Sunday, April 4, 2010

Fly like Bob

Reading the auto biography of the greatest pilot of all time , I read that he became airsick during his first flights. This queasiness persisted after his soloing. His solution was to fly through it. He did loops , rolls, and stunts until his stomach acclimated. One cannot go far astray following the advice of Bob Hoover. Last weekend I started out bound from Auburn. about 3 miles out I decided that it was not a very pleasurable day to be flying, so I returned and put the aircraft away. Easter Sunday began with a calm clear still, cloud free morning. I was informed I was not required to be at my daughter's for Easter breakfast until 11AM. When I took off at 8:30 it was still calm at the surface. I had expected it to be glass smooth and was surprised by the mild but persistent turbulence.Later I learned that the winds above 3000' were over 25 knts. That caused a layer of shear below 3000', making for a bumpy ride. However today I stuck it out. Occasionally dropping down in the valley's around Kapowsin & Ohop to carve the "canyon" (at close to 1000agl). Then climbing back into the rough air . My left hand started to go to sleep from gripping the yoke, I had to ease my grip, pilot with my right, and flex my hand a few times. I don't expect to be the next Bob Hoover. I have no real desire for acro. It would be nice to be a bit more relaxed in rough air, a to fly a bit more like my Dad, Who my Uncle Called the best instrument pilot he had ever known, and a bit more like Bob, the greatest stick & rudder pilot of all time.