Flying Lesson 2: Touch and Gos

I swear that I am learning to fly EXACTLY when I am supposed to. I have a tendency to see things as connected in my life (I am told that many women do- thanks Carol Gilligan), but when I am taking my flying lessons the life lessons I am in search of are beating me over the head.

I had my second flight lesson and my first ground school.

I did prepare, but am having trouble following the study guides and course outlines because the language is very specific to aviation. I have NO background in aviation so I feel a bit like I am in another country. It is so good for me to take a "teachable" stance and be okay with not knowing what and how I am to accomplish what I am learning. I trudge on...more than a little scared.

My instructor Chris rocks, he is calm and laid back. He still looks 12... OK maybe 18, but he is in control and I am in good hands.

We start in ground school and I feel very comfortable. I can learn almost any material. I am comfortable in my head. We discuss flight patterns and instruments. I take note notes, I can do this. I can be insightful and show that I have done the readings. I got this.

I am struck at how many safe guards and double checks there are so you don't screw up. Who knew that gas was different colors so you don't put the wrong grade in the plane. BTW the gas I am to use is a pretty blue. There are a number of memory devices for the documents to be on board (AROW). You are to be fully informed on your plane type and there are specific things to know and where they are stored on the plane is your responsibility to know. Not the content of those documents chapter and verse, but the location and what they tell you. Sounds like a liberal arts education to me.

Its a beautiful day and he lets me know that we are flying today. Crap. In my sweet perfectionist way I start to sweat. If I stay in my head I am fine, I see how things work and can explain them to you sounding oh so smart and together, but get me into my little Cessna and put me in a cross wind and all hell breaks loose in my confidence. I do tell my instructor and he laughs and keeps walking to the plane. I never back down from a bet or run so I follow- I have also paid him damn it.

We get to the plane and and I do know more of the parts, I remembered to wear not so stylish shoes so I can jump on the wing and test the fuel amount. I know the instrument panel better, I know what a 6 pack is and it isn't what we have been discussing in AA. They represent how I tell where I am, how fast and what the plane is doing in the air. There are also double checks for these instruments and some of the instruments have to be re calibrated EVERY time you take off. Aviators know how to prepare for disaster and problems. The amazing thing is that they go anyway...and happily.

Doing the checklists I am following instructions and feeling better about that. At least I know what most of this stuff does and why I am doing what I am doing. Progress.

I am taxiing and am back to the drunk runaway driving I do since I do not know how to drive with my feet. I am instructed to keep my hands in my lap (not on the yoke which looks deceptively like a steering wheel-but it move the plane up and down and side to side in the AIR). I keep over braking and trying to control the speed of the plane by braking. You don't do that, you power down the throttle. My instructor is not riding me for that (although the DVD is in my head), but I am definitely riding the brake.

We get to the runway and I hear Chris tell the tower that we will be doing touch and gos. I know we have reviewed traffic patterns and we will be flying in a rectangle around the airport and at each turn or position on the pattern we have stuff to do and look at. My head is spinning. I don't have my notes, what was I thinking.

We take off and there is a pretty hefty cross wind. I am being shown how to tell where the wind is coming from and how to adjust. So you do use the yoke on the ground at times....note to self. We throttle up after some secret code is given from the tower that Chris swears he will teach me. It better come with a decoder ring. My heart races and we are air born again.

I am ascending and that has a RPM and an pitch, I am banking that has an RPM and a pitch. There are things to do to slow the plane down and things to spot visually. It is all extremely useful for "staying present", I cannot do anything but be exactly where I am in place and time. For folks who know me THAT is a vacation and is extremely rewarding and I begin to have a blast.

I am still scared and landing and taking off 4 times (which is what touch and go means) and I realize that I am going to be able to practice. I don't have to know how to do this all at once. Chris tells me I over correct- no shit. He tells me I have to grab the yoke by my thumb and index finger only when I correct. Small movements. Gentle. Subtle. Yeah those are words I never use to describe my actions anywhere. I am learning. I am a student. It is okay.

I leave the lesson exhausted and exhilarated. I get into my car turn on the radio and am listening to "Higher Love" by Peter Gabriel and I cannot stop smiling. I am being shown how to do much more than fly and I am blessed.

I have heard the phrase "touch and go" to describe someone in fragile health or a situation that is tenuous. I love that it is used here to describe a pattern you repeat and learn from. You practice. You show up and go anyway after assuring your safety. Its not throwing caution to the wind. Its respecting the power of the wind and riding it making adjustments as the situation merits. I am a student. I am learning. It is okay.