Leaving the Nest

This past weekend, I accomplished yet another milestone in my flight training. I left the traffic pattern flying solo. A little apprehensive and nervous about this entire flight, I had to work my jitters out. As I walked from the ramp to the airplane, biting my lower lip, I prepared myself mentally for this short flight, and began my preflight inspection. After having a few preliminary items taken care of before I went up, I hopped in the plane and began running through my checklist. Cranking the engine, and tuning the radio to the ASOS, I set the altimeter, noted the wind direction, and switched to ground frequency to request taxi clearance. Once I received my clearance, I throttled the plane up just enough to start it rolling.

With my nervousness somewhat at bay, I continued my taxi to the designated runway, completed my run up, set my gages and called the tower. "Hickory tower, Cessna 411 is holding short runway one nine, ready for VFR departure to the north." "Cessna 411, continue holding short." "Holding short, runway one nine." Holding short gave me another moment to double check everything, and prepare myself for this flight. "Cessna 411, Hickory tower. Cleared for takeoff, runway one nine, right turnout approved." "Cleared for takeoff, one nine, right turn out approved." Pushing the throttle in once more, I taxied to the center of the runway, added full power, and began my takeoff.

Feeling comfortable with this procedure since I have done it many times, I continued down the runway, watching my airspeed begin to build, I began my rotation and started to climb. As the plane continued to climb, I noted that the air was smooth. Climbing to my turnout altitude, I began my right turn. It was at this moment, I took a moment to myself and looked around. There I was, alone, flying the plane all by myself, and things were going well. I felt a smile creep across my face.

Turning on a north heading, I began to make perform some maneuvers required for this particular lesson, S-turns and turns around a point. Things went as well as they could have for someone who hasn't done them in a while. Shaky, and then building with improvement. After performing these maneuvers to my satisfaction, I then headed to another local airport, where I would be meeting with my flight instructor to discuss our approaching night cross country flight.
Establishing myself on the pattern altitude, I entered the 45 degree for a left downwind pattern, announcing my position. Following through I turned to base, and then onto final. It was here that I noticed I hadn't timed things right. I had cut my downwind too short, and was now high on my final approach with a short distance to descend. Pushing the nose down, the plane began to pick up speed. Chopping all the power, I attempted to re-establish my airspeed, and stabilize the plane so that I could land it in an acceptable spot.

The closer I got the the runway, the faster the airspeed increased. From the plane, I watched my aiming point slide out from underneath me. Rather than trying to hold together an approach that was falling apart, I pushed the throttle to the wall, retracted a notch of flaps, and announced on the CTAF I was going around. Bringing myself back up to pattern altitude, I made my turn to crosswind, and then back to downwind Following through, I made sure this time to extend my downwind, turned base, and again on final.

Noticing once more I was a touch high, I pulled power and pushed the nose down. Getting a bit fast, I pulled more power, and pulled the nose up. Gliding down at a better rate, but coming in high from slowing the plane down, I touched the plane down somewhat abruptly a bit beyond the aiming point. Happy that I was able to put it on the runway, I taxied to the ramp to meet with my flight instructor.

After a brief conversation, it was time to return back to my home airport. Taking off, and leaving the traffic pattern, I received clearance to land. After turning base, and then to final, I found that I was established on the right path, the right airspeed, and was set for a nice landing. As I flew the plane just short of the aiming point, I leveled off a touch above the runway, and once over the aiming point, chopped the power. The plane gently settled right onto the runway, the tires releasing a brief squawk to confirm I had touched down.


As soon as the wheels touched down, I knew that at least with this landing, I could not have done any better. Sure, I could have been a little more to the right to be on the center line, but my goal here was to touch the wheels down in the aiming point. Having accomplished that goal, and having done it very smoothly, I was completely satisfied with my flight for the entire day.

The best part of all this, was that day, I decided to put my video camera in the back of the cockpit, and filmed my entire flight. So, not only was I able to remember my aced landing, but I could go back and watch it as many times as I wanted. Having been satisfied with my day's flight, and having the confidence and knowledge to know that I was capable of flying solo and able to leave the traffic pattern, I taxied back to the runway, shut the engine down, and secured the plane. I was proud of myself and what I had accomplished that day, and I looked forward to what my next day of flying had in store.

The Beginning

Today it occurred to me that while I have been posting many of my entries on my experiences in learning to fly, I have yet to mention how I developed an interest in aviation. To confirm my suspicion, I went back through all of my previous entries to see if I had written about it, and indeed I had not. So here it is, the event that set it all into motion...

It was September 18, 2009. The first time that I would step foot on an airplane, and a day that would spark an interest that eventually turned into a blazing fire. It was my first year of grad school. A month into classes, I was ready for a break. So I had decided, in a rather random plan, to visit a friend in Pittsburgh PA for her birthday. The plan was to see Wicked, and then to chill out in her apartment back at school. She also happened to be a Higher Ed student working in Res Life, and a fellow undergrad from UNCA. I booked my flight weeks in advance, and tried to demystify the new experience of air travel: what I should pack, what I can bring on board the plane, when I should get to the airport. All the basic stuff.

Finally the day of my departure, I was dropped off at the airport ready for my flight to Pittsburgh. Flying with US Airways, I walked to the counter to check in. After presenting my ID, I checked in and paid for my checked bag. In doing so, the ticket agent laid two passes on the desk, which I then took and closely examined. Still somewhat confused, I looked up to the ticket agent and said, "Excuse me, but what ARE these?" "Those are your boarding passes," she said. Still not fully understanding, but knowing I just asked a stupid question, I replied a meek "Oh." Looking at the tab of my boarding pass, I headed to security.

I found security to be an easy process. With dozen of people in front of me, I simply followed suit. Removing my keys, watch, wallet, belt, and shoes, and then proceeding through the metal detector, I was cleared and then proceeded to the gate. Once at the gate, the rush of excitement of adventure ran through my veins. The excitement and newness of the airport environment had me looking everywhere. What caught my attention the most were the other planes at the gates. I was taken aback at how big these machines were. Since they appear to be tiny from the sky, being in close proximity and witnessing their true size was a new experience for me. My excitement was such that you could compare me to a dog being taken for a ride on a summer day. I wanted to take in and experience as much of this as I could.

As moments passed, my plane finally arrived at its gate. Paying attention to the gate agent, I waited for my loading zone to be announced and made my way down the jet way. With great excitement and eagerness my heart started pounding as I walked closer and closer to the plane. Finally, I arrived at the door, and started something I always do whenever I now board a plane: I casually touch the outside of the plane, just for a moment. I know it sounds quite childish, but the fact that the piece of metal I just touched will soon be thousands of feet above the air travelling at hundreds of miles per hour is a feat of astounding engineering to me.

I boarded the plane, found my seat, buckled up, and prepared for takeoff. The experience still new to me, I made sure when booking my flight I got a window seat. I was always looking out of that window, even when parked at the gate. I can still see the winglet at the tip of the left wing. The the rest of the passengers boarded, and the crew prepared the plane for departure. Sealing the cabin, the crew began to address the passengers. Many of what I would assume to be experienced travellers paid no attention, but I was a different story. Listening to every direction, I pulled out the safety card, and studied it, then quickly put it away. Soon after, I felt the slight jolt of the push back, and from that moment I knew we were on our way.

Still in push back, I then heard the the low groaning sound of an engine beginning to spool up. First one, then the other. My palms began to sweat. This was actually happening. I was actually getting ready to fly. Never before, in my 23 years of life had I actually even been in an airplane. I felt my heart racing as we began our taxi. The plane taxied to the end edge of the runway, and then paused for a moment. Soon after, the pilot addressed the passengers that they were cleared for takeoff. This was it. My palms wet, and my heart racing, the plane inched forward to take the runway.

Once lined up, I heard the whirr of the engines for a second, and then a gigantic roar. Suddenly a controlled, violent force pushed me into my seat. The plane began its run down the runway, picking up speed every second. I was elated with excitement. Looking out the window I saw the shadow of the airplane begin to drift father and farther way. It then occurred to me, we were flying. "Oh my God, I'm flying!" I said to myself with a smile across my face, as we continued ascending into the skies.

The entire leg of this trip, I could not stop looking out of the window. Cars, houses, land patterns, it was all a new sight to me, and something the other passengers were taking for granted. About an hour later, we landed in Charlotte. I deboarded the plane, now familiar with the experience and sensation and went to look for my connecting flight. Very satisfied with my first flight ever, and feeling quite at home, being a North Carolinian who hadn't been home in months, I enjoyed the sights of planes at the terminal as I walked to my gate.

Once at my gate, I again sat down and enjoyed the scenery. I was actually glad that I had a connecting flight, because it meant that I would once again get to experience the rush of takeoff, and the views from the sky. Now that I had one flight under my belt, I knew what I was doing. The plane pulled to the gate, and once again, I boarded, and buckled in. Ignoring the emergency brochure this time, I departed to Pittsburgh, again with a smile on my face during takeoff.

Enjoying a great weekend and a great trip, I returned back to Norfolk, enjoying both legs of my return flight. Once back in my apartment, I began my research. I began looking at planes on YouTube, trying to figure out what I flew on, and what kind of other planes were out there. I made trips to the Norfolk airport to watch the planes come in and out when I was stressed out from grad school. I knew once I had made that first flight I had to explore this newly found interest as much as I could. Every opportunity I got to fly, I took it, enjoying every part of the experience.

Little did I know that taking that first flight would lead to an exploration in learning how to fly. Little did I know that I would become somewhat obsessed with aviation. And little did I know of the challenges that would be ahead of me in discovering and exploring this newly found interest. I can say with all honesty, that I've enjoyed the experience, and I am looking forward to what will be happening as I continue.