15 Years Later... I'm Flying Again

It's been 15 years since my last flying lesson. When I was around 15 years old, I started flying and obtained my student/solo license. Then, a few flights later, I quit, mostly because of money, but a lot because my life was changing dramatically.

So, after years of pondering, months of saying "I want to," and few nudges from a co-worker who has his private's license, I finally got back in the air on Saturday, and have committed myself to flying once a week. It's about $250 a pop, no small change.

We started out on Saturday reviewing the pre-flight checklist. Pretty simple, check the wings, check the air intake, check the right wing gas, check clarity, check the strut, the brake, the wheel, follow along the wing, check for anything that doesn't look right. Check the flap hinges, the rudder, rear, check the left side wing, left side gas, check for clarity, left side intake, left wing, stall sensor, finally check engine (plugs, oil, brake fluid, etc.), prop blade, and engine fuel/clarity.

The instructor that I had was really good. He wanted to get me up in the air quick and see what I remembered from back in the day. I thought it'd be like getting on a bike, he didn't think so much like that. He did the radio work, mostly because I wasn't used to talking with a tower, but also because we found out my 15 year old headset had a short or something. Still have to fix that.

None the less, I taxied myself, knew how to navigate the taxiways and runways, even moved on to the center line and took off, all without intervention from the CFI. Pretty awesome I have to admit. My stomach sunk a little when I realized that I had done that, then a brief moment of "OH SHIT! I'M FLYING," but that left my system just as quickly as it entered.

We worked on 4 fundamentals, turns, descents, climbs, and climbing/descending turns. I also got my first introduction to GPS guided flight, GPS devices in planes, WHO KNEW! I did all of it without any problems. The only problem I had was wanting to keep my eyes in the cockpit, I have to work on looking out more and not worrying so much about the instrumentations.

We finished flying around and headed back to Hanscom Field. I got us on approach without much issue, and remembered how to use the lights to determine how high I was, and that's when I got a little nervous, and the CFI took over. I wasn't comfortable landing myself on the first go around, I guess I wanted to make sure I knew how to do it right, before I attempt a successful landing or successful suicide. =) None the less, I think I'll be making landings just fine in the near future.

I wasn't nearly as sweaty as I remember being when I first started out doing lessons. So, I think the anxiety is lower for me, which is a good thing. Anyways, this weeks goals:

- Get Books
- Schedule Next Flight Lesson