First Flight--sure I can steer with my feet

Chicago seemed to finally break free of "perma-winter" and the weather was nice enough to fly yesterday.

Chris and I had a pre-flight briefing and talked about what we would do, or attempt to do during the flight. Just the basics-- taxiing, take off, shallow turns, climbs, landing. Simple enough right?

We began with pre-flight inspection, this time Chris let me take charge. I understand that the plane is used for training and takes a punishing, but i can't help but think that you would never let the RV sit outside year-round and certainly wouldn't let the bugs set on the plane. As we do the inspection I realize that it's very similar to the inspections we do on vessels for work. Just making sure nothing is loose or suspicious. I still wonder if I will ever have the know-how and confidence to know what I'm looking for and to be a good pilot...but i know it just takes time and I'm trying to be patient. I remember watching you as you did your inspection and how thorough you always were, never left any stone unturned.

Let me divert by saying that I took a pottery class in high school. The most important part of making pottery on a wheel is the first part...centering. I couldn't center to save my life. If someone did it for me then I could create a masterpiece. I have discovered that centering is much like taxiing for airplanes. You can't do much else without being able to taxi.

As a child, I used to do EVERYTHING with my feet. We are talking, didn't crawl...I rolled. I even used to hold my bottle with my feet. This would naturally lead one to believe that steering with my feet would come naturally. Right...

After completing all of the pre flight requirements we start the engine and away we go. Chris leads us out of the crowded area and then turns me loose on the rudder pedals and brakes. I can only say that it's a good thing that the taxi way is as wide as it is. I was swerving all over the place. It would have been highly beneficial, and easier on Chris's heart, if I had bumpers on either end of the taxiway. He told me it's not the worst he has seen but I'm not convinced.

After take-off Chris shows what happens to the airplane if you don't use rudder to correct for the effect of the prop spinning. I realize that I've never experienced this before because your take-offs were always flawless. Gosh I have a lot to learn...

I forgot to mention that this flight was right after lunch. And that, coupled with windy conditions and my nerves makes for a nauseous time. Especially when Chris lets go of the controls and starts fiddling with the chart.

I remember you always telling me not to "over fly" the plane and how when you come across turbulence to let the plane adjust itself. "The plane wants to fly" you would say. This is probably much easier to do when you aren't tense, nervous and nauseous! I realize that even though we are getting bumped around and an amateur has control of the stick, Chris is still completely calm. I guess I can't be scaring him too much.

I can picture you with your hands in your lap when you used to let me do turns...and now I realize you were secretly pushing the rudder pedals to coordinate my turns. Of course, you would never tell me that...instead you would just praise my skills and give me the confidence that I could do it. This was just how you always were...no matter what it was you could convince someone they could do it.

While in flight, we were looking at the chart to determine if we were going to intrude on O'hare. As I looked at the chart I was thinking about all of your quirky stories from working at Jeppesen. Again I just wanted to say "MY DAD MADE THOSE". I also remembered how you went out with all the young guys for one of their birthdays and took too many Irish Car Bombs. I guess you really "whooped it up".

After we did a few climbs and shallow turns we went back to the airport and haphazardly taxied back into position. I think I only almost ran us off the runway once on the way back. Small victory. I would be lying if I said I wasn't grateful as I could finally relax. But oddly enough, after all of that I can't wait to go back the next day.