But I arrived a bit late as I often do, and to my surprise every instructor at the school, practically, had beat me there (at 0730!!), and I lost my 3-hr slot to an instructor and his student. You snooze, you lose- that's the rule.
So... I decided to hang around and see if I could still get up in the air, and of course take some pictures...
Seems a cat has joined the ranks at the flight school... not a black cat, which as every pilot knows is good luck around an airfield, but he (?) is very friendly and laid-back. So laid-back, in fact, that he didn't notice this praying mantis under the table outside the school. Tip for survival when you're very small: don't move unless absolutely necessary!! Very happy to see a mantis here- they're also good luck, I guess. I was reminded of a Richard Bach story (somewhat true, I guess) about a black cat who used to hang around a NATO airfield... the pilots would anxiously check to make sure he was in his usual spot by the runway as they made their approaches.
Not only was the entire school fleet in the air this morning, but the usual suspects made their appearances... always a pleasure to see Donna Mite.
And this Citabria is another fave of mine:
I was watching a student make the rounds in my old friend QJ; after a few fairly decent circuits, the instructor got out and the student taxiied back out to the runway. Turns out it was his first solo... I was pretty excited; this is a picture of his very first solo landing! Too bad my camera refused to expose it properly...
He is just... about... to touch down... he did alright, considering the usual capricious winds here at 47N.
Two more passes, and it was over. I know that look... because I know that feeling. Pride, humility, relief, anticipation... the brain just sort of melts. You gather your stuff-and your wits- as the gyros wind down, and you think: I can't believe it- I soloed!!!
This fellow is an Indian national who's juggling two jobs and a wife, as well as the very demanding pursuit of flying (not to mention the annoying new hurdles and hoops a non-citizen must deal with as a student pilot); his instructor tells me he's been working very hard at getting his ticket. Well done, dude!! I emailed him the pictures (but not the one of the one scary landing
).Lucky for him, he's starting out in a beat-up old 152... keeps you honest, with yourself and the airplane.
At any rate, I did manage to get ahold of the new Skyhawk for about 1/2 hour... no in-flight pics, but check out part 2.
Next: part 2- dee-luxe Skyhawk, etc.
