Just a Vapor

My last year of college, I began taking flight lessons in hopes of getting my private pilot’s license. I did several lessons in Fargo my last semester, and continued through the summer in the Twin Cities after graduation. I had to quit at the end of the summer when I lost my first job, just a week before the Sept. 11th attacks. I was very disappointed, considering I was so close to fulfilling a life-long dream. I had soloed twice just before I had to tell my instructor that my previous lesson would be my last for the foreseeable future. It’s been almost exactly three years since then. Saturday I was able to get back behind in the pilot’s seat as I restarted my training. My fiancée, as an engagement gift, got me back into lessons.

My first lesson was almost three hours long. Normally a lesson is about an hour long. I didn’t spend all that time in the air though, we were up for about an hour. I spent my first lesson getting reacquainted with the plane, learning how to pre-flight the plane all over again. Once I got in the plane, my instructor said he was impressed with my radio communication. It needs a little work, but he said it was great for a guy who hasn’t flown in three years. He gave me control of the plane for most of the flight too. I taxied to the runway, got us off the ground, flew out to the practice area, did a few easy maneuvers, and even did most of the work in landing. He had to take over at about 50 feet above the ground, as we were coming in a little steep, but I did great for having such a long hiatus.

I am very excited to be back in the process again. I hope that it won’t take long to get me caught back up again. I was almost ready to do cross-country flights when I had to quit, and look forward to doing them as soon as I can (but not before I’m ready.)

My instructor talked me into training in a different plane than I am used to flying. Until now, I have always flown a Cessna 152, a small, two-seater airplane. The Cessna 172, a four-seater, is faster and more stable. He thinks that the higher rental cost is balanced by the fact that it’s extra speed gets us out to the practice area and back faster. I will need to be comfortable in the 172 eventually anyway, so I decided to give it a go.

My fiancée and I are looking at New Year’s day as our wedding day. My goal is to have my license in time to fly us to our honeymoon. My instructor said he saw no reason we couldn’t meet that goal. I hope the weather cooperates, as we can’t fly when it is rainy, too overcast, too windy or otherwise dangerous.