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He took the Tomahawk in hand and landed it properly, with plenty of runway to spare.
Flush with pride, wonder, and a bit of embarassment over my classic beginner's flare, I taxiied us back to the ramp, somehow staying on the pavement the whole way.
Back in the office, B. rang up my bill. I got a rude surprise: the $25 fee for the intro did not include the instructor's fee! Of course I should have realized that, but the flyer said the flight was $25.
But it wasn't his fault, and the guy had to eat, so I didn't argue. But there was still a problem: I didn't have the full amount,. only $25 plus enough for gas to drive home, as I hadn't had time to get some on the way over.
He told me not to worry about it; we could settle up later; I was a promising student. etc., etc.
We parted friends, and I promised I'd be back.

 As it turned out, I did not continue my training there, but did eventually return with a friend of mine to buy him an intro flight for his birthday. So my friendly first instructor made a wise investment in my character, getting his due and then some...


Next: An impromptu lesson in a Piper Cub

Great posts Sean I really enjoyed reading those - funny thing though, as I was reading, it reminded me so much of my introductory flight, that I visualised my flight not yours.

Thanks for taking the time to write & post the story of your intro flight.

TSC.

I've got so many memories swirling in my head, I don't know where to start. We took our first lessons the same year. Big difference for me, was that I was so terrified during the first lesson that all I kept telling myself was, that this was an interesting experiment, but not anything I'd ever be able to do. I was actually walking out of the office, sure I'd not return, when it just hit me like a rock... "Make the commitment now, or regret it for the rest of your life"..  Like a zombie, I bought the "kit" (headset, books, bag, logbook) ( a lot of money at the time) and scheduled my next lesson.

I'll get some of my memories into type here soon. Right now, I'm enjoying everyone elses..  

Very interesting & nicely written. Seems you missed your vocation like another forum member I could mention.

I was thinking I should put some of my cherished memories down 'on paper' before they disappear for good. They were as clear as crystal for so many years but rapidly getting a tad fuzzy now. (Frightening thought.) My experiences seem pretty tame compared with what some of you are doing at this moment in time.

I once wrote an article about my first gliding course in 1959. Things were so much simpler then. Several people I showed it to were very complimentary. It's possible I still have it stored away on an old floppy disc somewhere. If I find it I might post an abridged version of it here some time. It demonstrates just how much things have changed in almost 50 years. Not as much as they did in the first 50 though.

PS. I missed my vocation too. During that course I overheard my gliding instructor telling his colleagues: "That boy is a born pilot". He wasn't the last to say that either. This is not line-shooting but simple fact. 8-)

Very interesting & nicely written. Seems you missed your vocation like another forum member I could mention.

I was thinking I should put some of my cherished memories down 'on paper' before they disappear for good. They were as clear as crystal for so many years but rapidly getting a tad fuzzy now. (Frightening thought.) My experiences seem pretty tame compared with what some of you are doing at this moment in time.

I once wrote an article about my first gliding course in 1959. Things were so much simpler then. Several people I showed it to were very complimentary. It's possible I still have it stored away on an old floppy disc somewhere. If I find it I might post an abridged version of it here some time. It demonstrates just how much things have changed in almost 50 years. Not as much as they did in the first 50 though.

PS. I missed my vocation too. During that course I overheard my gliding instructor telling his colleagues: "That boy is a born pilot". He wasn't the last to say that either. This is not line-shooting but simple fact. 8-)

Glad you enjoyed it.
I've been a frustrated writer for years... trouble is, I'm my worst critic- I always see too much of my influences; never found my real "voice". Many reading my following flight journal posts will see that: "Oh, he was reading St.-Ex that day", or "copying Richard Bach again, are we?" Or so it seems to me.

I've thought of trying to submit some articles or whatever... might get around to it eventually. I should really pick up some college credits in English or Literature to finally get some kind of degree (I'm a 1-year dropout), which seems to be a requirement for getting paid to write technical stuff or do editorial work, which I think I'd need to do if i really wanted to have a go at writing full-time.
The very idea  of that- working from home, getting paid to write or read!  That appeals to me.  I should give that some more thought... there's still time for me to move in that direction, and I'm sure I could find time to make it happen, gradually.
Your writing ain't bad, either, and in fact I think I"hear your voice" reading that entry... seeing as how your flight experiences outclass mine by 100 to 1, interest-wise, I'd wager you could sell your flying memoirs to some aviation publication, especiallyhere  in the US, where there is much interest in that time and place in aviation, but not much knowledge.

Speaking of that sort of thing, I'm not surprised to hear you say you think you may have squandered another gift- in fact, reading your own "first solo" post, I figured you couldn't possibly sit there and write that without "feeling the itch"... might be a little late in the game for you to take up flying professionally, but I want to encourage you to get back up there. You understand and appreciate flight too well to not take a hop once in a while, on your own, having earned the privilege Things haven't really changed that much, and you wouldn't be the first to come back to flying late in life,after many years, surprised to find that time and age were no great obstacle, and it's still so much damn fun!!  ;D  

You could probably even get at least a glider instructor's certs- you'd make an attractive hiring prospect for any flight school, as students will figure you've been instructing for ages and be more at ease.

In short, I feel that telling yourself "Could've been somebody in the RAF or the airlines, but missed that boat somehow, so no more flying" doesn't do justice to the affinity you discovered back there in that ATC Slingsby.  And "I'm too damn old" doesn't cut it, either, in my book.  ;)

I know I've given you a hard time about this before, old chap, but I can't help it- I think you just need more encouragement.
Next time you get a chance to go up with a friend who might let you take the stick, think about it, will you? And maybe ask them what they think of the idea...

Meanwhile, I'm on the edge of my seat, waiting to hear how that winch launch goes...  ;D

Your writing ain't bad, either, and in fact I think I"hear your voice" reading that entry...

Thanks. You're most kind. I seem to have lost the knack recently.

In short, I feel that telling yourself "Could've been somebody in the RAF or the airlines, but missed that boat somehow, so no more flying" doesn't do justice to the affinity you discovered back there in that ATC Slingsby.  And "I'm too darn old" doesn't cut it, either, in my book.  

I know I've given you a hard time about this before, old chap, but I can't help it- I think you just need more encouragement.
Next time you get a chance to go up with a friend who might let you take the stick, think about it, will you? And maybe ask them what they think of the idea...

I've never actually told myself that. In fact I had two chances to get my PPL for nothing which must be extremely rare but that's another story. I could afford to do it now & have plenty of time but after careful consideration decided against it. I shall never lose my fascination with anything that flies but I'm quite happy to do that from the ground these days. I would never turn down the opportunity of a flight but I'm not even interested in taking the stick now.

Whatever your personal reasons, with all due respect, I think it's a shame.  
I won't mention it again... for a while, anyway.

But at least you still hang around airports... it'll be a sad day when there's nobody hanging around a small airport somewhere who learned to fly before 1970...