I Learned To Fly In Spain
I learned to fly in Spain in 1969. I was 20 years old and I joined the Torrejon AFB Aero Club near Madrid, Spain. The Aero club was housed in a little Quonset hut just off of the huge runway on the U.S. Airbase at Torrejon, home of the 401st Tactical Command. The club had two new Cherokee 140's that were tied down on the tarmac next to F-4's, C-130's, and C-141's. On the other side of the runway was the Spanish Air Force base with rows of old F-86's and F-100's.
At the Aero club military rank was temporarily ignored. Officer's and enlisted club members gave over to student pilots and flight instructors. Because I had a barracks roof over my head and free chow hall meals I was free to spend every paycheck to learn how to fly. My flight instructor was TSgt. Snowden. I'll never forget my first introductory flight. TSgt Snowden demonstrated the ability of a Cherokee 140 to do Barrel Rolls and Spins. That experience did not deter me from my eventual first solo at Torrejon.
I'll never forget my first solo flight. It was an early Sunday morning and the TSgt and I were doing some touch-an-goes and we did a full stop landing and without warning TSgt Snowden got out and told me to take-off and go around and watch him for signals to stop or keep flying. He signaled me to keep going five times. Up to that day I wanted to learn to fly, though scared to death about being upside down, but what I discovered on my first solo flight was that I loved flying. A few years later, as a CFI, when I soloed my first student pilot, I realized that I really loved flying!
The love of flying makes us a member of a community. Do you find yourself noticing road signs to airports? Do you look into the sky always checking the weather and almost subconsciously thinking, "This is great flying weather!" Do you look up everytime you hear an airplane fly over head? Do you love any movie that has airplanes in it? Does a picture of an airplane on a book, magazine, or website catch you eye? If you answered yes to those questions you are a member of the "For the Love of Flying" community.
The new Sport Pilot rules have changed everything. If you've never flown before it is easier and cheaper to learn to fly. If you want to be a flight instructor it is massively cheaper and a lot easier than before. If you want to return to flying the path is easy. If you want to own an airplane it is more econnomical than ever. (Actually, the new class of certified S-LSA aircraft are little flying cash machines if you're looking for a great investment.)
Sport Flying Friends is a community of cheerleaders and I'm here to encourage you! Now is the time - GO FOR IT! Learn to fly! Become a flight instructor! Come back to flying! Buy that airplane! Start your own flight school!
I'd appreciate your comments.
Thanks,
Dave
At the Aero club military rank was temporarily ignored. Officer's and enlisted club members gave over to student pilots and flight instructors. Because I had a barracks roof over my head and free chow hall meals I was free to spend every paycheck to learn how to fly. My flight instructor was TSgt. Snowden. I'll never forget my first introductory flight. TSgt Snowden demonstrated the ability of a Cherokee 140 to do Barrel Rolls and Spins. That experience did not deter me from my eventual first solo at Torrejon.
I'll never forget my first solo flight. It was an early Sunday morning and the TSgt and I were doing some touch-an-goes and we did a full stop landing and without warning TSgt Snowden got out and told me to take-off and go around and watch him for signals to stop or keep flying. He signaled me to keep going five times. Up to that day I wanted to learn to fly, though scared to death about being upside down, but what I discovered on my first solo flight was that I loved flying. A few years later, as a CFI, when I soloed my first student pilot, I realized that I really loved flying!
The love of flying makes us a member of a community. Do you find yourself noticing road signs to airports? Do you look into the sky always checking the weather and almost subconsciously thinking, "This is great flying weather!" Do you look up everytime you hear an airplane fly over head? Do you love any movie that has airplanes in it? Does a picture of an airplane on a book, magazine, or website catch you eye? If you answered yes to those questions you are a member of the "For the Love of Flying" community.
The new Sport Pilot rules have changed everything. If you've never flown before it is easier and cheaper to learn to fly. If you want to be a flight instructor it is massively cheaper and a lot easier than before. If you want to return to flying the path is easy. If you want to own an airplane it is more econnomical than ever. (Actually, the new class of certified S-LSA aircraft are little flying cash machines if you're looking for a great investment.)
Sport Flying Friends is a community of cheerleaders and I'm here to encourage you! Now is the time - GO FOR IT! Learn to fly! Become a flight instructor! Come back to flying! Buy that airplane! Start your own flight school!
I'd appreciate your comments.
Thanks,
Dave
i think i am a memeber of for the love of flying community coz i love flying, i mean i've never flown before. but i would love to learn flying oneday. i can feel your encourage and support to those who want to learn flying. nice post.
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