FLYING –
Hey I learned to fly back in the 80s. Yep Cessna 150s and 172s. What a stress reliever after a tough day at work. Go to the airport. Untie the plane. Check it all over and put gas in the wings. Yep, take off and fly and leave all your troubles on the ground.
It was a rural airport. The runway with the predominate wind was up hill. So, takeoff was a slow roll. The taxiway was grass. But after all the check lists, to push the throttle wide open and roll down the runway and just take off. It was great satisfaction watching the ground fall away
And, in the summertime it was very hot. No AC in a Cessna 150. But as you climbed up the temperature would drop. Just cruise around the practice area and look down at everything. Peaceful.
The landings were generally good. It is the toughest part of flying. But, I flew on good days without challenges. Well now, there was the occasional deer herd on the runway. Also, turkey buzzards might be in my landing path. And, the oddest thing was the final approach led me over a swamp with cooler air. It would make the plane bounce a bit as though I’d flown over an invisible speed bump. But generally all was Good. Then I’d tax to the grassy tie down area and shut the plane and hook the chains back to the wings.
Driving home I’d reflect on how beautiful it was in the air.
I don’t fly anymore. But, walking to the mailbox and back I often hear a Cessna or Piper up there, in the late afternoon, taking a flight to no where in particular. I’m transported up to that plane for a few seconds. And, I smile.