Flight Lesson #1 side story

      An interesting back story to my 1st flight lesson is that while I had the controls flying at 3500 feet, in the middle of nowhere up there, Tim noticed another plane flying at us a little to the right and a little bit down from us. He grabbed control and sharply banked to the left, and mentioned it was the closest he's come to another plane in the air in over 10 years!! I would guess it was 200 yards away from us as we passed each other. Lookee there. I'm already telling "tales" of my flying career! I didn't see this plane until we were very close. Yikes!
      This will definitely go into my book for sure. ("Learning to Fly after 50!")

First Flight Lesson ... FINALLY!

     Sunday, 9/25/2011, was my very first flight lesson for a Sport Pilot certification! What a thrill. It was an absolutely perfect, cool, early fall, almost cloudless, day in southeast Minnesota. 
     After waiting for many weeks, due to one light aircraft (the only one used  for the Sport Pilot training at my local Crystal airport) maintenance issues, I finally researched whether I can be trained in other types of aircraft. The answer was yes, according to SportPilot.org, which was very good news. My flight instructor Tim verified that any plane can be used for training, and the only time requiring a LSA (light sport aircraft) is during times of a solo flight, and the checkride. 
      So, finally, I got my first flight lesson in a 160 horsepower, 4 seater, low-wing Piper Warrior. I was given only a few hours notice to take the lesson, which helped with the nervous build-up that I suffered during the 1st try at a lesson. 
      I got to take off, make turns climbing and descending, etc. (he didn't let me land  yet, but I can't blame him). It was one fun hour, and very exhausting. It reminded me of bus driving training. You are concentrating so hard for so long to try and take everything in, and your senses are not used to it. After two naps and 12 hours later, I am finally "coming down" from my high, and writing about it. 
     I must admit that $250 is a lot of money for the 1.2 hours of experience, but it was a once in a lifetime "first". 
     After the takeoff, which happened so quickly, we had some nice scary turbulence that made the plane shake a bit, just enough to get my heightened senses even higher. Initially, I wondered if I would have to cope with radio transmissions, which gladly turned out not to be the case. But it all went so fast I hardly had time to think about and truly enjoy it. Which probably means I will be back for more! What a challenge it would be to become proficient in this new hobby. Until next time....     
        

New photos added; scroll down to see!

New photos are added relating to the books published. Scroll down to see them.
Another flight lesson canceled for tomorrow morning due to plane maintenance issues. I don't know how they stay in business! Unfortunately they are the only game in town at the local airport. Darn.