‘She’s a beauty’
Many of you know I have taken up a long time desire to learn to fly. It seems I have always had a reason or an excuse to keep myself on the ground and I finally have pushed them all out of the way and have been diligently studying and flying with Joe Justice out of Santa Monica Airport here in CA since October ‘08. Joe is the perfect choice for a flight instructor for me. He is extremely experienced, safe, patient, plus he owns Justice Aviation.
It is an interesting process taking up a new skill at this point in life. I am used to doing what I know how to do well and, well…. flying is a brand new skill set and a new way of thinking. I am learning in a Cessna 172 and during my first few lessons I thought this would be a piece of cake. I mean push the pedals turn the wheel and push or pull the yolk forward and back… what’s the big deal? Around the third or fourth lesson however Joe stopped “assisting ” me quite so much and I quickly learned that there was a great deal more to successfully flying (and more importantly landing) an airplane than I had originally thought. But here’s the deal, it’s FUN. It’s challenging and rewarding and fun and I am hooked.
I am flying two to three times a week when in LA and I look forward to every flight. It is an entirely new dimension to explore. I am learning the local landmarks, the air spaces, aerodynamics, rules of the skyways and of course the all important controls and instruments. Learning how to talk with ATC is also a challenge. Everything in aviation is an acronym and for the uninitiated ATC is Air Traffic Control. These men and women who work in the Control Towers are the pilot’s best friend while in flight, helping to keep all of the aircraft separated from one another.
I don’t think I would have had much luck when filming the Brady Bunch getting Mom to let me take flying lessons. I mean she nearly had a heart attack when Greg took up football for a couple of weeks. But my point is that if there is something you want to add to your life, some secret dream, something that would make your life and time here more enjoyable, get to it. What are you waiting for, re-runs?
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Tim
on Feb. 9th, 2009
Congratulations, Barry, on following up on a dream! I’m sure that piloting a plane is one of the trickier things to do in life, and I think it’s great that you’re going for it.
Happy flying!
–Tim
Monique Manna
on Feb. 11th, 2009
I give you a lot of credit for doin gthis. My husband would like to take flying lessons too. That scares me – anyway we have a local airport here in town that offers this. Part of me hopes he will keep his feet planted on the ground, but the other part of me would like to see him do this.
Monique Manna
on Feb. 11th, 2009
Excuse my typo….
jester1975
on Feb. 21st, 2009
Hey Barry,please be carefull!Although most of us dont know you personally,we do care what happens to you,but if flying is what does it for you then have as much fun as you can while you can!
Rodney of The Jesters
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