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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

THERE I WUZ! : A Child's First Solo

(OK, well, it's my boy Tim in this pic, but you get the idea!)


JUDGEMENT DAY HATH COME!

————————————

“Only instinct flew the plane; my brain took a vacation.”
———————————
A 17-year old boy and his plane...

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth...*
Here I sat within grasp of my ultimate dream—to solo. From childhood I had longed for this day. But until now, I had never once thought of the risk.


And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings...
The tarmac, hot from the Arizona sun, squished under my feet as I cautiously approached the airplane: old Six Niner Tango, the faithful Cessna 152 that endured my skidding turns, tolerated my botched stalls and bounced merrily back from my pancaked landings. Now this docile, forgiving plane seemed to mutate into a hideous, sinister behemoth, a flying dragon ready to consume any pompous pilot who challenged her.



Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...
Mentally unsheathing my broadsword, I performed the preflight inspection.
————————
I suppressed a sudden urge to join the "There I Wuz!" pilots in the airport lounge.  But I knew I couldn't rub elbows with their ranks until I actually had “been there."
————————
I went up with my instructor, John P.*, for three touch and goes. Just my luck:  flawless—or, as flawless as a teenage student pilot with a whopping ten hours under his belt can muster.



and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of ...

We taxied in and stopped at the base of the control tower, engine idling. 
"Well Eric," John shouted above the din of the Lycoming piston engine, "you're ripe 'n ready. Feel lucky?"
I suppressed a sudden urge to join the "There I Wuz!" crowd of pilot types in the airport lounge.  But I knew I couldn't rub elbows with their ranks until I actually had “been there."
“Yes," I squeaked.



wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence...

John signed off my logbook with the notation, “Endorsed for solo flight,”** then hopped out.  Squinting against the prop blast, he slapped the door closed, gave me the pilots’ age-old "thumbs up" sign then scurried off.
Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

I held the mike to my lips.
"L-Litchfield Ground, um, Cessna Six Niner Tango ready to taxi."
"Cessna Six Niner Tango, Litchfield Ground, taxi to runway three," came the reply, a hint of amusement in the controller's voice.
I felt his binoculars trained on me. I imagined him calling his ATC buddies up from the break room to witness my airshow.
It was a long, slow taxi to the end of the runway. Plenty of time to stew in thought and wallow in self-doubt.  I could still turn back!  Save my hide if not my face.



Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace...

Perhaps it was the brave fool that lives inside all of us that persuaded me to go on. I guess the whole concept of the hero is to tackle one's fears at full charge and destroy them. But I wasn't doing this for the glory. I was doing it for me. Oh, to slip the surly bonds of earth!  To free the shackles that enslave us from birth, that few escape! I could imagine those shackles around my ankles right now, jingling like Christmas bells as I shook.
————————
I called “Ready for takeoff.”
Ready, hell!  I could barely move!  It was all I could do to breathe.
————————
I taxied up to the hold line and called, “Ready for takeoff.”
Ready, hell!  I could barely move!  It was all I could do to breathe.
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew...

"Cessna Six Niner Tango, left-closed traffic approved, cleared for takeoff."
I clicked the mike button twice in reply, taxied into position . . . and hit the throttle.



And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod...

It's a funny feeling that comes when you know you're committed to something, like diving off the high board into freezing water or walking onto stage on cue, a thousand people watching.  It's sort of a morbid feeling of foolishness. Your mind panics at the critical moment and screams, My God, what am I doing? How stupid could I be? Followed quickly by, Too late! I hope there is life after death!


The high untrespassed sanctity of space...

That’s what I felt as I rotated. My brain overloaded in a confused mass of emotion—then short-circuited. The instant the wheels left the ground my mind went blank. The universe sailed silently by.  Only instinct flew the plane; my brain took a vacation.
Put out my hand...
I had met my dream.

and touched the face of God.

It seems a paradox that one must first drown in fear before reaching that personal nirvana. As the Steve Miller song goes, "You've got to go through hell before you get to heaven."



Ask any pilot what flying is like.  He'll smile wistfully, look off to the horizon with gleaming eyes and spout garbled poetry about freedom, beauty, and life. You've heard it all before but can't understand. That is because it is truly indescribable; it has to be experienced.
That day, I experienced. That day, I earned my seat at the "There I Wuz!" table.
That day, I slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of God...




...Even if my first solo landing was a three-bouncer.
—————————————————————————
* “High Flight,”  John Gillespie  Magee, Jr.
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Wiki on J.G.M.Jr.
Incredible story about J.G.M. Jr. and his epic poem
Cool video with the poem


High Flight
John Gillespie  Magee, Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings...

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth...

Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — 

wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace...

Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.


**John is now a senior captain at Southwest Airlines.
***My first flying job—typical in this biz—was also as a flight instructor.  Over six years, I endorsed dozens of fledgeling pilots to solo, many of whom continued on to receive their Private Pilot certificates, and more.  Several are now full-fledged airline pilots.

Trivial addendum:  the first thing I ever actually flew was a hang glider at age 15...I'm so glad MY kids weren't fool enough to want to do that at that age!!!


_________________________


An "older, wiser" (age 25!) Cap'nAux flying the Alaska bush...
but that's another story—and novel!
(My video trailer to "
The Last Bush Pilots" premiering SOON!)

_________________________


_________________________

 Posting 10/17 at 11:00Phx (18:00z):



A FUTURE PILOT INTERVIEWS CAP'N AUX

"...the job itself is awesome, but If you want a STEADY, SECURE career, trying acting in Hollywood!  This biz ain’t for the fainthearted!"

_________________________

 Posting 10/24 at 11:00Phx (18:00z):


SPECIAL MORBID HALLOWEEN EDITION!
THE DARWIN AWARDS—AVIATION STYLE!



". . . along a lonely stretch of Arizona highway, a moron strapped a military JATO (Jet-Assisted TakeOff) rocket to his car, and lit it off . . ."

_________________________

 

16 comments:

  1. Awesome story!!!!!!

    "...Even if my first solo landing was a three-bouncer." I'm sure that didn't matter AT ALL!

    HEY?!?! Where's the pic of you getting water dumped on you? Hmmm....is that just a tradition here? *confused*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha good Q! Mercifully that wasn't (isn't) a tradition around here! The only tradition I practiced was AFTER I became an instructor. I'd cut out the back of the student's t-shirts--and then, being the writer I always have to be--would write a poem about their solo! I don't remember any of them, but I do remember one line from one student:

      "Let's all cheer Melanie Wroten
      She alone the airplane was tote'n..."
      etc.
      Not exactly Robert Frost, but lots of fun!

      I know there's a few readers out there who were my students....CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR SOLO POEMS?!?!

      Delete
  2. WOW...

    What an amazing story...a teenager flying a solo flight...not even the drinking age...well not in the US...maybe in some other country. I cannot even fathom what went through your mind the minute the instructor stepped out of the plane. It says a lot that no matter how freaking scared you were you...you stuck to it.

    You said that flying is "truly indescribable; it has to be experienced". I don't know first hand since I don't fly. What I do remember is dad flying out in Kenya to bush locations to do eye clinics. Many times I got to go with him in his little Cessna. I can remember him saying..."Look around Bonbon...see the beauty that God created"...most of all though he would tell me how free and majestic he felt. I know it was one of his many great passions in life.

    What an experience...I honestly cannot even imagine the thrill and excitement. However, look at where that leap has gotten you? Instructor, Bush Pilot, pilot in the Virgin Islands, and now a captain for a major airlines. I'm thinking that's a pretty damn good resume. Wow! What a interesting life...

    Bon ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Bon! Yes, this blog helps me to remember how wonderful life, and flying, has been to me. "Some of it magic, some of it tragic. But I've had a good life all the way." (Jimmy Buffett)

      I can imagine you have a few "there I wuz!" stories of your own flying in Kenya with your father! Sounds like a blog waiting to happen!!

      As for where it's taken me, well...I did a little deliberate steering of the career, to intentionally HAVE those experiences! Whatever field you're in, I'm sure there's some opportunity for a little adventure!!

      Delete
  3. Beautifully written and a pleasure to read. I will never forget my first solo and that amazing and terrifying feeling that you are all on your own. I specifically remember having a few seconds for it all to sink in on my first solo downwind leg. No one to take over if I screwed it up!

    Thanks for sharing your story and for reminding me of mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a Q for you...did you SCREAM AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS (in euphoria) on downwind, like I did?! LOL!

      Delete
  4. Dammit ..where the hell I was when you were that cute :) ?



    On a serious note : I loved this post .One of your best written one.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...you were in DIAPERS dear!! Thanks so much, Iz! Hope Pakistan is treating you well these days...

      Delete
  5. Inspiring story of commitment. The pursuit of a dream regardless of the unknown. Courage and the accountability of whatever outcome. All from the voice of a young man. May we all never forget that..regardless of what age-->FEARLESS!! Here's to you Cap'n...MAY IT ALWAYS BE A "THERE I WUZ" moment for you...TANGIBLY MAGICAL!!! Always an honor flying with you..Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary Mug! Like I said in the story though, I was doing it for ME..an internal challenge, not a glory thing.

      I like your comment though...may it always be a "there I wuz" moment lol!...and I like that line, "Tangibly magical!" Thanks!!

      Delete
  6. A great read that had me chuckling for sure - I love the old pics, I have precious few of myself as a youngster but every one still makes me laugh and reminisce.......

    I have to say, the Alaska Bush pic looks like an Airplane moment, there you are facing camera while at the controls with what looks like a mountain approaching dead ahead!!!! LOL

    Dave from the UK :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha yeah everybody sees that pic and sez, "Turn around and fly, for God's sakes!"

      Technically, where that was taken (over the Juneau Icefield), that peak (Devil's Paw) is in another COUNTRY--Canada! I'd say it's about 10 miles away from me at that point ;-)

      Yes, part of the joy of this blog is digging thru the archives and finding all those youngster pics lol!!

      Delete
  7. Hi Cappy.......Damn I feel like I've been gone forever........Grrrrr
    Check out your baby boy....Timmy.....!!!

    "There you Wuz".......is an Awesome tail(yes pun)........!!!!!
    I can only imagine those moments you speak of ...sitting alone, listening to atc, knowing their having a bit of fun....this, your first 'solo'...flight......course even those controllers can recall their first 'solos' as well, and those few panic stricken moments....they had, or all of us for that matter.......!!!
    There is something to be said for a human to escape the bonds..........and do it voluntarily.....!!!!!!!
    So in that respect.....your story....of "Wish I Wuz there"....by us......and how cool, we can live your story vicariously through you....because my big Azz is staying "grounded"......LOL..
    but surely nothing can replace the "Euphoria", of comming back down to earth...in one piece.......;)))?????!!!!!
    Love the idea of first "Solo" poems.....!!

    and Yes, 'Izdiher'....your were still in diapers for Cappy's Solo.......But FEAR NOT.....Cappy is only a couple of years from being back in "Diapers".......OUCH!!!!
    ;))))

    Hey Dave.....did ya notice the pic of Cappy and his hang glider is a "Willis" Wing.....???????

    Safe Travels Cappy.....looking so forward to your 'Bush Pilot' Novel....!!!!!!
    Those pictures are to die for..........!!!

    Later Cap....
    'Juliet Foxtrot' signing off for now...........♠
    MissTWA


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, Miss T, There You Iz, LOL!

      Nice of you to take a BREATHER and let somebody ELSE do the commenting....!!

      ...Gives me time to change my diapers!!

      Glad you liked the post! i think the most popular ones always seem to be the "There I Wuz" in the cockpit stuff...lots 'o that in the upcoming NOVEL, hint HINT!!

      And don't forget...you're never too old to SOLO!!!

      Delete
  8. Cappy says:
    "It's a funny "FEELING" that comes when you know you're committed to something, like diving off the high board into freezing water or walking onto stage on cue,"

    Yea the shorter version:.....is "WTF was I thinking".........;)))))

    though long past,
    Congradulations.....on your first 'solo'....Really......!!!

    BUT...
    So you bounced 3 times.....landing.........Soooooo, was that considered,
    (1 take-off and3 solo landings...??)
    LOL..
    :O

    again congrats...on all your "Accomplishments"........☺

    ReplyDelete

Sorry, folks, due to more spamming, Word Verification is back on. If you have trouble posting, please email your comments to me and I will post it for you!

capnaux@gmail.com