A heartfelt thank you

Hello All:

I am *not* a pilot. Can't fly MSFS worth a damn but have been up in a
C172 once (discovery flight in 1995). Had a lot of difficulty taxiing,
but managed to take off (with the instructor telling me exactly what to
do in each step). Flew a couple of circles over Cayuga Lake. Did a few
banking turns. There were really no winds to speak off and I was able to
stay very close to the altitude the instructor told me to fly at.
Landing was a hectic as I got really nervous when the instructor told me
I could land. Again, he told me exactly what to do, so there wasn't much
left to me but to do exactly what he said. I was very happy and proud
that day and I cannot forget it.

By the time I was done with grad school and had a little bit more
income, 9/11 happened and I thought it was prudent to postpone flight
training (I am from Turkey).

This May, I bought an hour long flight in the rear seat of a PT39
Fairchild. The feel of the open cockpit was amazing. Once airborne, I
had the stick for a while, I was able to maintain altitude during the
couple of turns I made.

The plane went off the runway during landing -- I wasn't in control --
due to what I think was an unexpected wind gust just before touch down.
It was an interesting experience as I had been watching intently over
the pilots shoulder. The approach looked perfect to me yet, just as I
was anticipating touch-down, I felt the aircraft bank to the right, and
we landed on the grass. I even thought the pilot may have done it on
purpose (you know for that 'authentic' feeling) for a moment until I
heard the tower asking if we were OK and telling us they were sending
EMS and fire over).

I also took a hot-air balloon ride the same month with my girlfriend who
has a fear of flying. Somehow, it worked wonders for the series of
transatlantic flights she had to make over the summer.

I hope to have the financial resources to start my training in a couple
of years.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants (well,
except for maniac) in this group. Lurking here, reading your stories,
arguments keeps the dream alive for me.

I will go back to lurking now.

Sinan
--
A. Sinan Unur
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