Summer Blog Post 2

The last blog post has been dedicated to some thoughts about summer which for me has been great so far. However, I did mention briefly one of my main activities during this break and that was attending a flight school. As a result I decided to talk a bit more about this subject and share some of my thoughts and experiences in this school.

A big square room surrounded by the voice of the instructor. Bright sunlight falling through the window right on top of a book wide open on my desk. I look left, I look right, and I can only see three more students carefully writing their last notes given by our instructor. This is how we spent the first two weeks of school, reading, listening, and taking precious notes which were going to help us once in the aircraft. There was no surprise when one day, we came to class to find a pile of papers on our desks. These were out first tests. We pass these, and we get to fly. We pass these tests and we are one step closer to living our dream of flying in the wide, clear sky, just like birds.

The next week, we have been assigned an instructor and we were sent off to the airplanes. When I got in the plane I was overwhelmed by the number of buttons and displays which were going to become my best friends in flight. Fortunately, right next to the seat of the pilot there was one little pocket containing a checklist which is to be followed by each beginner pilot and even by experienced pilots, since forgetting is known to be a normal human behavior applying even to the most experienced. After the first checks are done, we are ready to ask permission to start the engine. The key turns, and the aircraft awakens with the roar of the engine. Few more checks and we are ready to go. After approval from the tower has been received, we check all the indicators one more time and we start rolling on the runway. I can now hear the engine becoming wilder as our speed increases. 30 knots, 45 knots, 65 knots. With a gentle pull the aircraft springs into the air. Once with the gain in altitude I feel lighter, as I leave all the problems and worries behind. In a matter of minutes I am 1000 feet away from them. Now I have to concentrate on flying; nothing else matters. In front of me I can see the horizon widening; I can see birds flying in the distance, a lonely boat slowly fighting its way through the sea’s waves. As I observe all of these with amazement and joy I listen carefully and follow the instructions of my instructor, teaching me the basics of flight along with the names of villages in the area. But, as I learned, time flies when you fly, and it is time to come back for landing. Yet, I am not unhappy as I will be back tomorrow for another flying lesson, but for now, I have to go back to the classroom and continue my studying.