Our son's first flight lesson

Even better is when he asks, "Dad, what's the Mile High Club?"


"Maxwell" wrote in message
...

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...
Scary (impossible?) though it may seem, that little baby that I held
in my arms moments after birth (hell, I cut his umbilical cord!) is
scheduled to take his first flight lesson tomorrow afternoon...

It seems like just yesterday I was changing his diaper, or teaching
him to tie his shoes. And it was just a few days ago that I was
helping him drive a nail for the first time, and showing him how to
throw a baseball.

It's remarkable how quickly the years have flown by. He's really a
young man now, stronger, faster, and smarter than either of his
parents. And with 1500+ hours in the air in GA aircraft, he's
probably more comfortable there than any student in history.

After much searching, we've found the perfect flight instructor for
Joe -- a semi-retired pilot of classic aircraft, with many thousands
of hours doing tail-wheel mountain flying. He's one of the nicest
gentlemen we've ever met, and, along with his wife, has become a close
friend after a year of hanging out on "Movie Nights".

Still, despite all this...I'm terrified. Letting -- no, encouraging
-- my boy to launch himself into the wild blue yonder is weighing
heavily on my soul, and -- as much as I desperately want him to know
the freedom of flight -- this is really scary.

I don't think anyone will be doing much sleeping tonight...

What are you going to do the first time he says, hey Dad, can I borrow the
plane?

On Jun 21, 9:58 pm, Jay Honeck wrote:
Scary (impossible?) though it may seem, that little baby that I held
in my arms moments after birth (hell, I cut his umbilical cord!) is
scheduled to take his first flight lesson tomorrow afternoon...


I dream of the day when one (or both) of my sons does the same.
They're 9 and 13, so I have a little time yet...

wrote)
I dream of the day when one (or both) of my sons does the same.
They're 9 and 13, so I have a little time yet...


You think?

Start the 13 year old in a glider, now - solos when he's 14. g


Paul-Mont

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 21, 9:58 pm, Jay Honeck wrote:
Scary (impossible?) though it may seem, that little baby that I held
in my arms moments after birth (hell, I cut his umbilical cord!) is
scheduled to take his first flight lesson tomorrow afternoon...


I dream of the day when one (or both) of my sons does the same.
They're 9 and 13, so I have a little time yet...


Just a comment.

Talking to my brother the other day he commented that one mistake he made
was not keeping his CFI current - his son is now flying right seat in a King
Air and the big thing holding him back is the number of hours logged. If my
brother had kept his CFI, his son would probably could have an extra 1000 or
so hours logged - a big boost in his total time (even if it would have been
dual).

Just something to think about iff'n your young'ns look like they might go
down the aviat'n path...

Oh, he started flying right seat in dad's T-18 before he was tall enough to
see over the IP - even with a booster seat he had to look out the side
windows. And his first lesson (logged) was at about age 12 or so - in a
Pitts S2- first lesson was spins, rolls, loops, inverted flight, etc.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
oups.com...

Still, despite all this...I'm terrified. Letting -- no, encouraging
-- my boy to launch himself into the wild blue yonder is weighing
heavily on my soul, and -- as much as I desperately want him to know
the freedom of flight -- this is really scary.

I don't think anyone will be doing much sleeping tonight...


Great post, Jay!

-c

Jay Honeck wrote in message
.com...
[snip]

I don't think anyone will be doing much sleeping tonight...

I read in another post that you let him fly down to 30 AGL with the whole
family on board. Sounds like he'll be a superb student.

- Rick

On 2007-06-21 22:58:48 -0400, Jay Honeck said:

Scary (impossible?) though it may seem, that little baby that I held
in my arms moments after birth (hell, I cut his umbilical cord!) is
scheduled to take his first flight lesson tomorrow afternoon...

It seems like just yesterday I was changing his diaper, or teaching
him to tie his shoes. And it was just a few days ago that I was
helping him drive a nail for the first time, and showing him how to
throw a baseball.

It's remarkable how quickly the years have flown by. He's really a
young man now, stronger, faster, and smarter than either of his
parents. And with 1500+ hours in the air in GA aircraft, he's
probably more comfortable there than any student in history.

After much searching, we've found the perfect flight instructor for
Joe -- a semi-retired pilot of classic aircraft, with many thousands
of hours doing tail-wheel mountain flying. He's one of the nicest
gentlemen we've ever met, and, along with his wife, has become a close
friend after a year of hanging out on "Movie Nights".

Still, despite all this...I'm terrified. Letting -- no, encouraging
-- my boy to launch himself into the wild blue yonder is weighing
heavily on my soul, and -- as much as I desperately want him to know
the freedom of flight -- this is really scary.

I don't think anyone will be doing much sleeping tonight...

Just a word of caution Jay. Knowing the way you think I'm fairly
certain you have thought of this already, but just in case;
I'm sure you and Mary thought long and hard about your choice of a CFI.
He sounds like a good one from your description.
Be ESPECIALLY CAREFUL you don't fall into the trap of the parent/pilot
myself syndrome.
A very common problem we instructors run into on occasion with a pilot
owner as involved in flying as you and Mary are when they turn a
youngster over to us for formal dual is that as parents you might THINK
you see something that is in conflict with our methods and procedures.
Remember, the CFI is seeing your son as a student ONLY, and gearing his
instruction to your son the way HE believes will be the best way to get
the job done.
This of course, from time to time, might very well conflict with the
way YOUmight be presenting something to your son. If this happens and
you intervene, you might innocently create a confusing atmosphere that
could hinder rather than help your son.
Keeping normal parental "worries and concerns" in the right place, when
and if this occurs, and it probably will :-)), my suggestion is to say
nothing to your son, but discuss it directly with the instructor.
I've been through this with a few "anxious parents", and found the
issue important enough to include a pre-first lesson interview between
instructors and parents in your position as a suggested procedure for
every CFI taking on a student through this path.
I mention it to you only peripherally really, as I'm sure you and Mary
are "wise old owls", but as well for new CFI's out here who might be
entering this scenario someday.
Wish your boy the best of luck from me. I know he'll do fine.
Dudley Henriques

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
news:2007062220131116807-dhenriques@rcncom...

I've been through this with a few "anxious parents", and found the issue
important enough to include a pre-first lesson interview between
instructors and parents in your position as a suggested procedure for
every CFI taking on a student through this path.
I mention it to you only peripherally really, as I'm sure you and Mary are
"wise old owls", but as well for new CFI's out here who might be entering
this scenario someday.

Another one for my increasing archive of useful usenet posts. Thanks,
Dudley!

-Chris Gattman
Troutdale, OR

On 2007-06-22 20:31:58 -0400, "Gatt" said:


"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
news:2007062220131116807-dhenriques@rcncom...

I've been through this with a few "anxious parents", and found the issue
important enough to include a pre-first lesson interview between
instructors and parents in your position as a suggested procedure for
every CFI taking on a student through this path.
I mention it to you only peripherally really, as I'm sure you and Mary are
"wise old owls", but as well for new CFI's out here who might be entering
this scenario someday.

Another one for my increasing archive of useful usenet posts. Thanks,
Dudley!

-Chris Gattman
Troutdale, OR

You're very welcome. If I understand correctly from another thread, you
are considering a CFI rating. Best of luck with that.
DH

Just a word of caution Jay.

Big snip of lots of good advice

Thanks, Dudley. We're very much aware of this potential problem, and
will try to avoid it at all costs.

That's another (serious) reason I wanted him to train in a Cessna
150. It's different enough from our our plane that EVERYTHING will be
different, from the pre-flight checklist to the sight picture on final
approach.

That way whatever he's learning will be in a different context from
what he's seen in Atlas, and there can be no conflict. (At least
that's the theory.)

As far as his CFI, we have truly found a gem. He's an older
gentleman, deeply involved in flying and restoring classic aircraft
(he barnstorms with a 1929 Travel Air, and has participated in the
National Air Tour, as well as the American Barnstormers Tour), has
flown wildlife flights in the mountains in a Maule, and is genuinely
one of the nicest, most even-keeled guys I've ever met.

He's not building hours, and he doesn't need the money. He's just
doing it because he loves it -- and that's what Joe needs.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"