Hey guys. Every time before, during, and after a flight, do you have a cycle of emotions going through you?
Like for example, before a flight do you feel a little nervous or apprehensive, then during the flight you feel okay, and if nothing goes wrong, after the flight you feel great with a sense of accomplishment? Then the cycle repeats itself for the next flight?
Cycle of emotions...
Definitely. With 600+ hours I still definitely cycle through. It starts days beforehand with the cycle of emotional highs and lows as I watch the Wx for a planned flight. The hour's drive to the airport is a time of de-stressing from everyday junk and psychologically easing into the flight and a smile twitches the corners of my mouth.
By the time of airport arrival I'm all airplane business. Everyone there is my friend (even the people I don't like), a few congenial Hellos, some convos, call to the fuel truck, preflight, update the airplane log....
I am pilot. I am strong; my well maintained airplane glistens and I smile pridefully as a click of the key turns her over to a gentle purr. Checklists complete and a call to ground actualizes the anticipation and I'm taxiing... Two-four at Bravo for intersection departure via Delta, Bravo, Hold short three-three.
Taxiing along Delta, I'm comfortable, confident, watching for ground traffic, checking the wind sock and trying to keep ground speed under a gallop. I'm happy, knowing that (barring a bad run-up) events are in motion for the inevitable departure. It's going to happen, YIPPEE.
My best, most gleeful moment is the instance at which the ship separates from Earth. Briefed, line up, instruments fine, finesse throttle to full open, rudders, instruments, airspeed, lift, breathe and up! And then the involuntary grin, almost a giggle. Hundreds and hundreds of take offs and that glee has been there for each one.
The rest of the flight is just a great big Awe. I can fly the same route over and over, avoiding Deltas and determining ETA by pilotage alone. And the light, snow, sun, etc changes each trip in such a beautiful way as to make the trip seem brand new and I'm awed anew. I stopped taking pictures a while ago because my camera can never duplicate what I see and have therefore just resolved to come back and look at it again and again.
Landing and buttoning up are equally emotional. It is emotional, all good and I love it.