They say in order to eat an elephant, you do it one bite at a time.
Well, yesterday was a big, tasty bite in the direction of getting my PPL.

I completed my long x-country and am one step closer to fullfilling a dream that started 35 years ago at age 16.

Around here (BCP), I usually keep to my self, but I am so enthused with the prospect of finally getting my PPL I just had to share it.

When I was 16 and living at home in Virginia, I had a cool uncle who was a pilot and would take me up once in a while. He ended up with a son-in-law who was a CFI. They both encouraged me to take lessons and said basically, you pay for the plane and we'll teach you!

As a kid in high school working to put gas in the car, any extra money went to, well.... you guessed it... females!
The root of all mens problems! Needless to say, flying wasn't in the cards anytime soon. The next few years saw a stint in the Airforce keeping me close to aircraft and the elusive dream, but in the end, marriage and family took first priority.
Life goes on, relationships come and go, kids grow up.

Someone on here used the anology of the 72" tape measure. Stretch it out to 72 inches and place your finger on your age. To one side is what you have used up, to the other is what you have left.

This was the day I realized, "Its time."

Debbie, my wife of 11 years, is the most understanding and encouraging person...ever. She knew where I was coming from and where I wanted to go. She could also offer some of the best help along the way too. You see, she is a retired Navy Air Traffic Controller and current tower manager here in NW Arkansas.
It was with her "blessings" (read: if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"), that I started taking lessons in June.
Solo was at 13 hours, and now I'm getting somewhere close to 40 hours.

This milestone of mine may be long past for some of you seasoned veterans, but hopefully it will bring a smile to your faces as you remember your "first's", and enjoy the enthusiasm I enjoyed with mine.

"Having the time of my life"
Kenny

Congrats I can relate I waited about 7 years before I started on PPL again stopped because of college and the military. I got out of the service just about 2 years ago now got back into flying and got my PPL a couple months ago. Its been a ton of fun I wish I never would have stopped. I don't know if you plan on doing it but IFR rating is a blast to I've really liked working on that. Congrats again and way to not give up on it. Good luck with the rest of your training

Great job - keep it up!

'soyAnarchisto

Congrats!! The solo is probably the most exhilarating feeling for a new pilot, but the long XC is right up there. You get to savor your new pilot anxiety for a nice extended period of time, waiting for those waypoints to come into view. Good stuff. Let us know when you get the big rubber stamp.

I'm a rookie as well Bowtie and these firsts feelings are very fresh in my mind. Enjoy the journey, who says old dogs can't learn new tricks.

Those "firsts" remain with you always. I remember my first solo (and its embarrassments) very well--Fort Richardson, AK, in December 1972. I had to cut it short--had to pee so badly that I made the 2nd landing a full stop, pulled off the runway, and did my thing in full view of the tower.

Long cross country, from Anchorage to Kenai to Homer and back to Anchorage in January 1973, had one of the most memorable events ever: On the leg from Homer to Anchorage, I'd had to divert a little due to a little storm. I was putzing along in the 150 and looked over my left shoulder to see a small flock of geese forming up on me. I pulled back the throttle to see if they'd stay with me, and they did. In my memory, it was for at least 10 minutes, although in reality it was probably a lot shorter--but it still was pretty neat.

There have been lots of adventures since. But even as my twilight years approach, I expect to have many more. So keep it up--it's worth it!

Cary

The only thing that beats out a solo is the first flight in an airplane that you built yourself! Congrats on the milestone! Its when you leave and make it back in one piece that you really start feeling like a pilot. I hear stories similar to yours often. It makes you wonder how many people are out there that were never able to realize their dream.

AvidFlyer wrote:The only thing that beats out a solo is the first flight in an airplane that you built yourself! Congrats on the milestone! Its when you leave and make it back in one piece that you really start feeling like a pilot. I hear stories similar to yours often. It makes you wonder how many people are out there that were never able to realize their dream.

Or the first flight after the check ride as PIC

Congrats Kenny - keep at it!

My first CC solo was in the PA12. I made it a 170 miles OW so I could do a little caribou hunting. Kill two birds with one stone kinda deal LOL. When I was planning the flight my instructor was kind of scratching his head as to why I would want to fly to that area.. then he signed off on it and saw me loading up the guns and survival gear and he just shook his head and walked back inside. Was a flight and hunt I will never forget!

Keep going on the flying! As was already stated, the only thing that can beat your first solo CC is the first time you get to load the wife up and take her for the first flight as PIC with the ink on the PPL still wet.

Within 10 minutes of having my paper ticket in hand after the check ride, I had the wife and kids loaded up and flying out to a nice remote beach for a little play time in the sand and an interesting lunch!

Hey Guys, thanks for the kind words and encouragement, it means a lot!

I cannot help but notice there seems to be one common thread that connects all of our stories and experiences.

We are not content to live a life of mediocrity. We are compelled to push ourselves to to experience things others only dream of. A sense of adventure stirs our spirit to action beyond what others could possibly imagine.

.....did I actually write that stuff?

.....Its been a long day. I'm going home, get a good nights sleep and go flying in the morning.

And there's a nice chunk of Hwy 361 with no wires or signs to mess you up landing or taking off to go have lunch at Middlegate Station once you get ticket and airplane.

Gump

Bowtie_1961 wrote:Hey Guys, thanks for the kind words and encouragement, it means a lot!

I cannot help but notice there seems to be one common thread that connects all of our stories and experiences.

We are not content to live a life of mediocrity. We are compelled to push ourselves to to experience things others only dream of. A sense of adventure stirs our spirit to action beyond what others could possibly imagine.

Sometimes it goes beyond malcontent. Some of us (well, myself, in any case) simply can't resist the urge to see what's on the other side of the next hill or around the next bend or beyond the horizon. And it truly is amazing how far you can see from the left seat when there's no one in the right.

Good luck and clear skies.

Gunp wrote;

And there's a nice chunk of Hwy 361 with no wires or signs to mess you up landing or taking off to go have lunch at Middlegate Station once you get ticket and airplane.

Gump, I was eye-balling that stretch of road by Middle Gate when we were stationed in Fallon.
If I remember correctly there was a photo on the wall in the cafe there of a plane that had landed on Hwy 361 and had pulled up to the parking lot. Prolly was someone on here!

Seems like just about everywhere we went out there was an inviting landing spot.

As far as a plane goes, a Pacer would fit our mission and are somewhat affordable. We'll see, we still have kids in college and some debt to retire before a new toy fits in.

Kenny

Tom wrote;

Sometimes it goes beyond malcontent. Some of us (well, myself, in any case) simply can't resist the urge to see what's on the other side of the next hill or around the next bend or beyond the horizon. And it truly is amazing how far you can see from the left seat when there's no one in the right.

Tom, I couldn't agree more. That sense of adventure in me is born of curiosity, the wanting to know more about everything that's important in this world. I want to be a geologist, meteorologist, cartographer, aeronautical engineer,... ok that one is a stretch but you get the idea. I feel better connected to the world around me when I have satisfied at least some of the questions I have as to, 'why things are the way they are!'

Its an interesting world and I have grandchildren to teach.

Kenny