The day is April 6, 1942 and today I have my first flying lesson. After building model airplanes and reading every aviation book I can get my hands on I think I am ready. Being a senior in high school and working occasionally the six dollars for an hour of flying lessons seems like a big investment. Six dollars is a large sum of money when my wage is thirty five cents an hour.
George Skalicky, my instructor says"You are starting out in the Luscombe, a silver all metal monoplane.Let's get in the airplane and become familiar with the controls and the instrument panel. This is the stick and when you move it to the left or right the airplane will bank to the left or right. When you move it backward the plane will climb. When you move it forward the plane will descend." He went on to say, "To make a good turn you have to coordinate the stick and rudder. Now put your feet on the rudder pedals. this is the throttle and when you push it forward the engine speeds up and when you pull back the engine slows down. Do you understand?
I figure I better not tell him I already know so I say, "Yes, I understand."
"Good," says George, "Now this is the altimeter and the airspeed indicator tells how fast we are going. Are you ready to fly, Verdie?" George says, "We are ready to start the engine and I will taxi out to the end of the runway. Always remember to take off into the wind and use the whole length of the runway because it is not very long. I will turn and take off. When we get to 1,000 feet I'll let you take the controls." The runway seems short to me. it would be nice if Montevideo had a real airport instead of this hayfield. The fence on the end seems like it's coming awfully fast. We cleared it and George doesn't seem concerned about it so I guess it's okay. the buildings and trees seem so small and what a great view. It looks like a huge patchwork quilt with the river and roads on it. I'm going to love this flying.
George says to me, "We are a thousand feet now so put your feet on the rudder pedals and your hand on the stick. Try to relax. Don't hold the stick so hard." He tells me,"You can't feel the airplane if you grip it that hard. You fly the airplane don't let the airplane fly you." I'm thinking..I'm sure it's easy for you George. He goes on to say, "Now keep the wings level and keep the nose of the airplane on the horizon. Now a gentle turn to the left. Good, now try a turn to the right and keep the nose on the horizon."
Our half hour is nearly up now. "I'll take the controls," Says George, "And we will go back to the field and land." The field looks awful small from here and the runway looks even shorter when we land. I wonder if I'll ever learn to land an airplane in that small space. "You did pretty well Verdie, says George, "Next time we'll practice some more turns and after a few hours I'll teach you how to land and take off." I told George, "I liked the first lesson and I'll be back."
George Skalicky, my instructor says"You are starting out in the Luscombe, a silver all metal monoplane.Let's get in the airplane and become familiar with the controls and the instrument panel. This is the stick and when you move it to the left or right the airplane will bank to the left or right. When you move it backward the plane will climb. When you move it forward the plane will descend." He went on to say, "To make a good turn you have to coordinate the stick and rudder. Now put your feet on the rudder pedals. this is the throttle and when you push it forward the engine speeds up and when you pull back the engine slows down. Do you understand?
I figure I better not tell him I already know so I say, "Yes, I understand."
"Good," says George, "Now this is the altimeter and the airspeed indicator tells how fast we are going. Are you ready to fly, Verdie?" George says, "We are ready to start the engine and I will taxi out to the end of the runway. Always remember to take off into the wind and use the whole length of the runway because it is not very long. I will turn and take off. When we get to 1,000 feet I'll let you take the controls." The runway seems short to me. it would be nice if Montevideo had a real airport instead of this hayfield. The fence on the end seems like it's coming awfully fast. We cleared it and George doesn't seem concerned about it so I guess it's okay. the buildings and trees seem so small and what a great view. It looks like a huge patchwork quilt with the river and roads on it. I'm going to love this flying.
George says to me, "We are a thousand feet now so put your feet on the rudder pedals and your hand on the stick. Try to relax. Don't hold the stick so hard." He tells me,"You can't feel the airplane if you grip it that hard. You fly the airplane don't let the airplane fly you." I'm thinking..I'm sure it's easy for you George. He goes on to say, "Now keep the wings level and keep the nose of the airplane on the horizon. Now a gentle turn to the left. Good, now try a turn to the right and keep the nose on the horizon."
Our half hour is nearly up now. "I'll take the controls," Says George, "And we will go back to the field and land." The field looks awful small from here and the runway looks even shorter when we land. I wonder if I'll ever learn to land an airplane in that small space. "You did pretty well Verdie, says George, "Next time we'll practice some more turns and after a few hours I'll teach you how to land and take off." I told George, "I liked the first lesson and I'll be back."
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