Originally Posted By sherrytodd As you may or may not know, for my birthday my husband gave me a gift that I've wanted ever since I was a kid, going to airshows with my dad. He gave me a certificate for a flight in a Pitts Special with an aerobatics instructor. The only problem was, I could not fly until my foot had healed enough to climb into the plane and work the pedals. Well today was the day! I had been anxiously awaiting this day, but this morning I was hit with my first feelings of nervousness. I got the the airport at 10am and we waited for John my instructor to bring the plane around. As soon as we saw the plane, my heart started beating faster and faster. John came in and went over some of the things we would do. He said that I would be doing most of the flying if I wanted to. We were to take a flight around downtown Denver and then head north to an area where aerobatics are allowed. He started going down the list of maneuvers and talking through the steps. My head was full of stick left, rudder right, rudder left recover, etc etc etc. Basically my only thought at that time was, THERE IS NO FLIPPING WAY THAT I CAN DO THIS! He did say that if I was not comfortable he would do the flying, but I couldn't say anything in front of my son and look like a wimp. He already thinks I'm the coolest mom in the world. =) We headed out to the plane, took a couple of before pictures and then I had to strap in. I had to first get into a parachute, then a lap strap, then an additional harness system. He then pointed out the most important item; the location of the barf bag. So all strapped in, clear prop and we are taxiing down to take off. It was pretty busy, so I had plenty of time to mull over what I had gotten myself into. Finally we were cleared to go. We were heading down the runway, faster and faster, tail picks up and then we were off and up! I had grown up flying with my dad, so I'm pretty used to this, but as soon as that plane was airborne, I was smashed down into my seat as we climbed fast! We started heading to downtown and John asked my if I wanted to take the controls. "OK Sherry, you can do this, you've flown with your dad probably a hundred times. So I get hold of the stick; ok, not so bad soo far. I cautiously try to turn a little left and then a little right. That little plane was more responsive than any plane I had ever been in. John says "turn to the left and we'll fly around the city." So ever so slowly I gradually and gently turn to the left till we are heading toward downtown. OK, this is fun. We fly over Mile High Stadium and then over Coors Field, where we hold a minute of silence for the Rockies. Then John said he would take control and get us to the aerobatic area. I think he wanted me to see what the plane could really do, instead of my ultra caution flying. As soon as he took over, we are pitched all the way on the side in a steep turn as I'm all of a sudden looking out my window at the ground! We were heading north when we flew over the train yard where my husband works. I told John that that was where my husband works, so he buzzed the yard a few times. So, we're in the right spot and he tells me to take over. Hearts now going a mile a minute and he says, lets start with a roll to the left. He wants me to make one roll and then level off. Well, I let the crazy woman who lives in my brain come out and play and here we go! It was incredible! On the first time I was able to make one complete roll and stopped exactly leveled off. Did another roll to the left, then two rolls to the right. All the nerves were gone and I had the biggest smile on my face that I think I have ever had in my life. OK, next we did a little negetive g maneuver. Pull back on the stick hard up and then right over the top, hold it a few seconds then level out. I can tell you, there isn't a rollercoaster on earth that can match that! Next a loop. Pitch the nose down, gath airspeed, the all the way back on the stick, up up up, over the top, let off on the stick slightly, keep your head looking up to find the horizon, then down and level out. I could not believe that I had just done that! One more loop, then we had to do an Immelman turn. That's half a loop, but when you hit the top and are upsidedown, you roll the plane upright and level out. No problem! He asked how I was doing; my only answer, "More!" He said to tighten my harness and lets try flying upside down. Roll upside down, level off and it was incredible! I'm hanging in the harness looking at the ground at my head and the sky at my feet. More more more! Hammerhead, barrel roll, on and on we went. I heard John giggling in the background. He was having a ball. He said that most people, even the pilots he take up don't make it this far and complete the maneuvers as smoothly as I was. He said that if I wanted to we would do one more maneuver that would be the hardest. We were going to do a spin and recover. He went over the steps with me as we had not gone over this onthe ground. He said that this is the maneuver that scares most pilots as we would be spinning out of control and then we would recover it. OK, I was ready! Drop the throttle and straight up we go till we stall, full right rudder, control all the way over and we were in a wild spin heading straight down. Ok he shouted, left rudder! Frop the control, let it go the neutral, left rudder all the way in, stop the spin and then I pulled out of the dive. I was leated. I was able to do everything, completely by myself! Then came the worst part of the day. We had to head back to the airport. I told my husband that this is what I want to do every birthday! My dad is a flight instructor. I think I just might start saving my pennies and finally get my license. The one thing I realized; next time we go to an airshow, it won't be quite as impressive, now that I know that I can do that. I couldn't take the camara in the plane for obvious head knonking reasons, but my hubbie took a few pictures on the ground... <a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=uyt3znl.4ew2webl&Uy=2roa8i&Ux=0" target="_blank">http://www.kodakgallery.com/Sl ideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=uyt3znl.4ew2webl&Uy=2roa8i&Ux=0</a> I apologize for the long post and any typos, I'm still running on a lot of adrenaline. xD
Originally Posted By trekkeruss That is sooooo kewl! Congrats on your flight. Obviously, you had a ball.
Originally Posted By Shiva sherrytodd, I don't know what to say. You have got to be one of the bravest people I know. I don't think I could do what you did if someone paid me a million dollars. Roller Coasters I can handle, even the thought of dying doesn't bother me (too much) but there are limits!! I'm glad your birthday present brought you so much happiness and joy. I still hope that you, Tinkeroon and myself will be able to celebrate our birthdays together in the park some time. Please don't ever ask me to go up in a plane with you. Thanks for sharing the story and the pictures, both were great!!
Originally Posted By beamerdog Wow. Wow again. sherrytodd, you are truly amazing. I've always wanted to fly, but only on a level plane, lol. You should be proud of how naturally skilled you are!
Originally Posted By Tinkeroon Holy Moley sherrytodd! Never, never, never could I do that! I found myself holding my breath just reading it! How amazing you are! It's such an itty bitty plane and you were doing those death defying stunts, and oh man, I'm just awe struck. Kudos to you! What a great birthday present your DH gave you. I'm so glad you had such a great time.
Originally Posted By chickendumpling NU-UH!!!! You are SO cool! Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed reading it. And the pictures! What a cool looking plane! I am so glad you had such a great birthday present. You so deserved it.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo WOW THAT IS SOOOOOO COOL! I really enjoyed reading about your adventure, and I look forward to hearing about your future aviation adventures.
Originally Posted By smedley Oooooh how exciting!! My DH would love something like this, sounds like great fun
Originally Posted By Dave >>>>but I couldn't say anything in front of my son and look like a wimp. He already thinks I'm the coolest mom in the world. =)<<< Heck after checking out your vacation photo albums over the years even I think you're the coolest mom and I don't even know you ~
Originally Posted By sherrytodd Still bouncing off the walls this morning. I want to go again! It's kind of hard to explain what it was like. I thought it was going to be like a roller coaster, but it's not. It really does feel more like Mission Space but much more. The g forces come on more gradually then being whipped around on a roller coaster, but they last longer. There were only four things that felt a little uncomfortable with the high g's. The negative maneuver we did was a pretty strong feeling. The negatives get you more then the positives. The barrel roll was pretty high g's and the spin/recover kind of whipped you around, but the loops were not as bad as you would think. The rolls really didn't have many g's but it was a little funky watching the horizon spin around. The max g's we did were about 4. The thing that made it different is that you would hold 4 g's for a longer time then a rollercoaster does and still had to fly the plane through it. Even though I've never gotten my license, I grew up flying with my dad, so I had a lot of information, going into it. It was so much easier flying the plane with the stick because you can start and end the maneuvers very quickly and the plane was created to do this and would respond very quickly. The one thing I was thinking up there, was I really wish I could also see this from the ground. I bet it looked REALLY cool. Now to be honest, Ghost Rider at Knotts Berry Farm scared me more then this did.
Originally Posted By iamsally Greetings from Arkansas, That is so special Sherry!!!!!!!! Sounds like something I have always wanted to do too but I think I have missed my window. Glad it was so much fun for you.
Originally Posted By Shiva >>Sounds like something I have always wanted to do too but I think I have missed my window.<< co-spouse, you've never let anything stop you before, why now? Just don't expect the other 3 quarters to go up in the plane with you.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd ^^^ I agree. If there is something you really want to do, then do it. You only have one go around. Make it spectacular!
