WIXER GOES FLYING, CONGRATS TO PAUL

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:33 am

Yesterday, longtime WIX member Paul Gordon, who writes as "Blueharma" on our forums, went flying. Actually took to the air!
Paul has been a warbird enthusiast and excellent photographer for years, but never got up in the air himself. I talked about him flying with me in the Bonanza or going up in one of the 2 place gliders that I can rent at Boulder, but he was always reluctant to try it. Someone had given him the wrong impression , that he was likely to get airsick or some how make a mistake if he took the controls.
Anyway, Paul also knows a member of the local aerobatic group, IAC, who is an instructor at the local school with branches at Denver Metro, BJC, and Boulder, BDU. After months of talking to Paul, Earl finally pulled out the calendar and got him committed to Jan. 29.
The plane at BJC was down for maintenance, so they went in a 172 out of Boulder which was even better. The day was perfect, sunny, warm, calm, and beautiful.
I spoke to Paul right after the flight and he was excited. The groundless notions about doing something wrong or getting sick were gone. He was telling me about landing the plane himself! They even did touch and goes, and Paul was the one doing the flying. I talked to Earl after the flight and he wasn't even on the controls. It was Paul. That says something about Paul's ability to quickly pick up instruction and also that Earl must be a very good CFI.
We celebrated with a big lunch at a local seafood restaurant, and Paul showed his ability to make a big plate of fish and dirty rice disappear.
I wish everyone who has not actually tried flying themselves could and would give it a try.

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:44 am

That's outstanding Bill! Ya never know how people will take to flying, but you seemed to have known that Paul was ready (even if he didn't know it himself). I am not a pilot, my father was, & at times he would share what absolute joy it was to leave the Earth, & zoom through the clouds in his Mustang. I do enjoy flying & as you know I have been in aviation maintenance for a loooong time. Great to hear we have another person that has discovered the magic of the air.

b29flteng · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:05 pm

So where's the pictures????

DenverWarbirdFan · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 4:22 pm

Way to go Paul!!!

Scott

corsair166b · **Posted:** Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:22 pm

Good on ya Paul....seriously, it'll open new avenues for your photography...some of the best pics are taken air to air, and soon you'll be bugging folks like Greenwood to put their birds in the air so you can get 'in action' images of them...heckuva lotta fun.

Mark

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:14 pm

Good going Paul!

Dan K · **Posted:** Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:27 pm

Perhaps what EAA needs is a new program ("Gray Eagles"?) to help senior citizens slip the surly bonds of Earth for the first time.

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:59 am

Wow! I am still on an adrenaline high from last Friday and don’t know where to start.
First, I want to thank Bill for his kind words and his encouragement!

I was under the wrong impression. I wasn’t scared of flying. I was scared of how I would get sick or fail in some way.
Can you imagine??? Being a warbird enthusiast and not being able to enjoy flying?
That would be like being allergic to your gorgeous wife… It would be just sad… Very sad…

Bill would encourage me to give it a try, and each time I declined. I felt it was better to not ruin my passion for aviation.

As Bill had mentioned, a IAC member named Earl took out the calendar and said “let’s do this… which day?”
So I had to do this… Jan 29.

What an outstanding time! I know it is only a 172, but it was a new world for me. I didn’t think I had it in me.
Earl (CFI) started with me looking over the aircraft and taking care of details. He did a great job!
This wasn't just a sit and relax flight... this was the real deal.

Like Bill said my fears were unfounded. I could take off, land and fly it. (all without throwing up, or busting up the aircraft!)

I felt like I was in drivers ED once again with all the stop and go when I was taxiing.

You can hear the words…
Slow, stop, breaks, slow… No the stick does not turn the aircraft when you are taxiing… slow, stop, No again the stick does not…ok turn…

But even with the taxiing, it was a great experience!!!!!
I encourage anyone who has not flown yet to get up there. Better than that… take a discovery flight.
Learn how to fly, don’t just ride.

Also, the lunch I had afterwards at this seafood restaurant… Bill was right about that too. It was great food!!!!
That was almost as good as the flight!

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement! Now I am ready for some Air-2-Air and perhaps some more flying lessons!

Best Regards,
Paul Gordon

spookythecat · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:37 am

I just love those shots. You've got some beautiful scenery.

Ztex · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:30 pm

Yep...flying is good for the soul!

Glad you had a good time Paul. ( you didn't tell me you got to do landings!! WOOT! )

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:42 pm

Thanks guys!
Yeah, I did the landings. (I am sure the CFI was keeping a close eye on what was going on…)
Landing was something I did not expect to do when I woke up that morning.

I am somewhat glad that no one was there to take pictures of me landing.
My eyes would have been WIDE OPEN with a big #%@# grin on my face!!!
:shock:

Wow!

What a Rush! Adrenaline is great isn’t it??!!!

DenverWarbirdFan · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:46 pm

Paul-

Does Earl work for Journeys?

Scott

Bluedharma · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:55 pm

Hey Scott.
Yes, he does work for Journeys.
http://www.journeysaviation.com/flight_instructors.php

I met him in IAC-12. I think he flies this Pitts for the aerobatics contests .

Good Pilot!

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:39 pm

Bluedharma wrote:

I encourage anyone who has not flown yet to get up there. Better than that… take a discovery flight.
Learn how to fly, don’t just ride.

It's always fun to take folks for these rides and see the difference when they get back down!

Ryan

skywriter · **Joined:** Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:47 pm **Posts:** 1

Congrats to Paul. "Once you have tasted flight you will forever walk the earth with eyes turned skyward for there you have been and for there you will be"

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WIXER GOES FLYING, CONGRATS TO PAUL

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