2. First Flight Lessons
The following summer, I saved up some money and it was time at last for my first lesson on flight. I could hardly believe how lucky I was to sit in the left seat of the Cessna 172 at Bitterroot Aviation and have the full attention and support of an experienced instructor to guide me up into the sky, the playground of those who laugh at gravity. I was so nervous and afraid, doubt flooded my mind. What am I doing here? Did I really believe I could or should fly an airplane? I call myself a grown up but I still have trouble locating my car keys! I felt so embarrassed to be there like I didn't belong, I'm not supposed to, that's the pilot seat, it's not for people like me. I’m 38, I’m too old. I'm really no good at those flight sim games I get lost in the class E airport before I even take off and I crash the airplane when trying to land. Definitely do NOT tell my instructor that. Just don't touch anything and I better trust Kurt and do exactly everything he says or we are going to crash and DIE!
Lining up down the runway, Kurt said "ok, push the throttle full in." I felt the airplane surge forward and then lift into the air, the force of the wind on the controls under my own fingers, my heart soared like I’ve never felt before, in defiance of gravity itself, and the weight of the world became light and distant. All those fearful and inadequate thoughts just melted away and turned into pure exhilarating joy of freedom. How could this be? I can't even describe how it makes my heart beat, like there’s some magic in my blood that awakens with altitude and makes me glow from deep inside. I am a Sky Woman! Even now after 500+ hours I still feel that way every time.
Those first flights were terrifying and glorious at the same time, not always knowing exactly what to do but wanting more with each new discovery. Whenever I got overloaded Kurt would always ask me if I wanted to go do a bit of mountain flying. YES! I was so amped on adrenaline after flying I would pace around the house listening to private pilot study podcasts while eating a whole jar of peanut butter. I couldn’t get enough (peanut butter OR flying!). I loved working on learning to land and focusing on how to do better. Just as I was about ready to solo, the airplane went down for significant engine maintenance, and then time ran out and Kurt had to move on to his seasonal fire scouting job. Being out of an airplane and an instructor and in the middle of a surge in COVID cases made it difficult to find other options. That’s when my neighbor introduced me to Richard.
