Soaring Memories: Two Pilot’s Journey Through the Skies
A few years ago I was presented with an opportunity to fly a gentleman for a birthday scenic flight around town. This was a day I will never forget as long as I live! Arriving at the airport that day I did my pre-flight, thinking that this would be just any old flight around town. One thing I love about aviation is getting people involved. I had no idea that this flight would re-live memories that had been tucked away for 52 years.
“...until that one instant when we broke free of the ground and FLEW again.”
When a good friend of mine arrived at the airport with my passenger, we met with introductions, a few random topics, and a safety briefing prior to the flight. As we were finishing our briefing, he made mention of flying years ago. Little did I know that this would rekindle memories for my passenger and make a lifelong impression in my life!
Photo of me and my passenger before the flight!
Image courtesy of Michelle Hornsby.
The flight lasted a short time, showing various areas around town, the Talladega Racetrack, then back to the airport. Uneventful and seemingly “normal” flight. What caught me off guard was the card I received a few days later. Talk about hitting me in the feels…
“Folding me into the plane”
The startup, the checklists and checking that all the plane’s parts were working, rolling down the taxiways, radio clearances and advisories, waiting out turn to enter the active runway, then lining up on those oversized numbers and lines at runway’s end… Finally with [no] carb heat and throttle, we started smoothly bounce-rolled down the runway, faster and faster, feeling lighter as the runway center lines raced by, until that one instant when we broke free of the ground and FLEW again. Every second brought back memories from my hundreds of flight hours some 52 years ago, and every moment was priceless. Capped off with a wonderful scenic tour and lining up on a long straight-in final. Slowly descending to the numbers, then gliding easily onto the ground. ALL were exactly the memories I wanted to experience again. And YOU made it all possible. I can’t thank you enough… but I’ll try:
Thank You !!
Larry Wolfe
No, Thank you Mr Wolfe. It meant so much to me to be able to enjoy this experience with you! If I never had flown another hour in my life after this, the experience was worth it all.
Fellow aviators, take the opportunity to introduce or even re-introduce people to the world of aviation. You never know what fire you may ignite or memory you help rekindle for someone.
This is what aviation is all about!
