Last Christmas I gave Charlie the gift of a flying lesson.
This was the hint I provided to Charlie about his Christmas present last December.
He finally scheduled the flight for yesterday.
The office was buzzing with flight instructors and pilots.
Just before noon we arrived at Martin State Airport where we stopped at the gate so security could let us enter. Middle River Aviation is in the first building inside the gate where we parked. We were greeted by our only contact, the ever-cheerful, Cierra.
Nate pulled the Cessna out of the hangar by hand.
Charlie’s flight instructor, Nate, met us in the office and asked a few questions about what he’d like to do and if I wanted to ride along. I was apathetic but Charlie encouraged me to join them so I did. We followed Nate in our car out to the hangar.
The gas truck comes to the hangar.
While Nate went through the pre-flight checklist, the fuel truck arrived and gassed up the planes 2 tanks — one for each engine. Nate showed us how they check the gas before each flight to assure it is special blue-tinted aviation fuel.
I was not worried because I hadn’t had anything to eat since the prior day.
Apparently I look as though I might have motion sickness issues (although I assured Nate I don’t) I was given a bag — just in case.
The interior is small but not uncomfortable.
I sat in the back seat while Charlie sat in the co-pilot seat. We were both given headsets so we could hear communication between pilot and tower and each other.
The plane’s dashboard — no modern electronics here. (Compare to first photo.)
Nate explained some of the instrumentation to Charlie as the flight progressed.
We taxied past the control tower (in the background).
We were cleared for takeoff by the tower and, since the plane had been warmed up by a previous flight, taxied down the short runway (as opposed to the longer one).
Martin State Airport (below) is adjacent to Middle River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay.
Take off was very smooth — much smoother than a jet. We flew north toward another small airport just so we could land and takeoff again.
Middle River on the Chesapeake Bay
Surprisingly lots of green space in northern Maryland just south of the Pennsylvania border.
The scenery over the bay and Maryland farmland was lovely.
Just before the steep turn the horizon is level from my back seat position.
After checking that I was doing OK in the back seat our pilot did a steep turn maneuver.
During the steep turn I could not even see sky on the downside.
A steep turn in aviation involves a bank of more than 30 degrees. This means the angle created by the axis running along both wings and the horizon is more than 30 degrees. I could definitely feel the G-force change from 1 to about 2.
Gliding with the engines turned off.
We had one more maneuver to try before landing — a stall. Charlie said it was scary from the front seat watching the propeller stop while the plane instantly dropped about 200 feet. I could feel the lack of power in the back seat but I felt like we were gliding. For some reason I thought I was going to be pitched forward in the stall but that’s not so.
Nate told Charlie (on the right) to straighten up the plane.
Just before we returned to the runway Charlie took control of the plane from the co-pilot side.
When we approached the runway Nate took control back from Charlie. Phew!!
We landed gently from our 45-minute plane ride. I had a good time and Charlie loved every moment of it.
I had chili — I was hungry and it was yummy.
After re-hangaring the plane we headed back to the office and thanked everyone for a lovely day. Then Charlie and I had a little lunch at a very tiny diner near the airport.
We’re planning a helicopter ride in Hawaii.
I’m continuing to research fun and exciting experience gifts. I’m taking suggestions.
Jo
Let's Fake the Music 