Introductory Flight Lesson            9/4/2012

    Today, I had my introductory flight lesson. I had previously met my flight instructor, Craig. I have met with many ordinary flight instructors before. Something just felt different when i met Craig, but it was a good different. I knew I had made a good decision for my instructor. 

    I was early to my lesson so I attempted to open the hangar doors. These doors are so old that I couldn't figure out how to open them. Finally, when Craig got there, he showed me how to open them and we immediately began the lesson with him showing me how to preflight the airplane. We completed our walkaround and pulled the plane out and got in the plane. I was showed how to follow along with checklist procedures, start the airplane, and taxi to the active runway.

    When we got to the runway, we stopped and Craig showed me how to complete the essential run-up of the airplane. After receiving our takeoff clearance, we taxied onto the runway to begin our takeoff. I "shadowed' Craig on the controls for our first takeoff. And that was that: we were airborne. 

    Many people don't see the difference between general aviation aircraft and airliners. Airline transportation is no longer fun for people as it used to be. Now, the airlines are people's excuse to get to point A to B on a schedule. It is no longer for the beauty of flight. This is what I realized on our climbout. I realized the true beauty of general aviation. As I was concentrating on leaves changing from their summer to fall colors Craig asked me if I was ready. I said yes and we began pracitcing straight and level flight. We then practiced turns, climbs, descents, and turning climbs and descents.

    We made our way back to the runway where I taxied it back to the hangar and completed our postflight check. The squawk sheet was filled out as well as my logbook. 1.2 hours. Not bad for a first flight. It was at this moment that I realized that dreams really do come true.