Up in the Air

So, Hunny gets to fly in a helicopter all the time but I have never been flying in anything other than a big jet before. As we are always one for trying new things, our most recent adventure was having a go at fixed wing flying; an airplane.

We have a good buddy, Baron, down in Osan that flies and was more then happy to take us up.  We went down and he got us signed in and showed us the tiny plane we would be flying. I mean TINY. Which means that you could feel the turbulence a lot more, but we will get to that...

Baron was quick in his brief and we got all strapped in. My headset wasn't working all that well, I could hear but couldn't get my mic to work quite right; I guess I'm just not loud enough for my voice to be picked up. I started out in the front and mostly just nodded when appropriate and didn't ask questions or say anything. I did get to taxi a bit and feel the controls on the ground. We took off and started up and looked at the beautiful scenery. It was so nice and so fun to be part of the controls. He let me steer a bit but it freaked me out way too much. I couldn't handle it and begged him to take it back. I just want to look! And then my favorite part. He demonstrated me zero gravity. Mind you he was going pretty fast and I couldn't say anything. He hands me the map and tells me to hold it and as he is doing so he is climbing. I didn't notice that's what he was doing until we start to rapidly drop!!! I screamed!! My mic worked then! Sure enough, the map floated. :P It was way cooler then a roller coaster! We got to do it one more time. It was a blast. We went all around and landed at a nearby airfield. When we touched down Baron told me to pull back on the controls. Unable to argue, I did as was told...and guess what?! We took off again...I took off!!! Exhilarating!!

Hunny and I switched places and I got in the back for the ride home. He got to take off and land a few times. He also enjoys the controls more then I do. He had fun and was able to talk pilot stuff with Baron. I was okay but it didn't take long before I started to get nauseous. I was doing my best not to be too obvious that I was dying. But I made it, and we landed. We earned two flight hours!

Hunny is looking at getting a fixed wing license. It takes about 20 hours total. Baron told us that it is only a three hour flight to Jeju Island and we should fly there sometime. I think I can handle three hours. Next 3-day weekend, leave Thursday after work, stay until Sunday and leave early Sunday morning and make it back for church! Or, now that Hunny and I don't have to teach, we could just go to church on the island!! Earning flight hours, much cheaper flight, experience, we decide our own schedule, WEEKEND IN JEJU?!?!?! Totally there!!

Baron is also a leader of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) down in Osan. I had never heard of CAP before but we went to a meeting after flying with Baron and it was so neat seeing what the kids learn and are able to do with some not-so-easy training. They practice military discipline and help fly search and rescue missions, man the radios, and other really neat things to help serve the community. The kids at Osan are in charge of raising and lowering the flag at their middle school each day. It was like learned and applied Boy Scouts for the air. We are very interested but are still up in the air about the idea of joining with it being a two hour drive there every week. However, I would invite you to check into it in your area. If you have kids it is a really awesome experience for them because not only will they learn their "yes ma'am's" and "no sir's", they will also have neat opportunities to fly in airplanes, learn about flying and search and rescue, and have many civil service opportunities. See if there is a CAP group near you and get involved!

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