First Solo!

I remember my first solo flight like it was yesterday. N89642, it was a white and green Cessna 152. Winds out of the south, landed runway 18 at FES. The instructor (Ken) told me to stop on the ramp, and he stepped out and said give me three take-off's and landings. I never thought twice. The first I touched down and was off by the first taxi way. Which wasn't bad it was only a 2200' runway and the first taxiway was less then 1000 feet down the runway. So I was Happy with myself. I was comfortable flying solo, I don't recall being very nervous.

However, now that I am a CFI, I think back and wonder if Ken was on the ground nervously waiting for me to finish my three trips around the pattern. Was he hoping I would not bend the airplane.

Even though I felt comfortable soloing, I find myself watching every step of the way when I send a student up to solo. Sunday I sent a new student Pilot Landon up for his first solo. I watched, I listened on a hand held radio. It's exciting and nerve racking at the same time. I hope his experience will be as memorable as mine...CONGRATULATIONS Landon! Well Done!

Time fly's no pun intended ;-)

I'm really not that good at writing. Keeping up with a blog is way down my list of things to do. I try to keep myself busy. There's always something to do, or learn, or experience. Spring time has sprung...yard work has been plentiful. I just finished building a bat house. It cost me .97 cents (long story). The thing is huge, im sure it could hold a couple hundred bats. Now I just need to get it hung and put out a vacancy sign.
Most importantly however is that I'm flying!!!! Things have been so difficult. I have been tempted to walk away from aviation, because after 2 years of problems I just couldnt see the light anymore. In novemeber I thought I had a new Flight Instructor job lined up. I spent a month waiting for these people to call me. I did all their requirments, and the only thing i had to do was a flight test. Once I finally got it scheduled (month and half after first interview) I get a call the night before saying they have now stopped hiring.
So now I'm back to sqaure one again! One thing about me is that i might get frusterated, but I dont quit! If anything, once I get my mind clear I dig in even harder and do more to make things work. So that is what i did, and finally it has started to pay off. I have two full time students, two part time, I'm still working another flying possiblity to fly a local business man around in his airplane. So the "Light" I spoke of a couple post ago is starting to shine again.

I know I have several hurdles ahead of me, but you know what, I'm ready for it.
I recently came across another blog. http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com this Lady seems like an amazing person who has had a great career, and life. people like her (and Rand from "A life aloft") are an inspiration to me! It helps me to get up and keep on pushing.

I hope I can be an inspiration to others. I like helping others. I Hope there will be a time in the future that I can say I have helped someone along in their endeavors as a pilot. I know flight instructing can be just that opportunity. I try to do my best with my students, I try to give them more then what they pay for. I hope same day they will reach their goals, and hopefully I will have been a part of it.

So the light is shinning again, I'm smelling the wonderful scent of 100LL exhaust in the morning :-) and the log book has been dusted off. Now lets just keep it moving upward!

Here is a shot a took with my phone recently (sorry it does NOT take good pictures.) Right at dusk, beautiful clear night, cool air...sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be getting paid, I just enjoy it to much!