April 28, 2012
The first time I ever left the ground, it was in a plane just like this one, a red and white 1959 Piper Tri-Pacer.  My uncle Bo was the pilot, and we were in Big Spring, Texas.  I was about eight years old.  I couldn’t see forward, over the instrument panel, but my uncle let me take the yoke for a while.  He had the rudder, and I had the ailerons and elevator!  He taught me to keep the wings level, and to hold the correct angle of attack by reference to the artificial horizon instrument on the panel.  I felt like a real pilot, and it was an experience that bought me a lot of playground cred when I related it to my second grade buddies, back in Dallas.  :)

The first time I ever left the ground, it was in a plane just like this one, a red and white 1959 Piper Tri-Pacer.  My uncle Bo was the pilot, and we were in Big Spring, Texas.  I was about eight years old.  I couldn’t see forward, over the instrument panel, but my uncle let me take the yoke for a while.  He had the rudder, and I had the ailerons and elevator!  He taught me to keep the wings level, and to hold the correct angle of attack by reference to the artificial horizon instrument on the panel.  I felt like a real pilot, and it was an experience that bought me a lot of playground cred when I related it to my second grade buddies, back in Dallas.  :)

8:34pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZMe7LxKWOhB5
Filed under: airplane Piper Tri-Pacer boy as pilot