The enclosed space felt empty. The person who had been sitting next to me for the past 4 weeks was no longer there. My palms were sweating, my heart was racing, and I was feeling a general sense of intense apprehension.
Screw it, I've been waiting for this day my entire life. I key the microphone and say, "Morristown Tower, Triple 4 Kilo Charlie ready for departure, active runway closed traffic." The response echoes in my ear, "Triple 4 Kilo Charlie, cleared for takeoff, closed traffic."
I taxi the Piper Cherokee onto the active runway, push the throttle gently to the stops. The plane accelerates down the runway. 40 knots, 50 knots, 60 knots, 65 knots, 70 knots...pull back on the control wheel. OMG, that's it I'm flying. Oil pressure is good, and I am accelerating past 80 knots.
***
This is a memory that I will keep with me forever. It was the day I first flew an airplane by myself. I'd previously labored with a couple of different Single engine aircraft from Cessna- I don't like them because of their characteristic and tendency to snap and roll aggressively when performing power-on stalls. The Piper Cherokee is a gentle aircraft ideal for learning to fly and transporting 2 to 3 people with luggage about 600 miles. The Piper Aircraft company produces excellent, well respected and safe aircraft serving the general aviation market. The models include the Warrior III, the Meridian, Malibu, Archer III, and Seneca.
Recalling the memory of my first flight has me reaching for my flight bag with the intention of getting some peace and quiet with a quick trip to anywhere for a $100 burger. read more
