Taking newbies flying...

Dudley Henriques wrote:
There was nothing "wrong" or dangerous in what Dan did Stefan. Pilots do
this all the time, and few of them are instructors. In fact, the first time
I went up for a ride, (AT-6G) I did what could be stretched into (if I was
REALLY stretching that is :-) a reasonable facsimile of a decent slow roll.


My first time at the controls was with a Navy recruiter in a T-34B after I took
the NFO test and scored reasonably well. We took off after a safety briefing
that left me with the impression that if anything went wrong, well, it'd been a
good life. I mean, the pilot was going to get out OK but I sure as hell wasn't
going to remember a word of what he told me.

That being done, we took off and the fellow showed me what an airplane could do.
It went up and down (we looped) and it went around (we rolled). So far so
good... he probably did several other things but all I really remember was this
was the first time I'd ever experienced G in an airplane. I didn't disgrace
either myself or my ancestors by redecorating the cockpit.

Then the fellow let me take the controls. We went up and down (gingerly) and
turned left and right (gingerly). Now that we were straight and level (more or
less) I began to get a little green around the gills.

I was never so glad to get down on the ground. Of course, I claimed the ride
was the greatest experience of my life as I wiped the sweat from my brow and
swallowed frequently. But I didn't disgrace myself.

Here it is some 30 years later and the only time I've ever gotten nauseated in
an airplane since was riding in the back of an Arrow while somebody else flew
it. But I've never puked. There's a few times I almost **** my pants but
that's a different story.

Now, with newbies, I give my best airline ride. I figure any fool can jerk an
airplane around but it takes talent to be smooth. But I don't explain
everything in advance... I just do what needs to be done and answer questions as
they come up. I haven't lost a passenger yet or had anybody refuse to ride with
me a second time.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com