Photo courtesy of Tom Kvanvig
I remember the first time my dad asked if I wanted to take the yoke and fly the plane. I DIDN’T HESITATE even though I had a big lump in my throat and butterflies in my stomach. It was amazing rush of adrenaline and pride. It also awakened new sense of speed, distance, 3 dimensional space, and geography. That was when I was about 6 if I can remember correctly, somewhere around the release of Star Wars – imagine the endorphins for a kid almost inside the X-wing fighter! I still feel it when I get in my airplane today. Beyond the gift of flight, it gave me courage to take other challenges in life knowing good things will happen after the butterflies settle. What a great gift you gave me Dad! Thank you so much. Nothing else has quite equaled that experience in life and a direct connection with my dad. The only things that maybe come close was: 1st solo, 1st aerobatics, 1st ride with dad as a licensed pilot, and buying/flying my 1st airplane “solo” (a beautiful ’49 Bonanza).
Thanks for the memories dad!
