little more cash amassed, it’s time for lessons. Wow.
Pics of me with an iron grip on the controls (scroll down):
I loved it when I did that too. My friend and I were flying from Prescott, AZ to Sedona for dinner. I had an iron grip on the yoke, especially when the winds kicked up over the mountains.
I soooooo want my private license.
I can fly an airplane, I just don’t have the little piece of paper that says I’m legal to do so.
Tripler
I’m looking into using my GI Bill for flight school.
I first learned how to handle a Piper Cherokee 180 when I was eight years old - back when my dad was still current and flew regularly.
I have a number of friends who own airplanes and I go up with them on a regular basis - and take the controls on a regular basis, but of course, never as PIC.
Becasaue, oddly enough, over the years, I’ve always done this vicariously through others - I’ve never taken a flying lesson, nor do I have my pilot’s license. Yet I have over 500 hours of stick time…
I’ve heard of it being done before, but I just don’t know how. . . There’s a school up here in Minot that’ll do the paperwork, but I’m not sure what I have to do to start it. I should go hit up the Education office here on base. . .
Tripler
I’m gonna use the 100% Tuition Assistance for a Masters Degree.
Actually, we took off from Torrance. No helicopters out that day, but there were some amazingly beautiful biplanes.
I guess with my general hand-eye coordination, I’d probably end up losing doors, antennas and other accoutrements through unintended aerobatics anyway, but thanks for the hint.
I’m afraid it might be the Geocities bandwidth limit.
Everybody else: Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, it’s awe-inspiring.
I’m still bouncing. I want to do it again. I want to fly some more. I also want to learn the bleedin’ instruments (well, I knew most…) and the deeper philosophy behind propeller pitch adjustment and correct radio procedure - and - and…
I was a senior in college and needed 3 free elective credit hours to graduate after I’d finished all my requirements. I was on track to graduate early, and couldn’t squeeze in 3 more hours under the load limit. So, since I was gonna be stuck taking a meaningless course over the summer, and that I was already running up a tidy student loan debt, I might as well spring for the private pilot class.
So I got halfway through getting my private pilot license. Let me tell you, no matter how cool you thought that moment of being in control was, there is nothing in the world like that first solo flight! Landing all by your lonesome, no saftey net, and no choice but to succeed. Hell of alot different than most final exams.
Do you have a fear of heights, or a fear of falling? It’s been discussed at my flight school often.
I have no problems rappeling or flying. However, you will never find me at the top of an extension ladder or walking a tightrope. I think it all has to do with perceived safety. I do not feel like I am in danger in an airplane. But the top of that ladder is a different story.
Ever since I got my motorbike license, the idea of learning to fly has been in the back of my head. I guess I’m the sort of person who always wants to do the next potentially fatal thing.
- admittedly, when I got it trimmed for level flight, we were at 4400, but still… Outrageously fun!
