Favorite Aviation Reminiscense

[EDR]

1980's...
Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.

(Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
spot in the dark with out flag-people.)

[H. Adam Stevens]

1969
Watching the Aurora Borealis from 9000 feet over College Station, TX.

"EDR" > wrote in message
...
>
> 1980's...
> Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
> Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
>
> (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
> spot in the dark with out flag-people.)

[Bob Noel]

In article >, EDR
> wrote:

first solo

--
Bob Noel

[John Theune]

EDR > wrote in :

>
> 1980's...
> Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
> Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
>
> (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
> spot in the dark with out flag-people.)

My first flight, about 9 months after my crash. Realizing that I could
still fly. Being alive.

[Gene Seibel]

Heading over Chesapeake Bay at sunset.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.



EDR > wrote in message >...
> 1980's...
> Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
> Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
>
> (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
> spot in the dark with out flag-people.)

[Aviv Hod]

Flying home with my new wife one week after our wedding, on the last 1 hour
leg of a 10 hour weekend round robin flight from Iowa City -> Clarinda,
Iowa -> New Hudson, Michigan -> back to Clarinda-> back home to Iowa City.
It had been a long, interesting, and tiring trip that had us go west to pick
up the in-laws, go east to Michigan to be with my family for the weekend,
then drop them back home before heading home ourselves.

I handled all sorts of challenges during that flight, including weather,
turbulance, and short fields with a heavy airplane. I learned a lot, and
kept my passengers happy. By the time we left Clarinda for the push home,
the hubub of the weekend was behind us, the weather cleared up, the headwind
turned into a tailwind, the plane was several hundred pounds lighter, and
getting home became a flight to remember.

It felt great on that last leg to relax, with my beautiful wife to my right,
in beautiful weather, with a strong tailwind, taking the breathtaking Iowa
landscape in and enjoying every minute of it. Life was perfect.

Shortly afterwards, my wife expressed an interest in learning to fly :-)

-Aviv

[carlos]

My first grass-strip landing, one day after getting my PPL, at Katama Air
Park (Martha's Vineyard). The take-off was fun too, although a bit bumpy...
and the landing back at Norwood (OWD), at sunset, was probably the best
landing I've ever done.

Also, flying last July over the Lakes Region in NH with my girlfriend in a
rented 172 out of Concord.

CGP.

"EDR" > wrote in message
...
>
> 1980's...
> Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
> Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
>
> (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
> spot in the dark with out flag-people.)

[Teacherjh]

Four in the morning on a crystal clear night flying from the Bay area to El
Monte, coming over the San Gabriel mountans at 10,500 and gently descending
into the middle of the incredible carpet of lights that makes up the LA Basin.

Jose


--
(for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)

[Jim Fisher]

Flying with my kids anywhere. Take your pick of trips. Giving them the
gift of doing something almost nobody else in this world can do and knowing
they will have those memories the rest of their lives is very satisfying.

Giving your kids fond memories is about as close to immortality as one can
ever get.

--
Jim Fisher

[White Raven]

Making my flight instructor sick.

[JJS]

Taking off at 4:30 am on a 4 hour flight with my teenage daughter on
our way to see her cousin's graduation ceremony. My girl had just
broken up with a boy friend and was really depressed. She begged to
go on this long trip, as she was really close to her cousin. They
didn't get to see each other very often, as they attended college far
apart. The weather was iffy. I decided to try the flight anyway as
the ceiling and visibility were great at the departure airport and for
the first 200 miles of the route. We could check the weather as we
progressed and turn back if things didn't get better. Just as we
reached cruising altitude I saw a shooting star screaming through the
crystal clear pitch black air. I asked my kid if she'd seen it...
trying to cheer her up, but she hadn't. She began looking, though.
Then there was another streak, intensely bright and colored. Then
more and more of them. A full fledged meteor shower had broken out
and we had the best seat in the house. Here we were hanging in mid
air with the most amazing performance going on around us. It was if
the almighty had magnified and colored these flying jewels every color
of the rainbow. Big ones, little ones, and some that seemed to
stretch nearly from one horizon to the other. My daughter's whole
outlook on life was changed in an instant. We watched the show in
total silence with eyes and mouths wide open. When the show was over,
she came out of her funk and later struck up a REAL conversation.
Something too rare to behold between a teenage girl and her daddy.
Her eyes sparkled like the meteors we had just observed. Although
we'd always been close, I believe a stronger bond was formed between
us because we had witnessed something so rare. An event that very,
very few if any other people had experienced in the same manner. Then
to top things off, calls to FSS had ground fog at our destination, but
as we got closer daylight arrived and the fogbank was spotted from 50
miles away. Another call to FSS and they told us weather was clearing
at nearby airports. The fog lifted and dissipated as we watched,
while still clinging to lakes and ponds. It was surreal. We landed
in CAVU conditions and made it to graduation on time. Oh yeah, on the
way home we stopped at a grass strip on the edge of a lake with a good
restaurant within walking distance. I'll never forget the trip.
Neither will she.

"EDR" > wrote in message
...
>
> 1980's...
> Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
> Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
>
> (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
> spot in the dark with out flag-people.)

[Tom Sixkiller]

In article >, EDR
> wrote:


Flying from Denver to Belle Fourche (SD) to meet my future in-laws. My
fiancée couldn't make it clear to her Dad, when asking him to pick us up at
the airport, that she meant the airport in Belle, not the commercial airport
in Rapid City.

Flying past Mount Rushmore, then taxiing up with my future in-laws watching.

[carlos]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this...

You should sell this story to Cessna... :)

"JJS" <jschneider@REMOVE SOCKSpldi.net> wrote in message
...
> Taking off at 4:30 am on a 4 hour flight with my teenage daughter on
> our way to see her cousin's graduation ceremony. My girl had just
> broken up with a boy friend and was really depressed. She begged to
> go on this long trip, as she was really close to her cousin. They
> didn't get to see each other very often, as they attended college far
> apart. The weather was iffy. I decided to try the flight anyway as
> the ceiling and visibility were great at the departure airport and for
> the first 200 miles of the route. We could check the weather as we
> progressed and turn back if things didn't get better. Just as we
> reached cruising altitude I saw a shooting star screaming through the
> crystal clear pitch black air. I asked my kid if she'd seen it...
> trying to cheer her up, but she hadn't. She began looking, though.
> Then there was another streak, intensely bright and colored. Then
> more and more of them. A full fledged meteor shower had broken out
> and we had the best seat in the house. Here we were hanging in mid
> air with the most amazing performance going on around us. It was if
> the almighty had magnified and colored these flying jewels every color
> of the rainbow. Big ones, little ones, and some that seemed to
> stretch nearly from one horizon to the other. My daughter's whole
> outlook on life was changed in an instant. We watched the show in
> total silence with eyes and mouths wide open. When the show was over,
> she came out of her funk and later struck up a REAL conversation.
> Something too rare to behold between a teenage girl and her daddy.
> Her eyes sparkled like the meteors we had just observed. Although
> we'd always been close, I believe a stronger bond was formed between
> us because we had witnessed something so rare. An event that very,
> very few if any other people had experienced in the same manner. Then
> to top things off, calls to FSS had ground fog at our destination, but
> as we got closer daylight arrived and the fogbank was spotted from 50
> miles away. Another call to FSS and they told us weather was clearing
> at nearby airports. The fog lifted and dissipated as we watched,
> while still clinging to lakes and ponds. It was surreal. We landed
> in CAVU conditions and made it to graduation on time. Oh yeah, on the
> way home we stopped at a grass strip on the edge of a lake with a good
> restaurant within walking distance. I'll never forget the trip.
> Neither will she.
>
> "EDR" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > 1980's...
> > Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east of
> > Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
> >
> > (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a parking
> > spot in the dark with out flag-people.)
>
>

[Jim Fisher]

"JJS" <jschneider@REMOVE SOCKSpldi.net> wrote in message
I'll never forget the trip.
> Neither will she.

I'll bet. Excellent read.

--
Jim Fisher

[JJS]

Well... I would, but Cessna wouldn't be happy about it 'cause we were
in our "manly" Piper Cherokee :>) See, that's another reason to own a
low wing airplane. Better view of the heavens! (He exits ducking and
running)!

8437R

"carlos" > wrote in message
...
> Wow! Thanks for sharing this...
>
> You should sell this story to Cessna... :)
>
> "JJS" <jschneider@REMOVE SOCKSpldi.net> wrote in message
> ...
> > Taking off at 4:30 am on a 4 hour flight with my teenage daughter
on
> > our way to see her cousin's graduation ceremony. My girl had just
> > broken up with a boy friend and was really depressed. She begged
to
> > go on this long trip, as she was really close to her cousin. They
> > didn't get to see each other very often, as they attended college
far
> > apart. The weather was iffy. I decided to try the flight anyway
as
> > the ceiling and visibility were great at the departure airport and
for
> > the first 200 miles of the route. We could check the weather as
we
> > progressed and turn back if things didn't get better. Just as we
> > reached cruising altitude I saw a shooting star screaming through
the
> > crystal clear pitch black air. I asked my kid if she'd seen it...
> > trying to cheer her up, but she hadn't. She began looking,
though.
> > Then there was another streak, intensely bright and colored. Then
> > more and more of them. A full fledged meteor shower had broken
out
> > and we had the best seat in the house. Here we were hanging in
mid
> > air with the most amazing performance going on around us. It was
if
> > the almighty had magnified and colored these flying jewels every
color
> > of the rainbow. Big ones, little ones, and some that seemed to
> > stretch nearly from one horizon to the other. My daughter's whole
> > outlook on life was changed in an instant. We watched the show in
> > total silence with eyes and mouths wide open. When the show was
over,
> > she came out of her funk and later struck up a REAL conversation.
> > Something too rare to behold between a teenage girl and her daddy.
> > Her eyes sparkled like the meteors we had just observed. Although
> > we'd always been close, I believe a stronger bond was formed
between
> > us because we had witnessed something so rare. An event that
very,
> > very few if any other people had experienced in the same manner.
Then
> > to top things off, calls to FSS had ground fog at our destination,
but
> > as we got closer daylight arrived and the fogbank was spotted from
50
> > miles away. Another call to FSS and they told us weather was
clearing
> > at nearby airports. The fog lifted and dissipated as we watched,
> > while still clinging to lakes and ponds. It was surreal. We
landed
> > in CAVU conditions and made it to graduation on time. Oh yeah, on
the
> > way home we stopped at a grass strip on the edge of a lake with a
good
> > restaurant within walking distance. I'll never forget the trip.
> > Neither will she.
> >
> > "EDR" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > 1980's...
> > > Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east
of
> > > Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
> > >
> > > (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a
parking
> > > spot in the dark with out flag-people.)
> >
> >
>
>

[carlos]

ROFL...

Oops... We Cessna pilots believe everyone else like to look at the ground!

BTW, your post got me thinking about the one quality of low-wingers I hadn't
thought-off... unrestricted view of the heavens, clouds, etc...

Now if I could just get the sunroof on my 206 STC'd...! LOL



"JJS" <jschneider@REMOVE SOCKSpldi.net> wrote in message
...
> Well... I would, but Cessna wouldn't be happy about it 'cause we were
> in our "manly" Piper Cherokee :>) See, that's another reason to own a
> low wing airplane. Better view of the heavens! (He exits ducking and
> running)!
>
> 8437R
>
> "carlos" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Wow! Thanks for sharing this...
> >
> > You should sell this story to Cessna... :)
> >

[Jay Smith]

carlos wrote:
> Oops... We Cessna pilots believe everyone else like to look at the ground!
> BTW, your post got me thinking about the one quality of low-wingers I hadn't
> thought-off... unrestricted view of the heavens, clouds, etc...

Only if they are Grumman's, Ercoupe's or similar canopy style aircraft.

[Bob Fry]

Gosh, where to start, where to end?

Logging a half hour flying time in France 4 years ago from a small
field near Ambert. The club members were extremely patient with my
survival French and the instructor a great gentlemen who put his
12-year-old niece in the back so I could give her a first ride.
Afterward we enjoyed apéritifs in the club's full wet bar. The
French, I concluded, know how to enjoy life.


Flying over the California coast. My Aircoupe is a marvelous
sightseeing platform, and my favorite trip is from near Sacramento to
the Delta, then along the Sacramento River to the S.F. Bay and over
the Golden Gate Bridge. Make a left turn and down the coast to Half
Moon Bay, where you can walk to town in 5 minutes, get lunch, and
return, all in a few hours. It would take a full day to do it by car
and the stress of traffic would ruin it.


Young Eagles rides, and the last batch I did in September. 9 kids in
an Aircoupe means 9 separate flights, but it was worth it to see their
excitement, smiles and joy, and the parents' appreciation.

I'll always remember the last little girl, nine or ten years old. The
first thing she asked was, "Can we go fast? I like going fast."
"Sure, we'll go fast," I answered, figuring even an Aircoupe had to be
faster than cars. As we taxied out with the canopy back, she asked if
I could leave it open during flying. "Well," I said, "how about we
close it for takeoff, then I'll open it when we get in the air?" I
didn't think she really knew how noisy and windy it would be with it
open and didn't want to deal with a frightened child on takeoff.

So off we went for our 15 minute loop out and back. She said the
normal things about how small everything looked, but kept pestering me
about opening the canopy. On the downwind she asked again and now,
feeling a little guilty and figuring we were slow enough to give her a
taste of it, I undid the latches and cracked it open a couple of
inches. I was in mid-sentance responding to a request from the tower
when she couldn't stand it anymore. "ALL THE WAY OPEN!" she wailed.
Without another word I reached up and yanked it back. A blast of air
blew my chart and papers around and the engine roar drowned out the air
noise. She was happy now--she was really flying.

[Dale]

I was lucky enough to have spent a couple of years flying a B-17 and
B-24 around the country giving rides. Many of those rides were to
former bomber crew from WWII.

I can't pick any one flight. But it would be one of those when a
veteran, many times with tears in his eyes, would give me a thumbs-up or
thank me for the flight. Imagine that, a guy that had flown the
airplane in combat in a war to save the world, thanking me for taking
him for a ride. I never got used to that.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

[GKgloc]

Hi Group,

I don't chime in too often, but this thread compelled me to share my strongest
aviation reminiscense.


I earned my PPL late in life. As with many, marriage, family and other
responsibilities of life made flying an impossible dream. Living across the
country from my parents, I was never able to share the joy of flying with them
until last year. Two years ago, my father began battling an illness which we
knew, in our hearts, would rapidly deplete his remaining years. A month after
his diagnosis, I took the time to fly myself out for a visit. I endeavored to
spend as much time with as possible.

On my first flight out there, he seemed proud that his "renegade" son actually
accomplished something in life. After some discussion, I was able to coax him
into a sightseeing flight. After assisting him into the co-pilots seat of the
little Cessna, buckling him in, adjusting his headset, and giving him a short
briefing, we started the engine, taxied, and took off.

At first he was silent, and I didn't want to speak. Sometimes words need not
be spoken, but in our case, the lack of conversation was from years of a
strained father-son relationship. Then, through the intercom, my father
started talking to me. He talked to me in a way in which we had never spoken.
He told me that he had always wanted to learn to fly, but due to his
responsibilities of family and life, he could never afford the lessons. He
told me about the unspoken pride he felt when he heard that I earned my Pilot's
License. It was then I realized that his sacrifices in life, gave me the
opportunity to learn to fly. We flew for what seemed like hours, I didn't want
our flight, or our conversation to end.

For several visits, I was able to take my father for a short flight. He seemed
to be in another world when he was flying. Eventually, his feeble body began
deteriorating at a rapid pace, leaving him bedridden.

Then, late one night, came the dreaded phone call. I was able to get to his
bedside, less than an hour before my father passed.

During my father's viewing, I wore one of my few suits which had the little
gold AOPA wing on my lapel. My wife reached up to straighten my wings, which
for some odd reason, always seem to sit crooked on my lapel. At that moment, I
walked over to the casket where my father lay, and pinned my AOPA wings on his
lapel, gently kissed him on the cheek, and said, ""Dad, these wings really
belong to you. Hang onto to them for me. You can give them back when I see
you again."

Those wings sat straight on his lapel…..

[ShawnD2112]

I would respond but I can't type with a lump that big in my throat...

Thanks for sharing that.

Shawn
"GKgloc" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Group,
>
> I don't chime in too often, but this thread compelled me to share my
strongest
> aviation reminiscense.
>
>
> I earned my PPL late in life. As with many, marriage, family and other
> responsibilities of life made flying an impossible dream. Living across
the
> country from my parents, I was never able to share the joy of flying with
them
> until last year. Two years ago, my father began battling an illness which
we
> knew, in our hearts, would rapidly deplete his remaining years. A month
after
> his diagnosis, I took the time to fly myself out for a visit. I
endeavored to
> spend as much time with as possible.
>
> On my first flight out there, he seemed proud that his "renegade" son
actually
> accomplished something in life. After some discussion, I was able to coax
him
> into a sightseeing flight. After assisting him into the co-pilots seat of
the
> little Cessna, buckling him in, adjusting his headset, and giving him a
short
> briefing, we started the engine, taxied, and took off.
>
> At first he was silent, and I didn't want to speak. Sometimes words need
not
> be spoken, but in our case, the lack of conversation was from years of a
> strained father-son relationship. Then, through the intercom, my father
> started talking to me. He talked to me in a way in which we had never
spoken.
> He told me that he had always wanted to learn to fly, but due to his
> responsibilities of family and life, he could never afford the lessons.
He
> told me about the unspoken pride he felt when he heard that I earned my
Pilot's
> License. It was then I realized that his sacrifices in life, gave me the
> opportunity to learn to fly. We flew for what seemed like hours, I didn't
want
> our flight, or our conversation to end.
>
> For several visits, I was able to take my father for a short flight. He
seemed
> to be in another world when he was flying. Eventually, his feeble body
began
> deteriorating at a rapid pace, leaving him bedridden.
>
> Then, late one night, came the dreaded phone call. I was able to get to
his
> bedside, less than an hour before my father passed.
>
> During my father's viewing, I wore one of my few suits which had the
little
> gold AOPA wing on my lapel. My wife reached up to straighten my wings,
which
> for some odd reason, always seem to sit crooked on my lapel. At that
moment, I
> walked over to the casket where my father lay, and pinned my AOPA wings on
his
> lapel, gently kissed him on the cheek, and said, ""Dad, these wings really
> belong to you. Hang onto to them for me. You can give them back when I
see
> you again."
>
> Those wings sat straight on his lapel...
>

[ShawnD2112]

Taking my Dad flying for the first, and so far only, time was pretty cool.
But I think the best thing doesn't even relate to my flying. It's something
I did when I was in the USAF stationed at RAF Mildenhall in England.

A Florida travel agent named Dick D'Amato got our commander to sponsor a
hangar dance for a group of about 150 8th and 9th AF vets and their families
he was bringing over on a trip back in August 97. I was one of the project
officers in charge of putting it together. I got the enviable job of
working with several enthusiastic British 8th AF historians and groups and
organizing displays of military vehicles, personal affects (including
several original A2 jackets restored and displayed by the 100th Bomb Group
museum) and, finally, to include fly-bys and static display of a T-6 Texan,
P-51C (formerly Shangri-La, then Princess Elizabeth of the Fighter
Collection) and the only flying B-17 in the UK, Sally B. The logisitcs were
nearly impossible, the budget nil, and complications taxing to say the
least.

My favorite aviation reminiscence? Two. The first was when we gathered the
vets from the Officer's Club in the military vehicles and brought them to
the hangar (actually arrested them for being AWOL with local enthusiasts in
period MP uniforms) - which was already filled with about 600 locals - who
stood and gave them a roaring ovation when they walked into the hangar! The
second was a half hour later when we gathered all the vets back into the
hangar (they'd been wandering around looking at the displays outside) and to
the East at about 2,000 feet could be seen the landing lights of Sally B as
she descended for her fly by - only to be stolen from underneath as the
Mustang screamed by from out of sight behind the hangar at full throttle and
below rooftop height - he really hung it all out there! As Sally B made her
fly past, there wasn't a dry eye on anyone.

It was the personal stories that really tugged at my heartstrings: wives and
children visiting England with Dad or Grandad for the first time since the
war, getting to see, hear, and touch the things that he'd been talking about
for 50 years, making them real; the vets being overwhelmed by emotion as
they were applauded and piped into the dance, rather than just drifting in
with everyone else; the vet who relived the loss of his boyhood innocence as
he sat in the tailgunner's position in Sally B.

That was the most worthwhile thing I did in 8 years in the USAF.

Shawn

"JJS" <jschneider@REMOVE SOCKSpldi.net> wrote in message
...
> Well... I would, but Cessna wouldn't be happy about it 'cause we were
> in our "manly" Piper Cherokee :>) See, that's another reason to own a
> low wing airplane. Better view of the heavens! (He exits ducking and
> running)!
>
> 8437R
>
> "carlos" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Wow! Thanks for sharing this...
> >
> > You should sell this story to Cessna... :)
> >
> > "JJS" <jschneider@REMOVE SOCKSpldi.net> wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Taking off at 4:30 am on a 4 hour flight with my teenage daughter
> on
> > > our way to see her cousin's graduation ceremony. My girl had just
> > > broken up with a boy friend and was really depressed. She begged
> to
> > > go on this long trip, as she was really close to her cousin. They
> > > didn't get to see each other very often, as they attended college
> far
> > > apart. The weather was iffy. I decided to try the flight anyway
> as
> > > the ceiling and visibility were great at the departure airport and
> for
> > > the first 200 miles of the route. We could check the weather as
> we
> > > progressed and turn back if things didn't get better. Just as we
> > > reached cruising altitude I saw a shooting star screaming through
> the
> > > crystal clear pitch black air. I asked my kid if she'd seen it...
> > > trying to cheer her up, but she hadn't. She began looking,
> though.
> > > Then there was another streak, intensely bright and colored. Then
> > > more and more of them. A full fledged meteor shower had broken
> out
> > > and we had the best seat in the house. Here we were hanging in
> mid
> > > air with the most amazing performance going on around us. It was
> if
> > > the almighty had magnified and colored these flying jewels every
> color
> > > of the rainbow. Big ones, little ones, and some that seemed to
> > > stretch nearly from one horizon to the other. My daughter's whole
> > > outlook on life was changed in an instant. We watched the show in
> > > total silence with eyes and mouths wide open. When the show was
> over,
> > > she came out of her funk and later struck up a REAL conversation.
> > > Something too rare to behold between a teenage girl and her daddy.
> > > Her eyes sparkled like the meteors we had just observed. Although
> > > we'd always been close, I believe a stronger bond was formed
> between
> > > us because we had witnessed something so rare. An event that
> very,
> > > very few if any other people had experienced in the same manner.
> Then
> > > to top things off, calls to FSS had ground fog at our destination,
> but
> > > as we got closer daylight arrived and the fogbank was spotted from
> 50
> > > miles away. Another call to FSS and they told us weather was
> clearing
> > > at nearby airports. The fog lifted and dissipated as we watched,
> > > while still clinging to lakes and ponds. It was surreal. We
> landed
> > > in CAVU conditions and made it to graduation on time. Oh yeah, on
> the
> > > way home we stopped at a grass strip on the edge of a lake with a
> good
> > > restaurant within walking distance. I'll never forget the trip.
> > > Neither will she.
> > >
> > > "EDR" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > >
> > > > 1980's...
> > > > Watching the string of landing lights of arriving aircraft east
> of
> > > > Oshkosh stretching out over Lake Michigan.
> > > >
> > > > (Amusingly, followed by watching the arrivals try to find a
> parking
> > > > spot in the dark with out flag-people.)
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Paul Sengupta]

Watching a total eclipse of the sun from on top of an overcast layer.

Paul

[Paul Sengupta]

I find it quite surreal to fly just under some very small scattered puffy
clouds while tilting my head back and looking vertically upwards out
of the canopy. The little clouds go zooming past at 100 knots just
above my head.

Paul

"Jay Smith" > wrote in message
...
> carlos wrote:
> > Oops... We Cessna pilots believe everyone else like to look at the
ground!
> > BTW, your post got me thinking about the one quality of low-wingers I
hadn't
> > thought-off... unrestricted view of the heavens, clouds, etc...
>
> Only if they are Grumman's, Ercoupe's or similar canopy style aircraft.
>

[Paul Sengupta]

Taking a WWII Mosquito pilot flying for the first time in 50 years.

Paul

"ShawnD2112" > wrote in message
...
> A Florida travel agent named Dick D'Amato got our commander to sponsor a
> hangar dance for a group of about 150 8th and 9th AF vets and their
families

[Paul Sengupta]

Suddenly my screen's gone a bit blurry. Sniff.

Paul

"ShawnD2112" > wrote in message
...
> I would respond but I can't type with a lump that big in my throat...
>
> Thanks for sharing that.

[Gerald Sylvester]

I've got less than 100 hours and now working on my IFR ticket but my
best moment was on my first cross country. First leg from SQL to
Davis (0O3?) where I met my friend who I hadn't seen for 3-4 years
for a coffee. then got caught in a some rain to STS. Nothing
major but on a first cross country I was a little scared. then
flying home, I climbed over the mountains near Marin and then
seeing San FRancisco and all the very familiar places....alcatraz
off the left of my nose, teh bay bridge to my left, Marin underneath me,
and then while over the bay seeing the sun getting ready to set mid-span
of the Golden Gate Bridge and realizing I was all alone. A minute
later I got my clearance through Class B, overflew SFO listening
and watching all the heavies waiting to take off.

the next best time was getting ATIS on my checkride.
"Palo Alto Information Brave. time 23:30 Zulu on
December 17th, 2003. The 100th anniversary of powered
flight by man....." I really wish I had a recording
of it. I got goose bumps. The DE said, "wow that's pretty
cool."

These were the 2 times I said, "Damn, yes I am a pilot."

I'm sure there will be another 40+ years of memories on the way.....

Gerald

[Jay Beckman]

My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:

..9 of dual is now in the book.

A great day...a really great day!

Regards All...

Jay Beckman
Chandler, AZ
Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)

[Dennis O'Connor]

Hey, welcome aboard... Wish I was young and just starting - again...
denny
"Jay Beckman" > wrote in message
news:uDEYb.1195$o52.655@fed1read02...
> My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:
>
> .9 of dual is now in the book.
>
> A great day...a really great day!
>
> Regards All...
>
> Jay Beckman
> Chandler, AZ
> Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)
>
>

[Jay Smith]

Jay Beckman wrote:
> My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:
> .9 of dual is now in the book.
> A great day...a really great day!
> Regards All...
> Jay Beckman
> Chandler, AZ
> Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)

If you are doing your training with Chandler Air Service, make sure you
get some of your dual instruction in their Super Cub. That way you can
get a checkout quicker when you get your certificate. Also, get some
spin and acro training in one of their other aircraft. It will help you
with maneuvering flight for your flight test.

[Jay Beckman]

"Dennis O'Connor" > wrote in message
...
> Hey, welcome aboard... Wish I was young and just starting - again...
> denny

Hehehe...

I have the "Just Starting" nailed...but not quite the "Young"

(I'm 43...:Late Bloomer)

Jay


> "Jay Beckman" > wrote in message
> news:uDEYb.1195$o52.655@fed1read02...
> > My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:
> >
> > .9 of dual is now in the book.
> >
> > A great day...a really great day!
> >
> > Regards All...
> >
> > Jay Beckman
> > Chandler, AZ
> > Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)
> >
> >
>
>

[Jay Honeck]

> Those wings sat straight on his lapel...

Don't know how I missed this till just now...

Thanks for sharing that story. I'm glad you got to fly with your Dad.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"