Between Heaven and Earth

About three weeks ago I finally got in my first flying lesson. Strangely, I was never really nervous. I feel like I lost that emotion awhile ago. I did; however, have about every thought imaginable run through my head.

What if I don't understand what I am suppose?

What if I don't comprehend things?

What if I crash?

And so on. Just the basic I don't know what I got myself into, but still eager to try it. But there was no butterflies in my stomach or thought of backing out.

The first hour of the session consisted of me sitting down with the instructor and learning how a plan so heavy can fly, learning the gauges, hearing examples of stories of previous students and of course the whole check EVERYTHING with your plane before flying. And when I say everything I really do mean everything. One little screw missing or a small dent a wing or prop and the whole plane is messed up.

The plane is pretty cool. There are two sets of controls so my instructor has a set and then I have a set. So finally, I am sitting there in the four seater plane in the cock-pit waiting to taxi.

Few basic 'need to knows' when trying to fly a plane:
* You steer with your feet pedals when taxing. But, both feet pushing the top of the foot pedals is your break.
* You also have a steering wheel which helps in the sky;however,
- To turn left, you turn with the wheel and a little left foot pedal.
- To turn right, you turn with your right foot pedal and a little steering wheel to the LEFT.
* Your steering wheel moves in and out. This allows the plane to climb or descend.
- Push in to drop the nose of your plane.
- Pull out to raise the nose of your plane.
* There is also the throttle, trim, about 9 gauges and more.

Sound complicated? Well, it is. But you eventually get the hang of it.

My first flight I wasn't allowed to take off and landings, but I did try to taxi when we landed. Hint: TRY. My instructor soon took over that one. Once in the sky though we went over a few of the basics and I got the fly the plane all alone! A bunch of multitasking and I flew in a 'semi' straight line. Soon, I made a few turns but the first flight mainly consisted of getting a feel for the plane and the movements so straight lines and a few turns. And then we landed.

Today, was flight lesson number 2. Of course the inspection of the whole plane occurred before take off, but after that things were a lot different than the first flight.

I got to announce over the radio to other planes with radios and towers that we were taking off! It was a mouth full and I messed up the ending but it was super cool. Someday I'll get it down where I sound like the pilots do when they speak to their passengers.

From there we were off! The winds were a bit rough today and I got to experience "air road bumps" but I also got to see everything without snow on the ground. Once I finally adjusted to the winds we practiced a few things: inclines from 2500ft to about 3500ft, and of course what goes up must come down so I learned that too. We did that about 3 times. I also got to do quite a few 180 degree turns and actually learned how to steer with my feet.

My instructor said I was progressing well. I even got to take the plane clear up to the runway, BUT I didn't get to land it. From there I taxied the plane back up the runway and I started off shaky because it's a lot to do with your feet, but by the end I was going really straight!

My instructor said that the next time I fly I will be learning "S" turns and stalls. Hopefully I can get in again this week.

I still can't see myself flying all alone without anyone in there to save me if I forget something, but everyone says once I get a few hours under my belt I will be. We will see about that!