First flight lesson complete!
Posted by HighkeyFamous@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 22 comments
Beechcraft Skipper - Essex County Airport, NJ. If you zoom in, you can see the NYC skyline to the right. The coolest experience of my life!
Roadrunner571@reddit
You are aware that it’s only complete if you are back on the ground?
In all seriousness: Enjoy your time! Piloting a plane is one of the most magnificent experiences on Earth.
HighkeyFamous@reddit (OP)
Hahaha you’re very right. Lucky we had a smooth landing 🙂
PDXGuy33333@reddit
Who flew that landing?
HighkeyFamous@reddit (OP)
My CFI
PDXGuy33333@reddit
Aw shit, son. My first instructor had me shoot some mock landings on an imaginary runway at 600 feet AGL and then decided I was good to shoot for the actual runway. He had me come in on final and then go around when I should have flared, just to let me see what an oncoming runway looks like and then the second time through he let me actually land the plane. Maybe he was too jaded or something. The guy had flown fighters in WWII and had more than 15,000 hours. He just loved teaching people to fly. Maybe he was nuts. I don't know. He signed me off to solo a Cherokee 140B after a little more than 4 hours of dual. Relax. It was 1969. Things were different then, plus he owned the FBO and it was his airplane.
truthisnothateful@reddit
I did a “lesson” (I was already licensed) at Nassau Flyers at Republic Airport. We went out over Jones Beach with the city skyline clearly visible. I hope you stay with it. We get to see views that the ground dwellers will never get to experience.
HighkeyFamous@reddit (OP)
Truly a magical experience, right!?
truthisnothateful@reddit
Oh absolutely. I got licensed on sailplanes which, by the way, makes you a better pilot-the cleaner you fly the plane, the longer you stay aloft. You have to get REALLY good at landings too because there’s no such thing as a go around 😂 Aerobatics are also a thing with sailplanes, which makes them a real gas. Circling in a thermal along with a hawk right off your wingtip is also pretty cool. Enjoy the magic, be humbled by the majesty and know how fortunate you are because you’re a teeny tiny fraction of the general population.
PDXGuy33333@reddit
I have got to get into gliders. "Next summer" is the promise I have made to myself every winter for the last 30 years or so.
SuperN0VA3ngineer@reddit
You should do it!!!! There are even a couple clubs in your neck of the woods (assuming you’re near PDX still)
PDXGuy33333@reddit
Every so often I pass the field on the north side of 26 west of PDX. Someday (always with the someday) when I see activity there I should just stop in.
vanillagorilla0001@reddit
Congrats
PDXGuy33333@reddit
I will never stop loving analog instruments.
Ilove_gaming456@reddit
Congrats!
vepearson@reddit
Welcome to the club!
CaptainCanaveral2049@reddit
You’ve taken your first step into a larger world.
HighkeyFamous@reddit (OP)
Next step, PPL!
Palorrian@reddit
Had to check twice if is was a real picture or a sim screenshot lol
HighkeyFamous@reddit (OP)
Hahaha when we got up in the air, I thought to myself “this looks just like Microsoft flight simulator”.
xxSamsungCEO69xx@reddit
You are one step closer to your goal. I am proud of you stranger.
Just-Response2466@reddit
Hell yeah!!!!
Mediocre-Disk737@reddit
Congrats! Enjoy the journey! 👩🏼✈️✈️😎🩷