My first time in this plane. I was in the back seat – General Chuck in the front. We taxied on up to the run up area. Did the run-up, waited for the plane that called Runway 7 garblegarblegarble.
Ah. There he was, having landed and was…..turning off.
General Chuck called taking the active and taking off as we did so.
The other plane had cleared.
And we were off very quickly.
As soon as we were up, Gen Chuck gave me the controls. Soon after he asked: Where are you going to take us?
Home. Just wanted to “buzz” our neighbors. One is battling an illness. Me buzzing is like the jets that go by – I’m not comfortable getting low.
We saw our property, their property, and headed back.
Gen Chuck told me to do the approach and follow along lightly on the landing.
OK.
I called downwind and traffic in sight.
He asked me if I could see the speed.
Yes. I got the hint and slowed down.
I gradually descended as we turned base and final. On turning base, I suggested he take it – I felt a bit off.
By the time he heard me, I had recovered my confidence and continued on. I said to myself, what if you had to land it.
Right. I can do this.
Gen Chuck put in the flaps for me.
As we got close, I still was afraid I was high and finally said: Okay, please take it.
He did.
As we got closer, it got bumpy. Boy did we float.
He landed. Beautiful. Then GUST. I mean wow!
Gen Yeager immediately did left aileron, left rudder.
I, on the other hand, was a second behind in thought – a second that can nail you. In that second, I knew I wasn’t ready to be signed off on a taildragger. I was still wondering why would I do, after I saw Gen Chuck immediately put the stick to the left, flying the plane, making the plane go where he wanted it to.
And he decided to take off again.
This time he decided to keep the controls. I didn’t blame him – it’s quite a task to recover from someone else’s set-up.
We landed – greaser.
And off again. Gen Chuck gave me the controls this time again.
I stayed lower in the pattern. The set up was pretty good.
He took the controls. Again the wind tried to carry us. He patiently waited – flew the airplane, made it go where he wanted and when the wind was right, he greased it on. Again.
One day I’ll be able to do that!
Later, Gen Chuck said: Good. That last one was a good pattern.
Smile. OK. BIG smile.
c. GCYI
c. GCYI