Went Flying Saturday!

Filed in archive Personal Thoughts on March 7, 2005

I got the opportunity to go flying Saturday. It was a beautiful spring-like day here with almost clear skies. Some cirrus clouds were all that was in the sky.

I have to confess that Im a low-time (less than 50 hours) pilot. I haven't flown since the winter either. So, this qualified as a BIG DEAL to me. I rented a Cessna 152 from the FBO I use, Southernaire, did my walk-around, went through the checklist, started the engine, called the tower and taxied out to the runway.

There was a northwest wind blowing at about 10 mph, (the runway is 18/36) so I could get in a little crosswind practice.

Though I had not flown in months, it felt like I had just gotten airtime the day before. Everything came back to me quickly, and it felt very natural. Once again, I was at home in the sky. The place where all my life I felt I belonged. It was wonderful.

I headed east toward a local waterway, then south to a nearby town and practiced some manuveurs, then tuned in the VOR to make my way back to the field. I did a couple of touch-and-goes, just to make sure I was comfortable landing, and get some crosswind practice in...all went well.

Now, if I could just get somebody to volunteer to be my first passenger!