2000 ft above ground and alone (564 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.25 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by i_walk_alone (View user info) at 2004-12-10 09:51:35 EST
During my senior year in highschool, I had to complete a mentorship because I went to a "smart" school with extra requirements and some other bullshit. My mother had always wanted me to become a pilot so that she could fly anywhere whenever she wanted for free. So it was decided that I could mentor a commercial pilot, take flying lessons, and get my private pilot's license.
After about 2 months and $2000 later, I had gotten to the point where I needed to do a cross-country flight. By cross-country, I mean a 100 mile round trip flight, which could be done in 90 minutes. It wasn't designed to be extremely difficult, in fact I had done the exact same route with my instructor about two weeks ago. I arrived at the airport on a Saturday morning to find a light breeze and favorable conditions. After a brief pre-flight talk with my instructor, I was all set to go.
Walking out to the plane I noticed that the wind had picked up a little bit, but I'd been putting this off for too long and was ready to move on. After doing my pre-flight check of the Cessna 150, everything seemed to be in working order and I was ready to begin my journey. Take off went fine and I was crusing nicely at 2000 ft. All of the sudden the passenger door comes partially open, I reach over and try to shut it, but I can't slam it shut hard enough to get the latch to catch. Now I'm starting to get scared; I'm trying to keep one eye on the horizon to make sure I stay on path while still trying to keep the passenger door shut.
As I fly past another check point on my map, I notice a flock of birds fly over me. You might be thinking that its no big deal, but the thing about birds is that if they see a plane flying at them, they will dive down to avoid it. Great, now some dumb bird is gonna dive to avoid me and crash into my plane. My instructor had told me horror stories before of birds causing accidents. I was getting even more worried and I was alone. One thing I apparently didnt notice when I was getting ready to leave was the clouds. I couldn't remember it being cloudy when I left, but as I flew farther west they seemed to be getting lower, until I was flying just below them. I dropped down a couple hundred feet to avoid flying blindly through the clouds, but to no avail. They seemed to be pushing me closer to the ground. With all this going on I was starting to freak out, so I gave up. I had only gone about 20 miles and I turned the plane around. After I had landed and told my instructor what had happened, I left the airport as quickly as I could, knowing I'd have to tell my parents the same story.
I know this isn't a great story, I tried my cross-country flight once more and I'll try to post the story about that flight tomorrow. Those two times have been the scariest of my life. I haven't flown since.
User Reviews
Submitted by i_walk_alone (user info) at 2004-12-10 14:37:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
RyuFu - thanks for the advice, ill see what i can do for the next one.
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2004-12-10 14:09:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That sucks, dude.
Good luck if you ever fly again.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2004-12-10 13:52:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I always wanted to be a pilot- my father flew helicopters and light aircraft before he was involved in Piper Alpha... Even despite that, I kept holding it as my life goal; until I learnt that I was colour blind, and wasn't allowed to fly. Feckin' opticians.
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2004-12-10 13:46:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
A solid +0 for 'worth reading'. This rating is based solely on the fact that I thought it could have been written in a way that better encompasses how scary it was. I've never flown a plane, so I wouldn't know...actually, now that I think about it I became engrossed in your story, so we'll make it a +1. +2 on the next one if your conclusion can better match the rising suspense.
Dumbasses like me don't understand how scary 2000 feet in the air is unless we're actually there or you provide some more detail.
Submitted by i_walk_alone (user info) at 2004-12-10 13:27:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
AlwaysAnEagle - Honestly, I dont remember how high the clouds were, it happened over 4 years ago. They just kept getting lower and I didnt feel safe flying into them. I'll post the story about my 2nd attempt tomorrow. Thanks for reading . . .
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-12-10 12:30:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh and by the way, since you were on a cross-country, you probably had some distance to get past the clouds, so I'd say you probably should have waited for a hole and popped up above them, then caught a hole to land. They might have been to tall though...?
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-12-10 12:29:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"would have been a 2, but an auro of pussitude comes across from your refusal to conquer your fear."
Spoken like someone who's never had to listen to the aforementioned stories about how birds can fuck your shit up, or what it feels like to feel like you're losing control while you're in the air. (Sorry dude...and sorry I ddn't catch up with you in Worcester, I had to leave for New Jersey early. Poop. Next time, I guess.)
Keep it up dude, can't wait to hear more. (Ever been to ORH in Massachusetts?)
Submitted by Zandy1123 (user info) at 2004-12-10 10:30:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fun stuff - I know it's easy for me to say, but you shouldn't give up!
My ex-girlfriend's dad was a rich mofo and had a sweet King Air 90. He retired at 53 and just started flying around. On a number of occasions, he would pick up my girlfriend in Boston, swing down and pick me up in CT and then fly us down to their beach house in North Carolina...it was sweet. I got to ride co-pilot a few times...it's a little freaky, I know. Especially flying thru clouds. And when you catch a stiff, lateral wind while landing...yikes!
But don't give up!!!
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2004-12-10 09:59:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
taking flying lessons is sweet. i've always wanted to fly, but i guess driving a plane will have to do.
would have been a 2, but an auro of pussitude comes across from your refusal to conquer your fear.
Submitted by InkyFingers (user info) at 2004-12-10 09:55:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I enjoyed the straight-foreward nature of your story. No cussing, no shooting, no self deprecating and it was still enjoyable to read.
Submitted by ChristPuncher (user info) at 2004-12-10 09:54:40 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You castrated pussy
I wouldn't let no stinkin open doors and wind and fuckin birds stop my trip
You don't deserve to fly
-2 Die
GO BEARS WOO!!!