Before I got my driver’s license, I was working towards my pilot’s license. But with only a driver’s license, he couldn’t drive himself to the airport. One of my supportive parents would always put aside what he was doing and he would go with me. This day was especially significant for me since my parents had decided to come. Originally my instructor, Dan, and I had discussed practicing landings at the Lawrenceburg airport, but a quick weather check revealed a direct crosswind at speeds we didn’t want to challenge and we decided to go to Muscle Shoals AL instead. Barely within our weight and balance charts, Dan, my parents, and I loaded up and took off. Upon landing at Muscle Shoals, we dropped my mom and dad off at the terminal so Dan and I could practice without the extra weight.
My take off was great and my landing was spectacular; “a greaser” as Dan would say. “Two more like this,” said Dan, “and I’ll let you fly alone!” My heart beating hard. I knew I was close to my first solo, but now with both parents with me? To say that she was excited would have been a terrible understatement. Fueled by adenine, I made 2 more landings, each one better than the first. We taxied back to the terminal and asked the manager if my parents could stand on the grass and take pictures of me, while I chased my lifelong dream in heaven! Permission was denied. A quick check of the weather in Lawrenceburg showed little change in wind direction, but a considerable drop in speed. Once again, the four of us climbed into the small cabin and took off.
Landing in Lawrenceburg was a similar grind, mom and dad out, Dan and I beat the pattern once for good measure, smooth takeoff, textbook pattern, “greaser” landing. Dan gave me some final instructions, gathered up his things and headed out. The only noise in the cabin was the purr of the engine and Dan’s voice over the intercom as he checked his radio. He was alone. Lining up for runway 35, I thought, “I’m a 16-year-old who thinks he’s going to fly. Once he takes off, I’m the only person in the world who can land this thing.” I carefully pushed the throttle all the way down and checked my RPM. I watched the airspeed indicator needle creep up its little clock face, 20, 30, 50 to 60 knots, a little back pressure on my yoke and the nose went up, enough that I couldn’t see the runway in front of me not only the sky. Looking down the left window, I saw my mom, dad, and Dan, all wishing me luck. We (the plane and I) climbed to five hundred feet; high enough to make my first turn and I suddenly realized I was on top of the world. I had heaven to myself!
Right before I cut power to land, I felt myself look over to the seat next to me, reassuring myself that I really was doing all of this by myself. After a beautiful landing, Dan radioed, “Nice landing,” he said. He could hear his smile through the microphone. “Would you like to do two more?”