"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...
...offers endless opportunities for screwing up the experience for them,
as I've demonstrated yet again.


I'm glad it ended up okay.
I invited a friend to take a ride with me for his birthday present. His
wife and 12-year-old daughter went along in the back seat. During the
passenger brief, I pretty much explained stuff to everyone's satisfaction
including some insightful questions from the youngster.
After we were leveled off and trimmed out, I demonstrated some movements
of the controls including, with permission a 'steep' turn, which did not go
more than 45 degrees and got a giggle from the back seat and a request to do
it again. I glanced at Mom and she was doing fine so I did one more to the
other side. We flew over their house and I did a 360 to both sides.
On the way back to the airport I gave the controls over to Bill and
coached him through some gentle turns, nothing more than 10 degrees or so.
Then, from the back seat came this young plaintive voice, "Is my daddy
flying the airplane?"
"Yes," I answered, "and he's doing a great job."
Then came this shriek, followed by, " I DON'T WANT MY DADDY TO FLY IT!!"