I landed the other day in a field near a cafe, this field is used by the locals for other ski equipped vehicles called snowmachines. As I started the walk to the cafe, a sled showed up, driven by a kid maybe 10 years old. To say he was excited about seeing the plane would be an understatement, he was like something out of central casting "kid who gets excited seeing his first airplane up close". He should have been inside playing video games or on the internet, instead of outside, he was some kind of throwback I guess. My few minutes walk to the cafe turned into a 45 second snowmachine ride, this was the scariest part of the day.

Halfway through breakfast the kid came into the cafe and bounced off the walls while telling me and everyone else in there that he had gone home and got his little sister to watch the takeoff. Apparently the other patrons had all driven in so this raised a few eyebrows. While home his grandmother told him to ask me for a ride, as that is how she got her first airplane ride, just by asking. Grandma sounded pretty cool, and probably not an attorney. I was about to ask the kid what grandma looked like, and if there was a grandpa in the picture, but didn't want to confuse him. Unfortunately for the kid I didn't have the passenger seat in as I was hauling the folding bike the day before, so no go. He took it well, still being way excited just to watch the takeoff.

Walking out of the cafe, the kid roared up and unceremoniously told his little sister to GET OFF, she was about 7 or 8, and he'd come back for her after giving me a ride back to the plane. Once back at the plane he made me promise not to takeoff until he got back with her, and I told him no problem as I needed his eyeballs to ensure a clear path out, as my proposed takeoff was over a drop off with a limited line of sight. Now this was one of the drop offs that he was used to roaring up and down in the snowmachine, judging by all the tracks. The field was deserted and I didn't really need to give him this task, but he really got into it, and once he gave me the all clear I started my takeoff and as planned didn't really lift off or rotate but just let the ground fall away below me as I went off the embankment. When I last saw the kid he and sister were jumping up and down and waving like crazy, I then, as per the kid's request, overflew Grandma's house and gave the wings a waggle and I was outa there. And yes I will get back there at some point, with the passenger seat and give the kid and maybe Grandma a ride, you would have thought it was 1910 and this flying thing was brand new or something. The kid needs/deserves to go up, he earned a ride that day with his enthusiasm.

That is a really cool story.

Marty

Great story. There are many kids with interest in flying if they just get the chance to be exposed to it. Years ago, I had a 7ECA in a hangar at my rural home. Neighborhood kids would show up and hang around the plane and want to talk about it. I don't recall being turned down whenever I offered to take a kid for a flight around the neighborhood. There's something about an airplane NOT at an airport that makes aviation so much more real, fun and approachable for the youngsters. I recently purchased a C180 and look forward to more thrilled faces on the kids, and me. Long live off-airport pilots and flying.

Let us know how this turns out!!
I mean giving the kid a ride, Not Gradma!!

That was me when I was that age. Hanging around the airport bugging the crap out of everybody and caging rides whenever possible. Definitely make a point to give that young feller a ride sometime soon.

That's awesome!

Here is one of my greatest memories back in 59 or 60 when I was one of those kids and couldn't get enough of planes. If your not that old you may not get the picture so I will include two.

Very cool!

Big John wrote:Here is one of my greatest memories back in 59 or 60 when I was one of those kids and couldn't get enough of planes. If your not that old you may not get the picture so I will include two.

Wow, sure would like to find his scarf Bolo!! Looks the same as the insignia on the Bobcat!
Pretty picture must bring great memories!!

Big John wrote:Here is one of my greatest memories back in 59 or 60 when I was one of those kids and couldn't get enough of planes. If your not that old you may not get the picture so I will include two.

Love it! Recognized Kirby Grant in the first one.

Awesome story! By my count the kid deserves two rides.

Awesome pictures too! I'm too young to remember Sky King but I watched all the episodes back when ERAU had them up on their website.

Great story! We need more kids like that and more opportunities to expose those kids to airplanes at someplace other than the sterile environment of paved airports with heavy security. I learned to fly because there was a grass strip within walking distance of my high school where I could hang out and ask dumb questions.

Ditto what the others have said. I was that kid many years ago. I would stop whatever I was doing on the farm and dream everytime a plane flew over. I was finally given a ride by a man my father knew. My first ride was in a SuperCub on floats....remember it like yesterday. That kid will appreciate a ride more than anything and I thank you for making his day! I bet you he went to school and told his friends all about it.

Sounds like me, only much more outgoing. I'd ride my bike to the airport if I saw a plane fly over town, but I never got a ride out do it. Plus I was always too late. Go back and give him a ride soon!

That's how it started with us and the Amish kids.

We went back with two planes landed on a neighbor's hill and gave two brothers rides. They said that they might have some friends (more Amish kids) who might like rides?

The next trip back we had 5 planes and each gave 5 rides. It's almost rare to be an Amish kid and not to have been in an airplane around here.

Life is what we make it.......

You are a good man CG

Great story.

Brings back memories.

I think a bunch of us old farts on here were "that kid."

Gump

I could be interested in grandma.

Magnet wrote:I could be interested in grandma.

Wonder if grandma is "Penny" from SKY KING