Favorite Aviation Reminiscense

I was lucky enough to have spent a couple of years flying a B-17 and
B-24 around the country giving rides. Many of those rides were to
former bomber crew from WWII.

I can't pick any one flight. But it would be one of those when a
veteran, many times with tears in his eyes, would give me a thumbs-up or
thank me for the flight. Imagine that, a guy that had flown the
airplane in combat in a war to save the world, thanking me for taking
him for a ride. I never got used to that.

--
Dale L. Falk

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing around with airplanes.

http://home.gci.net/~sncdfalk/flying.html

Hi Group,

I don't chime in too often, but this thread compelled me to share my strongest
aviation reminiscense.


I earned my PPL late in life. As with many, marriage, family and other
responsibilities of life made flying an impossible dream. Living across the
country from my parents, I was never able to share the joy of flying with them
until last year. Two years ago, my father began battling an illness which we
knew, in our hearts, would rapidly deplete his remaining years. A month after
his diagnosis, I took the time to fly myself out for a visit. I endeavored to
spend as much time with as possible.

On my first flight out there, he seemed proud that his "renegade" son actually
accomplished something in life. After some discussion, I was able to coax him
into a sightseeing flight. After assisting him into the co-pilots seat of the
little Cessna, buckling him in, adjusting his headset, and giving him a short
briefing, we started the engine, taxied, and took off.

At first he was silent, and I didn't want to speak. Sometimes words need not
be spoken, but in our case, the lack of conversation was from years of a
strained father-son relationship. Then, through the intercom, my father
started talking to me. He talked to me in a way in which we had never spoken.
He told me that he had always wanted to learn to fly, but due to his
responsibilities of family and life, he could never afford the lessons. He
told me about the unspoken pride he felt when he heard that I earned my Pilot's
License. It was then I realized that his sacrifices in life, gave me the
opportunity to learn to fly. We flew for what seemed like hours, I didn't want
our flight, or our conversation to end.

For several visits, I was able to take my father for a short flight. He seemed
to be in another world when he was flying. Eventually, his feeble body began
deteriorating at a rapid pace, leaving him bedridden.

Then, late one night, came the dreaded phone call. I was able to get to his
bedside, less than an hour before my father passed.

During my father's viewing, I wore one of my few suits which had the little
gold AOPA wing on my lapel. My wife reached up to straighten my wings, which
for some odd reason, always seem to sit crooked on my lapel. At that moment, I
walked over to the casket where my father lay, and pinned my AOPA wings on his
lapel, gently kissed him on the cheek, and said, ""Dad, these wings really
belong to you. Hang onto to them for me. You can give them back when I see
you again."

Those wings sat straight on his lapel…..

I would respond but I can't type with a lump that big in my throat...

Thanks for sharing that.

Shawn
"GKgloc" wrote in message
...
Hi Group,

I don't chime in too often, but this thread compelled me to share my
strongest
aviation reminiscense.


I earned my PPL late in life. As with many, marriage, family and other
responsibilities of life made flying an impossible dream. Living across
the
country from my parents, I was never able to share the joy of flying with
them
until last year. Two years ago, my father began battling an illness which
we
knew, in our hearts, would rapidly deplete his remaining years. A month
after
his diagnosis, I took the time to fly myself out for a visit. I
endeavored to
spend as much time with as possible.

On my first flight out there, he seemed proud that his "renegade" son
actually
accomplished something in life. After some discussion, I was able to coax
him
into a sightseeing flight. After assisting him into the co-pilots seat of
the
little Cessna, buckling him in, adjusting his headset, and giving him a
short
briefing, we started the engine, taxied, and took off.

At first he was silent, and I didn't want to speak. Sometimes words need
not
be spoken, but in our case, the lack of conversation was from years of a
strained father-son relationship. Then, through the intercom, my father
started talking to me. He talked to me in a way in which we had never
spoken.
He told me that he had always wanted to learn to fly, but due to his
responsibilities of family and life, he could never afford the lessons.
He
told me about the unspoken pride he felt when he heard that I earned my
Pilot's
License. It was then I realized that his sacrifices in life, gave me the
opportunity to learn to fly. We flew for what seemed like hours, I didn't
want
our flight, or our conversation to end.

For several visits, I was able to take my father for a short flight. He
seemed
to be in another world when he was flying. Eventually, his feeble body
began
deteriorating at a rapid pace, leaving him bedridden.

Then, late one night, came the dreaded phone call. I was able to get to
his
bedside, less than an hour before my father passed.

During my father's viewing, I wore one of my few suits which had the
little
gold AOPA wing on my lapel. My wife reached up to straighten my wings,
which
for some odd reason, always seem to sit crooked on my lapel. At that
moment, I
walked over to the casket where my father lay, and pinned my AOPA wings on
his
lapel, gently kissed him on the cheek, and said, ""Dad, these wings really
belong to you. Hang onto to them for me. You can give them back when I
see
you again."

Those wings sat straight on his lapel...

Suddenly my screen's gone a bit blurry. Sniff.

Paul

"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
...
I would respond but I can't type with a lump that big in my throat...

Thanks for sharing that.

Those wings sat straight on his lapel...

Don't know how I missed this till just now...

Thanks for sharing that story. I'm glad you got to fly with your Dad.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Watching a total eclipse of the sun from on top of an overcast layer.

Paul

I've got less than 100 hours and now working on my IFR ticket but my
best moment was on my first cross country. First leg from SQL to
Davis (0O3?) where I met my friend who I hadn't seen for 3-4 years
for a coffee. then got caught in a some rain to STS. Nothing
major but on a first cross country I was a little scared. then
flying home, I climbed over the mountains near Marin and then
seeing San FRancisco and all the very familiar places....alcatraz
off the left of my nose, teh bay bridge to my left, Marin underneath me,
and then while over the bay seeing the sun getting ready to set mid-span
of the Golden Gate Bridge and realizing I was all alone. A minute
later I got my clearance through Class B, overflew SFO listening
and watching all the heavies waiting to take off.

the next best time was getting ATIS on my checkride.
"Palo Alto Information Brave. time 23:30 Zulu on
December 17th, 2003. The 100th anniversary of powered
flight by man....." I really wish I had a recording
of it. I got goose bumps. The DE said, "wow that's pretty
cool."

These were the 2 times I said, "Damn, yes I am a pilot."

I'm sure there will be another 40+ years of memories on the way.....

Gerald

My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:

..9 of dual is now in the book.

A great day...a really great day!

Regards All...

Jay Beckman
Chandler, AZ
Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)

Hey, welcome aboard... Wish I was young and just starting - again...
denny
"Jay Beckman" wrote in message
news:uDEYb.1195$o52.655@fed1read02...
My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:

.9 of dual is now in the book.

A great day...a really great day!

Regards All...

Jay Beckman
Chandler, AZ
Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)

"Dennis O'Connor" wrote in message
...
Hey, welcome aboard... Wish I was young and just starting - again...
denny

Hehehe...

I have the "Just Starting" nailed...but not quite the "Young"

(I'm 43...:Late Bloomer)

Jay


"Jay Beckman" wrote in message
news:uDEYb.1195$o52.655@fed1read02...
My first (of what I hope will be many...) occured today:

.9 of dual is now in the book.

A great day...a really great day!

Regards All...

Jay Beckman
Chandler, AZ
Student Pilot (.9 Hrs)