Who is this guy? I wondered. Much more enthusiastic than my earlier Cub pilot, but it was bumpy that day, can't judge by that... but, still, there's something about him. He's... different.
My camera hung around my neck, forgotten. the view was fine, but I was busy observing the master at work, watching the stick between my legs as he moved his, trying to figure out how he was doing things. Also, I was just trying to hunker down and feel the whole experience, to convince myself I really could feel at ease up there.
"EVER FLOWN AN AIRPLANE BEFORE?"
Was he talking to me?
"UH-YEAH, A LITTLE- I TOOK AN INTRO FLIGHT ONCE... IN A TOMAHAWK..."
He was clearly about to offer me the controls, and it was daunting. Much as I was eager to grab that stick, I was still afraid of screwing up.
"GO 'HEAD!! TAKE IT!!"
The little yellow airplane was just snoring along, straight and level. For all I knew, he'd already let go of the stick. It was time... but I had a foolish question:
"I NEVER ACTUALLY USED THE RUDDER... SHOULD I-"
"YEAH, GO AHEAD!! JUST TAKE IT!!"
Tingling, I looked at the trembling stick, then took it in my right hand. Now, the Piper's pitching and trolling were mine to command.The feeling was extraordinary, but I did nothing yet- I still had a question. In all the excitement, I couldn't remember...
"JUST KICK LEFT RUDDER FOR LEFT TURN; RIGHT RUDDER FOR RIGHT TURN!!" he bellowed, reading my mind somehow.
Oh yes, I thought, that's right... wow, he's a good teacher; knew exactly what was-
-will you just stop thinking and fly the airplane you idiot! Do it!! -my inner voice now, louder than the hollering instructor...
Laughing at myself, I took a breath and disturbed the Cub from its reverie, banking hesitantly to the right. I tried to hold the wingtip on a point on the ground. A housing development rotated below the open clamshell dorrs on that side.
Do those people down there realize, I thought, just who-
-forget them stupid fly the airplane you're flying a Cub shut up shut up and fly!!!
That new inner voice was getting loud indeed. And it was right: this was not a time to worry or ponder abstracts, this was a moment for carefree joy!! What a day- my first time in full control of an aircraft, and it's a nice old '46 Cub, of all things!!
Did I slip? Did I skid? I can't recall, but I do recall being a little too shy to do more than bank gently and cautiously. But believe me, there was no happier pilot in the sky that day as I shook my stubby fledgeling's wings and savored my very first true lesson in flying. My dream of flight was finally crystallizing, up there among snow-white cottony clouds drifting in an endless dream-blue sky. Unforgettable.
"OKAY!! LET ME SHOW YOU SOME GOOD TURNS!!"
Taking back control, the pilot whipped the Cub into a very steep bank, then another. Sinking into my seat, I marvelled at the fact that I did not feel queasy. That realization, along with having just flown an airplane with hands and feet, was almost too much to take.
After we touched down, and the lovely song of that little engine had ended, I hopped out and left the pilot with a hearty "Thank you!!" and not much else. He went back inside the office, and I hung around for a bit, considering going in there to corner this guy and tell him all about by ambitions and frustrations, to seek his wisdom. But I was a little beside myself, I thought... no use putting him off with wild-eyed raving; next time, maybe.
So I simply floated back to my car and drove home, somehow remembering how a car worked.
Later I would discover that my unofficial instructor that day was none other than Ed Del Rosso, co-owner of BAT, who'd been flying Cubs since they were a new type, and had somehow figured out how to earn a living fixing up and flying cool old airplanes and sharing them with anyone who was willing to take a chance on a ride in a flying time machine.
It was an honor to get a little lesson from him, and one I'll never forget.
Next: Flight 3: first "real" lesson
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