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 Age
50 seemed like a good time to take up a new challenge, and
a challenge it was! Aero Aviation, Sheila Peroelie and a
Tomahawk: that’s what got me going! Aero went down
(bankrupt), the Tomahawk stayed in the air, and Sheila,
a bright young 22 year old instructor, kept me flying! It
was fun!
Looking back I’m not sure why I wanted to fly; I
suspect it was related to some glider lessons I took several
years earlier at Chipman, Alberta. I was amazed at the silence
and the beauty of flight. It was, is, much like sailing!
In any event, I took the courses and lessons and Sheila
got the challenge! Soft field landings, solo flights, stalls,
spirals and spins, they all happened; they were all mastered
and Sheila gave me a big hug and the certificate when it
was all over – maybe just to get rid of me!
Now that was the flying part – there was also the
course work: general aviation, navigation, meteorology and
aircraft operations, all followed by a three hour exam monitored
by MOT. It all went smoothly until the computer kicked out
the final marks – all was perfect except Air Law –
58% – 2% below passing! So a petition to the Minister
later, a supplemental exam and I shot up to the 90s and
passed overall with a 94% average! Whew!
 From
then on it has been recreational flying and going to the
farm from time to time. I love it! I have “checked
out” in Tomahawks, Caessna 150s and 172s and Mooneys.
They are like women; all very different and all wonderful!
In recent years, I, because of “advancing years”
must satisfy MOT of my “air worthiness” by continuing
to pass my medical every second year – so far, so
good! I think it must be the marathoning!
It’s quite fun to have tucked in the back of my mind
that I can climb in a plane, get it up, keep it up, and
bring it safely down. Heck, I even dreamt about it a couple
nights ago!
Think of Zen, of the Void, of Good
and Evil, and you are bound hand and foot.
Think only and entirely and completely of what you are doing
at the moment and you are free as a bird.
– R.H. Blyth
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