There’s almost a sense of disappointment now that I’m done with my training, I don’t feel the “need” to go fly anymore….but that hasn’t kept me away from the airport as of late.
My first passenger was on Sunday, July 29, 2007. At takeoff, she was my girlfriend, Tasha, and on landing, my fionce (don’t let anyone say I’ve never had some romantic ideas). Up in the Warrior at 1,528 feet off the ground — the exact number of days we had been dating — I popped the question. That tale will live on over at www.evanandtasha.com.
A few weeks later, my Dad, who has been my inspiration and is also a PP-ASEL, joined me in the Warrior for a flight. I’ve even talked my mother — who insists she is afraid of flying — into the plane (albeit with some coaxing from my stepfather).
Dad and I now swap off weekends, giving him the left seat of his plane, a ’75 Piper Cherokee SIX 300, and giving me co-pilot duties. I can’t wait until I’m training in the left seat for my high performance rating. He recently bought a Garmin GPSmap 496 — which is quite possibly the handiest little gizmo I’ve ever played with. Co-piloting with it is fun, but it’s easy and quick, which makes it fun to play with even while you’re flying the plane.
Tasha and I took the 172 up just last weekend and with the GPS, made a quick run down to Cairo, IL and flew over the merging Mississippi and Ohio rivers. It was a beautiful day to fly, and a good confidence-builder for me in the unfamiliar Cessna.
I know now that being a pilot is one of the best things I could have ever done. Just seeing the smile on people’s faces when they’re riding with me, knowing that I brought them something that few people can is worth all the time, money, and effort it took to get this far.
So, welcome aboard and keep your safety belt fastened at all times, and remain seated until instructed otherwise by the flight crew!