Just had an exhilarating experience today… my first solo flight! Yay! I’ve been working on getting my pilot’s license for about a year (took a detour in June because the surf was good all damned month, and then just kinda forgot about flying). Got back into it this week, though, and surprisingly didn’t have nearly as much rust to knock off as I thought I might.
So I took N361ES, a Cessna 172, for a little joyride behind the Orange Curtain. It sucks that there isn’t an airport any nearer than John Wayne up in Santa Ana, but the uptick to that is that we’ve got a good 15-20 mile wide section of uncontrolled airspace right over our house, and that I can basically fly back to OC via the same route I use to drive to Corona (over the 241 toll road) and still duck the corner of OC’s class C airspace as long as I stay under 3500 feet. And the coast along my favorite surf breaks is all fair game, too. I took it back to Chino for some touch-and-gos before going back to Corona, since Corona has a tiny runway, and if you don’t touch down right on the numbers you’re pretty much taxiing back to the beginning of the runway to go up again…
So I cruised down for an aerial view of my backyard, enjoying clear skies, good weather, and some LTJ on my iPhone, which, as luck would have it, can connect directly to the headset I bought for a little in-flight music. Called up Chenin to say “hey! look up here!” but she couldn’t find me…
A little pic of Laguna Beach from 1100 feet and about a mile or so off the coast. You can see the Surf and Sand Resort on the right side there…
And a little snap of 1ES’s instrument cluster, showing the tachometer in its working state (it started acting goofy a little later on, so I cut my flight short by a little bit…) Climbing back up to 3300 feet or so to make it over the hills on the way home. Look at all the buttons and dials! Actually, this is the nicest non-glass cockpit plane they have at the flight school… most of the stuff in it works, it doesn’t stink, and it has cupholders (yeah!)
So now that I’ve proven to myself that I can fly somewhere without killing myself, it’s just a matter of knocking out the other instructional requirements, then checkride time! With our little bundle of joy due next month, who knows when that might happen, but in the meantime, it sure feels nice to know I can fly a plane around!
[ b ]
too fricking cool!
Jan 07, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
John K
Oh man, I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to learn to fly. Enjoy!
Jan 07, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
susan stripling
every time you post stuff like this it hammers home how much cooler you guys are than me. :)
Jan 07, 2009 @ 6:39 pm
Cassidy Dawn
That’s great! My dad has his license and I love going up with him…plan to get my own one day.
That’s a nice looking Cessna…we fly a 172 too, but much, much older…1958!
Congrats on a good solo!
Jan 07, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
CHRIS+LYNN
oh that is just AWESOME!
Jan 07, 2009 @ 8:24 pm
MsBunn.com
Wait. If you’re taking a photo of yourself flying, then WTF is actually flying the plane??? ;)
Jan 07, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
Kelley Lee Gin
Hi Doug, Congrats on being able to fly on your own. As I was reading your BLOG post, my hands started to sweat. Just the thought about landing a plane seems scary. Wishing you and Chenin a Happy 2009.
Jan 08, 2009 @ 1:06 am
Peter
Hi Doug,
You sure get your hands into everything. The mountain scenery in the background reminded me of our flights in from Melbourne into LA/SF. You should check out the black and white aerial landscapes by Jackie Ranken, an Aussie photog that now resides in NZ.
http://www.jackieranken.co.nz/
Wishing the very best to you and Chenin with the upcoming birth. Our little Claudia is now almost 10 months old and while it is hard work and a learning experience; the immense joy and pride to be blessed with the responsibility to nurture someone so innocent is unbelievable. I am one of those ‘go with the flow type’ guys but there is so much emotions involved. Enjoy the quiet times. Was looking at Claudia’s birth photos and was thinking of you guys.
http://www.melbournites.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album27
Will you be taking your large format camera into the birthing suite. lol
Best wishes from Peter, Li-Hsia and Claudia from Melbourne, Australia.
Jan 08, 2009 @ 3:15 am
Dominoe Imus
I am so amazed! I am terrified of heights and so the fact that you were able to not only fly but shoot and fly at the same time is so awesome. Although if I’m being totally honest I am looking forward to new baby pics much more than more arial pics! :) Congratulations!
Jan 08, 2009 @ 6:02 pm
Maggie
Congratulations! There is nothing like flying solo. I got my license in 1987. I’m not current now but every time there is a nice day I miss not going up.
After you have your license you have to try aerobatic flying. Nuthin’ like it!
Jan 08, 2009 @ 10:17 pm
Sarah
Freaking scary!
Jan 09, 2009 @ 2:23 pm
Muriel
I’m so jealous. I have been wanting to get a pilot’s license, but don’t have the money for the schooling. =( Someday, damn it, someday!
Jan 10, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
ScotWharton
Congrats man….that is AWESOME!
Jan 13, 2009 @ 3:34 pm
robert norman
OK – that is SO cool and I am uber-impressed! Good for you!
Jan 17, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
Doug
Thanks all for the kind words! And cute kid in those birth photos… counting down the days until our own.
And happy new year to you Kelly!
Jan 19, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
nic
that must be a blast… pure freedom eh?
Jan 29, 2009 @ 10:35 am
Doug
Well… mostly anyway. But super-fun nonetheless! Did another one yesterday… much longer, into the middle of nowhere…
Jan 29, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
Erica
HI Doug! I know you’re super busy getting ready for your new family addition, but I’ve been playing with your actions and trying to create my own batch processing actions and I was wondering if you might consider posting a tips and tricks on making your own actions one day :) I’m having a hard time just figuring out something that should be pretty basic, like choosing a layer by its name, not just ‘current layer’ :)
Thank you so much for your mad photoshop skillz!
Jan 31, 2009 @ 10:59 am
admin
Totally… it was a blast! Of course, on another solo last week, I accidentally got a little lost down near Carlsbad, and flew right threw the restricted airspace above Camp Pendleton MCAS… THAT got my blood flowing!
And I’ll put a “make your own actions” tutorial on the list for someday! ;)
Feb 04, 2009 @ 11:53 am
Steve Bebb
Yo Maverick,
That is too funny, I got my license way way back, were talking 1998/99. Was flying solo before I was allowed to get my learners license for driving a car. Oh the memories, Top Gun blaring in my headphones and the tower asking what the hell I was doing up there – such a freakin dork!!!
miss ya guys!!
Feb 12, 2009 @ 2:36 pm