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I've always wanted to fly like Superman. When I was younger, I would fall asleep and dream I could fly.
Several years ago I began lessons in a helicopter after being a passenger in a one on a tour in Alaska. Even though the view was amazing, the helicopter fascinated me and when I got home, I started lessons in Danbury, Ct.
14 hours of flight time when it dawned on me that not only was it the most difficult hobby I've ever attempted, and even if I was coordinated enough to finally learn the devil machine, there was nothing I could do with it. The money for each hour was so high, well, I just let it go.
Yesterday I tried my first flight in a glider in Long Island, NY. I first went to the airport and the owner had me attempt to fit in a sample glider. I'm 6'3", and at the weight limit for gliding. Sitting in the tiny cockpit was a bit daunting. Well, to be honest, fear ran through me and unfortunately, he was booked until the afternoon for the next available flight.
I drove back to the house and the fear was mounting in me. I knew that if I didn't book 3:30 pm, I would torture myself all week that I didn't do it. It was so easy to back out. Hey, I don't really need to do this, right? Life will go on fine. What's the difference??
I had to do it. I called and made the appointment and drove back. Waiting at the airplane hanger for my next turn, I met some folks from different walks of life. One guy training on the glider was a professional helicopter pilot who flew people out from NYC to the Hamptons. He was training on a glider for the fun of it. (he flew jets, too)
My turn. Drive out to the tarmac in a rinky dink busted down van (inspiring confidence in me, right?) Get to the glider to meet the trainer. My first impression of him was something between the captain of the boat in the movie "Jaws" and the drunken mate from the movie "The Deep". Turned out he was nothing like that, but clearly a no nonsense sort of guy. But, I was scared, so everything was slightly exaggerated.
We examine the glider and he starts with the aerodynamics of the thing. I was trying to listen but couldn't really concentrate-most likely a combination of my anxiety and his mumbling.
I meet the pilot of the tow plane, (another character from some movie somewhere) and we hook up the glider to the plane with a cable that takes the glider student and trainer up to 5,000 feet, release the tow, and then... you are surrounded by air. Complete silence except for the wind. I made some turns, did some other very beginning exercises, and then we landed.
It was an amazing experience. I can't tell you guys how happy I was that I didn't postpone it until next week or some future time.
I'm considering lessons to become a glider pilot, but, we'll see. No rush.
Several years ago I began lessons in a helicopter after being a passenger in a one on a tour in Alaska. Even though the view was amazing, the helicopter fascinated me and when I got home, I started lessons in Danbury, Ct.
14 hours of flight time when it dawned on me that not only was it the most difficult hobby I've ever attempted, and even if I was coordinated enough to finally learn the devil machine, there was nothing I could do with it. The money for each hour was so high, well, I just let it go.
Yesterday I tried my first flight in a glider in Long Island, NY. I first went to the airport and the owner had me attempt to fit in a sample glider. I'm 6'3", and at the weight limit for gliding. Sitting in the tiny cockpit was a bit daunting. Well, to be honest, fear ran through me and unfortunately, he was booked until the afternoon for the next available flight.
I drove back to the house and the fear was mounting in me. I knew that if I didn't book 3:30 pm, I would torture myself all week that I didn't do it. It was so easy to back out. Hey, I don't really need to do this, right? Life will go on fine. What's the difference??
I had to do it. I called and made the appointment and drove back. Waiting at the airplane hanger for my next turn, I met some folks from different walks of life. One guy training on the glider was a professional helicopter pilot who flew people out from NYC to the Hamptons. He was training on a glider for the fun of it. (he flew jets, too)
My turn. Drive out to the tarmac in a rinky dink busted down van (inspiring confidence in me, right?) Get to the glider to meet the trainer. My first impression of him was something between the captain of the boat in the movie "Jaws" and the drunken mate from the movie "The Deep". Turned out he was nothing like that, but clearly a no nonsense sort of guy. But, I was scared, so everything was slightly exaggerated.
We examine the glider and he starts with the aerodynamics of the thing. I was trying to listen but couldn't really concentrate-most likely a combination of my anxiety and his mumbling.
I meet the pilot of the tow plane, (another character from some movie somewhere) and we hook up the glider to the plane with a cable that takes the glider student and trainer up to 5,000 feet, release the tow, and then... you are surrounded by air. Complete silence except for the wind. I made some turns, did some other very beginning exercises, and then we landed.
It was an amazing experience. I can't tell you guys how happy I was that I didn't postpone it until next week or some future time.
I'm considering lessons to become a glider pilot, but, we'll see. No rush.
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