I’m Flying!!!

Being a retired police officer who chased after bad guys in high speed pursuits, being involved in countless drag out fights and yes even being shot at once, it takes allot to get my “fear factor” going but today I found myself at full tilt!

During my six year stint as a narcotics officer, I was assigned six months to the “Air Smuggling Interdiction Squad.” It was here that my interests in general aviation started when I had the opportunity to fly around the southwest with officers from US Customs and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Here I learned from other squad members who were pilots the basics of avionics and the fun of flying. It was then that I made a promise to myself that someday I would learn to fly. Today that someday arrived!

A few months ago I started doing some research on the Internet on Arizona flying schools and spoke to other private pilots, all recommending the “Buckeye Flight Experience” training school in Buckeye Arizona as the “best of breed”.

On Monday, I drove down to the school and met with owner/instructor Greg Porter. Greg gave me the basic information about his school and assured me that even an “old geyser” like me could learn new skills. He provided a DVD ground school program that I was to use at home and scheduled my first flying class for today.

Last night I stayed up and reviewed the first DVD several times, trying to learn and understand the basic parts of an aircraft and basic flying skills. After acing the exam, I felt ready to take on today’s challenge.

However when I met with Greg at the airport, I never expected him to say that I was ready to take off and land the plane myself. But he assured me that he would be at the controls alongside and that I would see that the plane would fly itself (ya right I said to myself).

After Greg walked me though my first pre-inspection on his Cessna 172 he suggested methods for me to get my six foot six, 300 pound body behind the control wheel. After squeezing in and getting buckled in, Greg joined me along side explaining all the buttons, switches and gauges. Another pre-flight checklist was completed and Greg told me to get ready start the aircraft. I pulled the throttle forward, yelled “clear” and then turned the key while adjusting the mixture control and a few seconds later the engine was at full throttle while both my feet were pressing on the brakes at full force. Greg assured me that everything was ok, to check my gauges and to get ready to taxi.

We began to taxi and I do admit found it very awkward in steering the aircraft with my feet and found myself grabbing the steering wheel several times, finding it useless. Greg directed me to the entrance of the main runway, where we stopped and performed final flight checklist.

Greg explained that once on the main runway that I would push the throttle in all the way and once up to speed, pull back on the control wheel to take off, that’s all there was to it.

With my heart in my throat, he said “lets go” and I steered the plane onto the runway, pushed throttle in and found ourselves speeding down the main runway. The plane first went to the left, I steered with my feet to the right, then to the left and back, all while pulling with all my might on the control wheel.

Seconds later Greg said “relax we’re off the ground” and I looked through the left door window seeing the runway was hundreds of feet below. Greg said to continue my climb and a few moments later said to bank right. I started banking right by overturning slightly and Greg related to level off after entering the bank to allow the plane to follow.
Greg then related that I was to continue my climb till we reached 4000 feet. Here I would level off and pull back on my throttle to 2200 RPM.

At 4000 feet I leveled off, adjusted throttle and we were cruising at 100 knots. Greg then had me do several 90 degree turns and two 180 degree turns, while leveling off the aircraft after each turn. Greg must had noticed that on several turns, that my eyes were about to bug out of my head and assured me that I was doing just fine.

Greg then explained that we would then practice a decent and that I would notice that the plane’s engine would sound louder as it would be over speeding. Once it did I should slow the engine’s speed down by pulling out the throttle.

We began our decent to 3500 feet while I was adjusting the throttle while attempting to keep the plane fling straight with one hand in a crosswind.
At 3500 feet Greg said to climb back to 4000 feet by increasing the throttle and increasing back pressure.

Greg then said those words that I was dreading to hear, “Ok, you’re ready to land” and pointed in the direction of the airport.

Ten minutes later the runway was in view and Greg told me to start my decent, aiming for the “17” at the beginning of the runway. A few miles before the runway I saw I-10 intersecting my path and prayed that I wouldn’t come down early into the side of a semi.

Greg assured me and said that he would also have his hands on the control (Whew!!)

Reducing power we came above the runway and Greg said “watch, this plane will land itself” and in seconds we were on the ground with my feet pressing on the brakes and attempting to steer.

Again I found myself clutching the wheel to steer while Greg jokingly said “next time I’ll bring rope to tie your hands up.”

We taxied to the tie down area, shut down the aircraft and squeezed my large frame through the door.

I did it, and began fulfillment of a dream that I started years ago, learning how to fly a plane!

Thanks to Greg and the Buckeye Flight Experience, I’ll be back next week for flight #2!