I have been in ground school for the past 2 weeks. I had been studying all weekend looking forward to Monday. Well then Monday came. I awoke around 0500. The house was dark and as I tried to get out of bed the freaking cat wouldn't move. I ever so gently move the cat over with a quick tap of my foot (Thump!!) I get ready, grab some coffee and head out the door. It's cold and I can see my breath. I get in my silver beast and start my drive. It's still dark outside but a lot of the houses have lights on as the military starts pretty early sometimes. This day is different. It smells different. The lights as I approach the base seem different.
I park and get out of the truck. As I open my door I smell jet exhaust. You know the smell. You smell it outside every airport. Just that smell alone conjures of thoughts of travelling. And today I'm going somewhere. I get inside and prepare for my brief. It goes OK and we head out to preflight. The sun is up now and I glance at the 130+ helicopters lined up before me. Thank god they have numbers on them. I'm flying with the OIC (Officer in Charge) of the HITU (Helicopter Instructor Training Unit). We start the mighty yet small and TRQ limited TH-57 (Bell 206). We are up and running and time to take off. The OIC turns to me and says
Let's go.
What, you want me to take off?
Yes.
Are you sure? I haven't flown in a year.
Yes.
Shit, Alright, hold on.
I pick up into a hover and I hear
Shit.
I told you.
It was like a cat in a bag. We take off and head out. We just clear the airspace when I hear these dreaded words "Simulated" which is accompanied by the sound of the engine being brought back to idle. To which I reply "Shit". We recover and try that again and again and again. 7 tries later we continue on to the practice field. The Helo is still bucking like horse at a rodeo but at least now I got the reigns. We have only been flying 40 minutes and I'm tired. I push through the remaining flight time and now old girl isn't bucking so bad. We head back to home field and I'm eating some humble pie. We hot seat our aircraft and I walk back into the hanger. I'm almost in shock as I never thought this day would get here. I'm so excited that I want to call my wife. Maybe I will. Wait I need to take my helmet off first. I will just call later.
I drive home and I'm tired, hungry and my truck is still making a weird sound. I get home and tell my wife about my day. She laughs as do I. I'm getting back to living the dream. Life is good. I check the schedule and see that I'm flying tomorrow at the same early time, shit.
I park and get out of the truck. As I open my door I smell jet exhaust. You know the smell. You smell it outside every airport. Just that smell alone conjures of thoughts of travelling. And today I'm going somewhere. I get inside and prepare for my brief. It goes OK and we head out to preflight. The sun is up now and I glance at the 130+ helicopters lined up before me. Thank god they have numbers on them. I'm flying with the OIC (Officer in Charge) of the HITU (Helicopter Instructor Training Unit). We start the mighty yet small and TRQ limited TH-57 (Bell 206). We are up and running and time to take off. The OIC turns to me and says
Let's go.
What, you want me to take off?
Yes.
Are you sure? I haven't flown in a year.
Yes.
Shit, Alright, hold on.
I pick up into a hover and I hear
Shit.
I told you.
It was like a cat in a bag. We take off and head out. We just clear the airspace when I hear these dreaded words "Simulated" which is accompanied by the sound of the engine being brought back to idle. To which I reply "Shit". We recover and try that again and again and again. 7 tries later we continue on to the practice field. The Helo is still bucking like horse at a rodeo but at least now I got the reigns. We have only been flying 40 minutes and I'm tired. I push through the remaining flight time and now old girl isn't bucking so bad. We head back to home field and I'm eating some humble pie. We hot seat our aircraft and I walk back into the hanger. I'm almost in shock as I never thought this day would get here. I'm so excited that I want to call my wife. Maybe I will. Wait I need to take my helmet off first. I will just call later.
I drive home and I'm tired, hungry and my truck is still making a weird sound. I get home and tell my wife about my day. She laughs as do I. I'm getting back to living the dream. Life is good. I check the schedule and see that I'm flying tomorrow at the same early time, shit.
