John J
Line Up and Wait
June 27,2008 is a day that is very close in memory to the date I first soloed so long ago. It is a day where I soloed again in the new LSA class. For a few years I could not fly due to having a very busy "Day Job" and many home needs helping to take care of my mother-in-law. My bride this past spring encouraged me to fly again once I got out of the "Day Job" Well of course I started up at a real nice little airport W29 or Bay Bridge Airport.
I met a really nice instructor who had many years behind him and we hit it off right away. In a short time of 5 hours and lots of ground time Tom, told me it was time to fly on my own. Wow I thought a wish come true. The LSA plane that I was to solo is very light on the controls and needs just finger tips and light feet to work the stick and rudder. I always enjoy a nice stick and rudder plane. It reminded me so much of the planes I first learned in; The Champ, T-Craft and of course the J-3. Fun flying.
That June day was very hot and steamy here on the Cheasapeake. As I walked out to the hot tarmac I felt a blast of heat. The sun seemed to be baking eveything. I looked at the plane I was to fly and it seem to say;" Hurry up and lets go flying to cool off". A long preflight complete we soon were taxing to runway 11. I had brought my flight bag along for it weighs close to 20 pounds and I wanted weight in the plane. These LSA's planes are real weight sensitive and I had not flown it alone so I knew it would be a much different plane than I knew before. Soon I was at the end of the runway and time to fly. Butterflies in the tommy as I fed the power in and soon we lifted off the hot runway like a bird going home.
The air was smooth and very moist as I climbed to the east. I looked out to the left and saw the Chester River. The River seem to say to me; "Come over here and follow me to your childhood home" I turned the plane to follow the river. The air over the river was smooth and soft. It had that nice sweet smell to it. Even the plane seemed quieter over the river.
Looking ahead I began to see landmarks that have been burned into my memory. Comagies Bight bekond me and then Mellon Point. As Mellon Point slid under the nose I looked left and there was the farm house. The fields are gone now but I did see the equipment shed and short road where I flew my rubber band models when I was so young. I turned the plane to fly over the farm at 2100 feet and I felt a lump in my throat as we flew over. This is where all my yearning to learn to fly began with making models and dad telling me about all the planesthat he saw during his day. I circled over and just took it all in. I felt a slight slap as some heated air rose from the surface.
I soon headed back out over the river and started back to the airport for some pattern work. As I flew along I reflected on how lucky I am to fly solo again. I knew I had flown over this area on my frist solo x-c in a Champ and I had that same feeling.
Soon I was back in the tie down and a fellow pilot came by to chat. He told me that I must have had a real nice flight for he could see the smile on my face. It will be a day I will never forget just like the first time I soloed.
Thanks for reading
John J
I met a really nice instructor who had many years behind him and we hit it off right away. In a short time of 5 hours and lots of ground time Tom, told me it was time to fly on my own. Wow I thought a wish come true. The LSA plane that I was to solo is very light on the controls and needs just finger tips and light feet to work the stick and rudder. I always enjoy a nice stick and rudder plane. It reminded me so much of the planes I first learned in; The Champ, T-Craft and of course the J-3. Fun flying.
That June day was very hot and steamy here on the Cheasapeake. As I walked out to the hot tarmac I felt a blast of heat. The sun seemed to be baking eveything. I looked at the plane I was to fly and it seem to say;" Hurry up and lets go flying to cool off". A long preflight complete we soon were taxing to runway 11. I had brought my flight bag along for it weighs close to 20 pounds and I wanted weight in the plane. These LSA's planes are real weight sensitive and I had not flown it alone so I knew it would be a much different plane than I knew before. Soon I was at the end of the runway and time to fly. Butterflies in the tommy as I fed the power in and soon we lifted off the hot runway like a bird going home.
The air was smooth and very moist as I climbed to the east. I looked out to the left and saw the Chester River. The River seem to say to me; "Come over here and follow me to your childhood home" I turned the plane to follow the river. The air over the river was smooth and soft. It had that nice sweet smell to it. Even the plane seemed quieter over the river.
Looking ahead I began to see landmarks that have been burned into my memory. Comagies Bight bekond me and then Mellon Point. As Mellon Point slid under the nose I looked left and there was the farm house. The fields are gone now but I did see the equipment shed and short road where I flew my rubber band models when I was so young. I turned the plane to fly over the farm at 2100 feet and I felt a lump in my throat as we flew over. This is where all my yearning to learn to fly began with making models and dad telling me about all the planesthat he saw during his day. I circled over and just took it all in. I felt a slight slap as some heated air rose from the surface.
I soon headed back out over the river and started back to the airport for some pattern work. As I flew along I reflected on how lucky I am to fly solo again. I knew I had flown over this area on my frist solo x-c in a Champ and I had that same feeling.
Soon I was back in the tie down and a fellow pilot came by to chat. He told me that I must have had a real nice flight for he could see the smile on my face. It will be a day I will never forget just like the first time I soloed.
Thanks for reading
John J
