One of the things I find so exciting about flying is I am always learning. Times like today was like the dawn of a new beginning, a deeper understanding, and of course more admiration of pilots and flying.
My day started out at the airport at about 7 AM. My instructor flew with me for a couple of takeoffs and landings then he let me finish my solo time. He also told me that I could fly away from the pattern. (Nothing like feeling like a bird falling from the nest.)
I surprised myself by not being as adventurous as I thought I would be. Maybe because it was my first real outing and I was a little concerned of getting lost in that big beautiful sky with sun rays shining down on the airport. I flew over to Christiansburg, from Blacksburg, then I adventured out toward Route 8, admiring the farm land. After doing a combination of flying more freely and practicing landings, the hour was up.
Then it got super, super exciting. With my instructor back on board, he taught me how to use VOR for actual flying. This time we flew to Hillsville using VOR. I always tell my instructor that he is the Flying Genius. And the more I learn from him, the more I am convinced of that. He estimated our time of arrival within seconds of the actual time. And his guesstimate on location was right on the money. I am always excited to learn from someone who is as intelligent as he is and who dearly loves flying. It can also be a double-edged sword. If I lived a hundred years and learned from him every second of every day for that period of time, I would still never get close to all the knowledge he has. To say I am in awe is an understatement.
But enough about the Wicked Awesome Yoda. I got to land at a new airport!!! It was the Hillsville Twin County Airport. It was beautiful. It was more narrow. And I did a takeoff and landing there! I was proud of myself.
Then we used the VOR for our flight back to Claytor Lake. (Yes, he’s Superman. He knew.) But, the wanderlust in me was just beginning as I learned more about using VOR. It makes me feel safer and more informed as I venture out.
Every day that I fly and learn from Roger, I always think of this saying, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
Wherever you are, BE ALL THERE. I always thank my instructor for teaching me to fly. But, how do you thank someone that taught you how to live – live the joy of adventure that life is supposed to be.
“Quiet the mind and the soul will speak.”