Licensed at last
Licensed at last
When I was 16 my father bought me a motorcycle after I had begged him for one for about 3 years.
It was an old, ugly, pale blue and white Suzuki TS 50cc, cost R900, didn’t always start first time (or second for that matter), and it didn’t go faster than 55kph but I loved that bike more than life itself and the day I got that bike and started driving the neighborhood crazy with that irritating sound that only a 50cc can make, my life changed.
The feeling of freedom I experienced was absolutely magical and a whole new world opened up to me where I could come and go as I please, and where the streets of Pretoria now became my new personal playground. I never did have a license to legally roam the streets but back then the furthest thought from my mind was that what I was doing was actually “illegalâ€Â. I look back on those days of “ignorant bliss†as some of my finest times.
Today I have that same childlike feeling within me – No, my father didn’t buy me another 50cc, I did however pass my MPL flight test yesterday morning and once again I feel like a 16year old boy with this great gift – Freedom. Not to roam the streets but to roam the skies - Legally – Yes, my playground has now become as big as it gets – That big blue thing in the sky as far as the eye can see……it’s mine and yours and there is a lot of it to go play in!
I started dreaming about flying at about the same time I started dreaming about bikes, but seeing that my father would not have been able to organize me a pale blue and white microlight for R900 I settled for the Suzuki at 16 years of age but the dream of flying remained with me. In 1996 when I was a (very) broke B.com student I met a Microlight instructor who promised me a free flip so that I could feel what it was all about even though there was no way in hell I could ever have afforded instruction or a trike at the time. He didn’t make good on this promise and simply didn’t even answer when I wanted to take him up on his offer - Guys, remember that it might just be another flip for you – But it could be a dream come true to someone else.
It was to be 9 years later before I finally did go on a demo flight in a trike (Aerotrike Safari 582). This time I could afford the R170 demo cost and I was hooked before we even got airborne.
My training had ups and downs like everyone else. After 3 hours of flying my instructor started showing me low-levels and how to approach the runway. This low flying scared me so much that I wanted to give it all up and thought that pilots were all crazy (Now, I know we are! :D ) – This happened again at about 11 hours when I thought that it was going to be impossible for me to ever land a ML and that I should rather be collecting stamps as a hobby – Pretty funny stuff looking back now and that’s the beauty of hindsight I guess - You realize that sometimes you must just carry on and not think about things too much.
I subsequently bought myself my own airy – A Aerotrike Safari 582 and she fly's like a dream. The colour? You guessed it, Pale blue and white. This one starts first time though but the sound will still drive the neighbours crazy. :D
Yip – The only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys, and here’s to never growing up and being a member of the ultimate club – Aviation.
Yours in flying
D
Footnote: A big thanks to the fine gentlemen from Petit - Andy Kasparson, Alan Piltz, Anton Grobler, and Jenya Zozhulya for sticking it out with me.
It was an old, ugly, pale blue and white Suzuki TS 50cc, cost R900, didn’t always start first time (or second for that matter), and it didn’t go faster than 55kph but I loved that bike more than life itself and the day I got that bike and started driving the neighborhood crazy with that irritating sound that only a 50cc can make, my life changed.
The feeling of freedom I experienced was absolutely magical and a whole new world opened up to me where I could come and go as I please, and where the streets of Pretoria now became my new personal playground. I never did have a license to legally roam the streets but back then the furthest thought from my mind was that what I was doing was actually “illegalâ€Â. I look back on those days of “ignorant bliss†as some of my finest times.
Today I have that same childlike feeling within me – No, my father didn’t buy me another 50cc, I did however pass my MPL flight test yesterday morning and once again I feel like a 16year old boy with this great gift – Freedom. Not to roam the streets but to roam the skies - Legally – Yes, my playground has now become as big as it gets – That big blue thing in the sky as far as the eye can see……it’s mine and yours and there is a lot of it to go play in!
I started dreaming about flying at about the same time I started dreaming about bikes, but seeing that my father would not have been able to organize me a pale blue and white microlight for R900 I settled for the Suzuki at 16 years of age but the dream of flying remained with me. In 1996 when I was a (very) broke B.com student I met a Microlight instructor who promised me a free flip so that I could feel what it was all about even though there was no way in hell I could ever have afforded instruction or a trike at the time. He didn’t make good on this promise and simply didn’t even answer when I wanted to take him up on his offer - Guys, remember that it might just be another flip for you – But it could be a dream come true to someone else.
It was to be 9 years later before I finally did go on a demo flight in a trike (Aerotrike Safari 582). This time I could afford the R170 demo cost and I was hooked before we even got airborne.
My training had ups and downs like everyone else. After 3 hours of flying my instructor started showing me low-levels and how to approach the runway. This low flying scared me so much that I wanted to give it all up and thought that pilots were all crazy (Now, I know we are! :D ) – This happened again at about 11 hours when I thought that it was going to be impossible for me to ever land a ML and that I should rather be collecting stamps as a hobby – Pretty funny stuff looking back now and that’s the beauty of hindsight I guess - You realize that sometimes you must just carry on and not think about things too much.
I subsequently bought myself my own airy – A Aerotrike Safari 582 and she fly's like a dream. The colour? You guessed it, Pale blue and white. This one starts first time though but the sound will still drive the neighbours crazy. :D
Yip – The only difference between men and boys is the size of their toys, and here’s to never growing up and being a member of the ultimate club – Aviation.
Yours in flying
D
Footnote: A big thanks to the fine gentlemen from Petit - Andy Kasparson, Alan Piltz, Anton Grobler, and Jenya Zozhulya for sticking it out with me.
Big D
- Duck Rogers
- Toooooo Thousand
- Posts: 2318
- Joined: Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:49 pm
- Location: West Rand
- DarkHelmet
- Toooooo Thousand
- Posts: 2045
- Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:12 am
- Location: Jukskei Park - Randburg
Gratz Big D!!!
I had yet another mind blowing flight this morning! I was PAX in my own aerie for a change!
ZU-AUY is unflyable and I said to her/his owner let's fly anyway and log dual! We flew south to the Vaal Dam, the WX was horrible but we still did the trip!
I personally am a patch flyer, I just fly to get up there, not really to go anywhere but my day has been made!
We came back and heard Jenya heading for Belfast and my heart made an about turn tumble rollercoaster just hearing someone I know on the radio!
The return flight was rather bumpy and to be honest I was sitting in the back seat thinking maybe we must put down and call it a day. We have a bottle of water and the whole day ahead. After touching down we were greeted by Porra and I took my little RC car through the Kliprivier underground.
It is really a passion shared by few of us, but a worthwhile passion for the freedom we get!
Yours in flight
DH
I had yet another mind blowing flight this morning! I was PAX in my own aerie for a change!
ZU-AUY is unflyable and I said to her/his owner let's fly anyway and log dual! We flew south to the Vaal Dam, the WX was horrible but we still did the trip!
I personally am a patch flyer, I just fly to get up there, not really to go anywhere but my day has been made!
We came back and heard Jenya heading for Belfast and my heart made an about turn tumble rollercoaster just hearing someone I know on the radio!
The return flight was rather bumpy and to be honest I was sitting in the back seat thinking maybe we must put down and call it a day. We have a bottle of water and the whole day ahead. After touching down we were greeted by Porra and I took my little RC car through the Kliprivier underground.
It is really a passion shared by few of us, but a worthwhile passion for the freedom we get!
Yours in flight
DH
- Robin Hood
- Solo cross country
- Posts: 148
- Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 9:46 am
- Location: Klerksdorp
- Tumbleweed
- Toooooo Thousand
- Posts: 2349
- Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:14 pm
- Location: FASC
Congrats,
Also only 5hrs with MPL, greatest joy is flipping my kids. Before, had no chance of them getting up at 5h30, now they fight for turns.
Also can be very quite, sometimes only one on the radio.
The freedom also somewhat isolates you, no mates (instructor and fellow students) to chew the fat, but a few to finish their X country trips this Saturday, so Springs, clean up, some distinguished (uninvited) guests will arrive on Saturday morning.
Also only 5hrs with MPL, greatest joy is flipping my kids. Before, had no chance of them getting up at 5h30, now they fight for turns.
Also can be very quite, sometimes only one on the radio.
The freedom also somewhat isolates you, no mates (instructor and fellow students) to chew the fat, but a few to finish their X country trips this Saturday, so Springs, clean up, some distinguished (uninvited) guests will arrive on Saturday morning.
Sling ZU FYE - For Your Entertainment
- RV4ker (RIP)
- The Big Four K
- Posts: 5386
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 7:48 pm
- Location: The Coves & FAVB
Well done Big-D.
That is my next aim and hope to be there by the middle to end of March (wx dependent!!)
That is my next aim and hope to be there by the middle to end of March (wx dependent!!)
Last edited by Wart on Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Live: Hillcrest
Work: Pietermaritzburg
Work: Pietermaritzburg
- Chaz
- Going for flight test
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2005 6:43 pm
- Location: Capital Of South Africa - BENONI
CONGRATS !!
CONGRATULATIONS & WELL DONE BIG D
Your's in Flying
CHAZ
Your's in Flying
CHAZ
On a "WING" and a "PRAYER" (C.W.A)
Well done Big-D. It is a wonderful feeling. To me it was the first flight, the solo and qualifying. Nothing else (aviation wise)will ever feel the same again. Different awsome experiences will happen but you will never get that feeling back. Time goes so fast, I wualified just after easter 2005 and now I am over 110hours.
I wish you many many happy and safe hours ahead.
I wish you many many happy and safe hours ahead.
Greg Perkins
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