Yes it was bound to happen. Running Klaus back and forth to the airport I decided to sit and watch once. That was all I needed...when those planes zipped past me on the runway I could feel the bumps on my arms and the little hairs stand on end. I was hooked. The desire to fly was not a new innovation for me. In fact when I was younger I had dreamed of one day flying the space shuttle. I had mad an attempt to join the Air Force too, but because I wasn't strong willed enough I had backed down when my Aunt Linda made things difficult for me and I resigned from AFROTC. I used to spend hours outside, lying on my back watching the sky and the clouds wondering what it would be like to go flitting around up there, soaring. I always enjoyed flying on commercial aircraft and am probably one of the strangest people in the world because I absolutely LOVE turbulence. No I'm serious. So much so in fact that any flight I went on that didn't have any was considered boring.
All that childhood dreaming had finally culminated and I found myself enrolling in flight school right alongside Klaus. My introductory flight was amazing. The feel of the yoke in my hands was better than a drug...and we got some turbulence too! So I took a few more classes, bringing my total of flight hours up to just over three. Then I saw the Pitts. I fell in love. We made arrangements for me to go up in the air for a half hour intro into aerobatic flying. I kept telling everyone that I was so excited and that this was meant for me, and everyone was like, yeah right we'll see how many shades lighter you are when you land, or if you have to throw up don't forget there's vomit bags on board! I scoffed at them and was determined to prove myself. We went up...holy crap we got to altitude so fast it made me giddy! We did a few maneuvers to get me comfortable...well I was comfortable from the get go, but I let my instructor fly anyway. Then we did our first aerobatic moves. I was taught how to do aileron rolls. The instructor did a few of them then asked me if I was ready to take the controls. I answered with an enthusiastic two thumbs up. It was AMAZING! I did about three of them before I gave control back to the instructor. We proceeded to do loop the loops, upsidedown flying, hammer head and a four point roll. I won't lie and say I didn't get queasy. I did, but right at the very end before we landed.
All that childhood dreaming had finally culminated and I found myself enrolling in flight school right alongside Klaus. My introductory flight was amazing. The feel of the yoke in my hands was better than a drug...and we got some turbulence too! So I took a few more classes, bringing my total of flight hours up to just over three. Then I saw the Pitts. I fell in love. We made arrangements for me to go up in the air for a half hour intro into aerobatic flying. I kept telling everyone that I was so excited and that this was meant for me, and everyone was like, yeah right we'll see how many shades lighter you are when you land, or if you have to throw up don't forget there's vomit bags on board! I scoffed at them and was determined to prove myself. We went up...holy crap we got to altitude so fast it made me giddy! We did a few maneuvers to get me comfortable...well I was comfortable from the get go, but I let my instructor fly anyway. Then we did our first aerobatic moves. I was taught how to do aileron rolls. The instructor did a few of them then asked me if I was ready to take the controls. I answered with an enthusiastic two thumbs up. It was AMAZING! I did about three of them before I gave control back to the instructor. We proceeded to do loop the loops, upsidedown flying, hammer head and a four point roll. I won't lie and say I didn't get queasy. I did, but right at the very end before we landed.
My regular flight instructor Gabe wasn't at the airport when I landed, in fact he took off right after we did in the Pitts. So imagine his surprise when Steve, the instructor I did the aerobatics with, comes and tells him I did great. Gabe calls Klaus and asks him how Patty is doing. Klaus was dumbfounded. Um who? Patty, how is Patty doing? This is Klaus. This is Gabe, how is Patty? This is Klaus. This is Gabe, how is Patty. WHO? Your wife....In short I was being complimented HIGHLY by being compared to Patty Wagstaff. I'd like to meet her someday or better yet, fly with her. So I'm hooked. I'm going to be getting my pilot's license, commercial license and become the best aerobatic flier I can be.
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