Cloud 9 Flying Life

But the most beautiful things in life are not things.  They’re people, places, memories, and pictures.  They’re feelings and moments, and smiles and laughter. -unknown Okay, this week there are no flying lessons, no Roger here to take his beautiful pictures

Like birds, let’s leave behind what we don’t need to carry – grudges, sadness, pain, fear, and regrets. Fly light…LIFE IS SO BEAUTIFUL! -Unknown As I was pulling into the parking lot of the airport, I could see colors starting

My soul is in the sky. — William Shakespeare, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ Act V. Scene I. Carpe Noctem   (Seize the night!) -Atticus.   I just couldn’t get enough flying this morning, SO we went flying this evening.  (Did I tell

“Some day we will find what we are looking for – or maybe not. Maybe we’ll find something much greater than that.”  -unknown Flying in the early morning always lifts your spirit.  It makes you feel happy all day long.   (Try it,

Focus on what makes you happy and do what gives meaning to your life. -Barry Schwartz Sky was bring you to your knees breathtakingly beautiful.  Every morning presents its own exquisite masterpiece for those who get up to enjoy it. 

“How does one become a butterfly?” she asked. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” It was a ridiculously amazing morning!  It was mostly clear flying from Blacksburg to Roanoke

  Design a life you love. When I went for a flying lesson this morning, I kept thinking of that saying. As with every lesson with my flight instructor, I learned a great deal starting with, “I’m safe” which is

When life gives you Monday, dip it in glitter, and sparkle all week long! It was starting to get a bit foggy out this morning as I arrived at the Blacksburg airport – in the dark. So, off to Roanoke

Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free – Leonard Cohen I don’t think a caged bird sings, I think it cries. Flying started at 6:30 this morning.

“Fly with Angels, Dance with Stars” My flying lesson started at 8:00 PM tonight.  SO, I got to try night flying once again.  All day I kept thinking about the movie, The Matrix.  Morpheous saying  ” You have to let

Veni Vidi Volavi I came, I saw, I flew (away) I got to fly at 6:30 PM today.  We flew to Roanoke, Virginia to practice takeoffs and landings.  It was exhilarating! One of the most exciting things tonight was when

Yesterday morning was extremely foggy so my flying lesson was cancelled and rescheduled to this afternoon at 3:30 PM.  I’ll have to think about switching up the times and dates of my lessons as we enter October.  So, perhaps I’ll

This morning I was supposed to have gone for a flying lesson at 6:30.  But, at 5:30 I get a message saying TAF doesn’t look good.  (I’m going to use that one anytime I want to sleep in.)  Who’s kidding

It was brisk out, but nice and toasty in the cockpit, wind blowing at about 10-12 knots, taking off on Runway 12 at the Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport this morning.    Seeing a sliver of pink in the twilight of

Second night of night landings went better.   But, this was my lowest point.  Sometimes you’ve just got to allow yourself to fall apart, so you can put yourself back together again. Related Images:

My first night time landings at New River Valley Airport didn’t go as well as I hoped.  There was a crosswind.  And Roger was right:  there was a large learning curve for me.  But I learned more about side slips

I’m supposed to start night flying tomorrow night – unless it’s raining/stormy/super cloudy.  Then I’ll fly on Sunday and Monday night.  Roger says it’s going to be much harder landing than during the day.  But, I keep telling myself that

My landings were going better today. It was so enormously beautiful out this morning! Maybe I’m learning to relax more, stressing less.  Plus I encountered a plane about 2 miles away from me this morning.  (Flying in the mornings, we

It’s a good thing that the mornings look so incredibly beautiful (look for yourself), otherwise I could be frustrated at this point in learning to land.  Although Roger did say that my landings were improved.  I’ve been flaring better. This

I was practicing landings at a different airport this morning.  The New River Valley Airport has a nice peaceful, country feel to it.  Plus it has a longer, wider runway.  Roger took the photos below.  It was gorgeous out!  I

I’ve done around 15 landings thus far – a few of them were really good.  I have to stay with it until I’ve mastered landing – that could really come in handy someday. Related Images:

More photos!  I live for flying and photos!  I practiced S-turns over the interstate and landings.  I did 7 landings this morning. The first one I considered perfect.  In landings 2-7, I kept pulling the yoke back too soon. Related

The beauty of the morning was so spectacular!  This is why I love to fly! I practiced S-turns over a very turbulent ridge toward West Virginia this morning.  I stalled the plane.  Roger just calmly said put the nose down

You know the drill here:  I got to the airport by 6:30 AM.  I really worked hard this morning.  I had to maneuver around a flagpole near where I live.  Now before you laugh, it’s really hard to make circles