Oh how I miss sitting in the cockpit, taking the controls in my hands and feeling the power of the air under the wings as I sore over the landscape below. Yes, take that shocked look off your faces all of you that know about my driver’s license incident, there are no people walking around the sky and to date no humans have been injured… promise.
It was always said that I’d get my private pilots license before my driver’s if not my commercial license, quite shocking I know but they seemed to think that I was a natural in the air. Perhaps it is because I have been flying alone in big planes since I was 3, perhaps it is just my love for soaring through the air, who knows but I do feel total peace when I am up there.
It all started when I first got into a motorised glider just on 19, a gift from a friend who knew my love of flying. We were flying motor in action over the mountains in my area when the pilot told me take over the controls, I remember just grinning from ear to ear, taking the controls in my hands and thinking “This is the life”. I flew the little glider out over the sea, looking everywhere the eyes could see, it was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had.
The big one came when I rocked up at the flying club one day to tag along on a fly-in meet (flyers fly to a different destination for a scrumptious lunch) that I had been invited to join. I was meant to go in a 6 seater with a bunch of friends when another friend pulled me aside and said he’s flying alone do I want to join him in his Cherokee 160. Guaranteed front seat who was I to turn the offer down!
We did the pre-flight checks and got into our seats, all electronics working, headphones on we were ready to go… That was when he turned to me and said: “So what are you waiting for, I’m not flying you are… think its time you get the bird in the sky don’t you or we might miss out on lunch”.
My jaw literally dropped, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I grabbed the controls before he could change his mind and he led me through what I had to do to take off, what to look out for, etc. Plane on the runway, I got her all fired up and before I knew it we were in the air flying over the rather large river at the end of the runway that I had forgotten about heading towards the distant mountains, I flew all the way to the destination, 200km over mountains and beautiful landscapes.
When we almost ready to come into land I started to give over the controls and he just sat there and laughed at me “No you’re landing as well”. My jaw dropped again… landing is way way different to taking off, getting the balance of the wings, the speed right phew… I am here to tell the tale, aren’t I? Yes, I landed the plane without hitch and the lunch was delicious. He took off from there, handed me the controls again once in the air and I landed back at the airfield at the end of the day.
When we got back I asked him why he had let me do that, all he said was that he had heard the previous year from the pilot of the glider that I was a natural and he wanted to see for himself so had decided to test me. He told me that he agreed wholeheartedly with the glider pilot, I was a natural, he added that he was surprised by the fact that a woman could be a natural in the air, for him women were just fearful while the men took to it like ducks to water, fearless.
I was really chuffed by his comment to say the least but it also irked me that he had had to test me to see if “miracles” could happen, to see if a woman could be a natural in a preordained man’s world. The lesson of what I showed him was taught to both of us, he went on to tell everyone about the “chick” that’s a natural flyer getting himself into trouble for going against pilot code and rules by letting an unlicensed person land and take off, it didn’t stop him.
The lesson for him was profound – woman are capable in a “man’s” world, we are more equal than he had ever realised and his respect for woman as a “species” has been raised, never judge a person by their sex, race or social status. He still carries it with him, I bumped into him last month, his first words after not seeing me in close on a decade? “Hey Natural” with a big smile on his face… (Between you and me, the management has since changed at the club so we’re hoping to get back out there and into the air again).
The lesson for me?
Never let anyone else’s views or expectations of you stop you from trying something out.
Why should we allow someone else to dictate what we can and can’t do just because of our sex, our race or our social status.
Don’t let social history dictate who you are, don’t fall back on it to get ahead the easy way, fight for what you want both fairly and equally.
Number one above all else, prove to yourself not anyone else what you are capable of because at the end of the day that is all that matters…
Vanessa
•16 years ago
So, you are a fly girl, hmmm? I really dislike flying as a passenger, and I definitely don’t see piloting of any sort in my future. You defy boundaries, stereotypes and definitions of what women “should” be doing. Enjoy your sky freedom, soak it up, and keep challenging those beliefs about women- we are powerful, strong and capable and more and more people are finding that out! V.
vishesh
•16 years ago
lol…:) i have always wanted to fly a plane ๐
Martha
•16 years ago
What a wonderful story! And I love the very last line the best.
SanityFound
•16 years ago
V – lol never got my license, still a dream of mine ๐
Out of interest does the flying scare you or is it just a dislike? Viva la woman indeed, viva la equality ๐ Thanks for your kind words as always my friend ๐
Vishesh – its the most amazing experience, tell your family to club together for your birthday and get yourself to the airfield, they will take you up and let you fly as an experience present … you won’t regret it!
Martha – Thanks you ๐ Yes that was the greatest lesson of all for me
Vanessa
•16 years ago
Flying used to frighten me terribly; I would have to self-medicate to actually get on!! But, now, I am less afraid and more just don’t like it, don’t like not having any control at 30,000 feet! However, my daughter and partner love it……..
SanityFound
•16 years ago
Can relate ๐ Don’t know what the laws are like in the US, but the next time you get on a plane ask the air hostess to see the cockpit – if the law is strict then speak to the ground staff as you enter the plane and explain your situation – seeing the cockpit and the skill that is required to fly those big planes can calm your dislike. A friend of mine did it and she then decided to get her pilots licence ๐
Ironically I fear the other drivers on the road because I have no control over them weird lol
vishesh
•16 years ago
lol…have to check where is the airfield here…:)
SanityFound
•16 years ago
๐ worth it guaranteed – if you’re into it!
deepsm25
•16 years ago
Allllllrriiighttt — HaIILL to WOMANHOOD! Way to go gurl…!! This was news to me — You can fly as well?? I mean, is there anything else that you dont do??? Are you sure, you urself don’t have wings behind that back of yours?? Please let me know in advance – I dont wanna get stunned the day I meet you to see you flying around the entire room like a cockroach ๐
Jokes Apart, you are a walking talking inspiration yourself Lady! This is fantastic..I still feel you should try turn that dream into reality. So true, “Never let anyone elseโs views or expectations of you stop you from trying something out.” I agree full heartedly – if you believe in yourself – no matter how hard anyone tries to stop you – you can still be a winner and an achiever. Atta Gurl!
SanityFound
•16 years ago
rofl nutter *strokes her angel wings* … does hang gliding off cliffs count? Don’t have my licence to fly but love it all the same so do it when ever I can with an abledbody pilot near by … next is a commercial plane sitting in the cockpit gets boring without the controls in your hands ๐
I like the way you put it, you’re always a winner no matter what you do as long as you tried it! Ditto ๐
psychscribe
•16 years ago
Way to go, girl!!!! I’m proud of you for representing all of us women!
SanityFound
•16 years ago
lol as we all do in our own way ๐ Thanks you!