Paul Allen
Pre-takeoff checklist
Four years ago my wife and I gave our son an introdutory flight for his 15th birthday. He took several more lessons and then school started, sports, girls etc. and that was the end of flying. I watched him take the intro flight and thought I should try it. That was it for me, I couldn't stop and six months later I had my PPL. Half way to the PPL I bought a 172. A year later I started my instrument training and again six months later I had the instrument rating. Then of course the 172 was to slow so I bought a 201. Late last summer my son decides it's time to get back in the left seat. I signed us up to the AOPA mentoring program to help get him more involved. Saturday (his 19th birthday) his checkride was scheduled, but we had 200 foot ceilings. Well today four years after he started he passed the checkride. Dad, when do I start flying the Mooney? If we didn't give him the intro flight I might not have tried it myself and I might still have some money. Oh well it certainly has been worth it, I've done things these past four years I would have never thought possible.
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