we waited a half hour before we were helped as it was a small facility. one guy sitting in the tiny office seemed to be harassing the poor kid who was our instructor.
'should i go get you something to eat?'
'what time are you off?'
'you want me to get you a burger?'
'what are your plans afterward?'
x100.
the poor kid seemed to try to brush him off, but the guy was very persistent.
so this kid (he didn't look older than 17) pulled J and i upstairs and walked us through the parts of the plane using a tiny hand-held model. he then had me sit in a mock cockpit and went over the switches.
and that was it. a ten-minutes prep before i took my husband's life in my hands.
a quick stop to a green toilet (that had to be charged, looked like it belonged in outer space and made all sorts of strange and terrible gurgling noises) and we were heading out to the tarmac. the kid showed me the tiny plane we'd be using and again went over the body parts.
we checked the gas, looked at the wheels and wings, then before i knew it, i was settled into the pilot seat and strapping on my belt. this became the most terrifying experience of my life.
to summarize J, i thought we were going to die. J later said (as he sat behind me in the passenger's seat) he kept reaching forward to try to grab the wheel or in some way save himself. on the other hand, it was also the most exhilarating experience (and it needs to be said- not many husbands would place their lives in their wives' hands). i thought our kid instructor would fly letting me be his 'big assistant' or at the least, keep the controls covered at all times.
this was so not the case. in fact, i don't think he touched the controls at all.first i had to get the plane moving. when it's on the ground, you control the plane using the foot pedals, which controlled the wheels. i forgot this at one point, and J practically screamed when the plane started kareening toward the grass and i yanked on the wheel by accident. i got us straightened out, though, and we made our way around the runway.
we lined up-then it was our turn to take off.
we accelerated and like magic, the plane left the ground. the instructor had me aim for the horizon and we were off, climbing higher and higher. every 3 seconds i would think: if the plane fell out of the sky at THIS height, would we survive? what about now? and what about now? J softly whimpered behind me (actually, he didn't make a sound but i knew he was doing it in his mind) as the instructor had me turn left... then right. i was so gentle (a.k.a. terrified) that i could have run a mile on the treadmill before i finished banking. i managed to not be ill, which i think my instructor took as an offense as he asked if i'd let him make a much sharper turn. i said no, as i was already feeling ill. then he asked if he could show me how to mke a pencil float by suddenly dropping the plane- i think J was a little disappointed i said no to that as well- 'as long as HE did it,' he'd later say.
we flew over our home then turned back.
the descent was even worse than the ascent.
my stomach was in my throat the entire time as i tried to come down gently. regardless- intentionally aiming myself toward the earth was much different than away. i panicked a little every time i dipped below the horizon, which was OFTEN as i tried to land. J said this terrified him the most, but i inched my way downward, fighitng the turbulance until we hit ground and we taxied back in.
holy hannah- it's a miracle we're still alive.
0 comments:
Post a Comment