I got to help a guy with his bucket list yesterday

Timbeck2

Timbeck2

Final Approach
Joined
Nov 4, 2015
Messages
9,423
Location
Vail, Arizona
Display Name
Timbeck2
Home Airfield
KTUS
It was the father of one of my wife's horse riding girlfriends. The last time he'd been in a small plane was when he was six. He is in his 70's today and had always wanted to go up since then. His father was killed in a small plane crash when he was nine, a fact I didn't know until we got back on the ground. I flew him up to Casa Grande (KCGZ) and back from Tucson and other than he being hard of hearing it was an honor to be able to fly him around.
 
Had a similar experience w/ my father in law Timbeck. Took him up in a Cub and let him fly. Wonderful experience, so I know how you feel.
 
I asked him if he wanted to fly and very quickly he said, "Oh no, I just want to look around. You're doing a fine job." :)
 
Good for you,it's always good to help ,someone with their bucket list.
 
No doubt you made his day, week, month and year with that flight. Well done sir. You have done all of GA a favor.
 
Aw shucks fellas. I didn't share that with you to toot my own horn. I just thought it was something cool that made an old man and a younger man feel pretty good and that if you ever get the chance to do it, don't pass it up.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Aw shucks fellas. I didn't share that with you to toot my own horn. I just thought it was something cool that made an old man and a younger man feel pretty good and that if you ever get the chance to do it, don't pass it up.
Click to expand...

When I was a flight instructor, I had the honor of taking an elderly gentleman on a discovery flight. Seems he always wanted to fly, but growing up during the depression did not help. After finishing high school, something we call WW II got in the way. Then after the war, real life happened, marriage, work and trying to keep everything all together. He worked a lifetime in coal mines so his kids and grandkids would not have to.

On his 85th birthday, his kids surprised him with a discovery flight. I saw his excitement and turned a 30 minute flight into an hour and a half. I let him take the controls and we did straight and level, turns and of course sight seeing over where he had lived almost his entire life.

After landing, his emotions were running so high that he could not speak. His kids and grandkids were all teary eyed watching grandpa's excitement. I will admit that I had to excuse myself and splash cold water on my face.

The next day his daughter called me and told me that her dad was so excited to be able to fly. He never expected he would actually hold the controls and that it was the first time he had seen where he lived from the air. She said he talked about it until he fell asleep much later than usual.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top