Dreams come true in Los Angeles. First time as a co-pilot.
Yes, I've always dreamed about it. Before I got married, I was on a plane just once together with my parents, when I was only .. 2 years old. But I remember this exciting experience like it was yesterday! I still remember how stewardesses were smiling at passengers on a plane, how I looked through illuminator, and how my little hands tried to twist buttons above my head. Think about it - it's a miracle! People can fly! It was hard to imagine that at any moment you could float in the sky and look at the world from unnatural for people height.
Of course, I had no idea that one day my destiny will be leaving Belarus for a permanent residence in the US. Anyway, I always wanted to try myself in a co-pilot seat. And what should you do in Minsk to get into the pilot's cabin? Well, a pilot might be your friend… Or you can study for 5 years and get that job. The last one didn’t work for me because I picked a different major.
So, what about California?
Want to pilot an aircraft in California? Study for a couple of months and get your pilot license. Education here is not cheap but affordable. I believe average price is around $ 11.000. There is a certain number of hours devoted to theory and practice (flights in day and night time). After getting pilot license, you are allowed to transport passengers. Next, you need to maintain gained experience. . If you don’t fly for 3 months, you will need to take off and land an aircraft by yourself for 3 times.After that you can fly with passengers again. To move up in your career, you will just need to fly more. Renting an airplane is not cheap, but there is a solution for that. You can invite people who will split the rent and get a lot of impressions. So you will get to fly for hours, and people will receive a huge dose of happiness. And this time around we were such people!
Adventure started on my birthday. My husband asked me to be ready to go somewhere outside.
Me: ”What is the dress code?”
My husband: “Well, look at me and wear something similar..” (He was wearing shorts, sneakers, and a t-shirt).
Me:“You dress like that everywhere.”
My husband:“Well .. Just wear something comfortable.”
We left our children with my mother and got in a car. Then, my husband gave me a sleeping mask to keep my eyes closed. Twenty five minutes later, he stopped and said to get out of the car. II felt so silly because we came to meet somebody with a sleeping mask over my eyes)) Let’s name him… Kit. Yes, Kit, why not? )) I heard they were whispering like, "Is this a gift? Does she know what will happen now? ". But then we stopped and I was allowed to take off the mask. YAHOOO!!!! Guess where we were))) At the airport)) Kit said that a plane will land soon, and it will be our turn to take off. We decided not to waste our time and quickly ran to use restrooms) Restrooms were in a shed, and this is where we met those beauties! I liked them so much…
Shortly after, we went to see our winged friend. That body, those propeller blades ... I'm sorry, but I still get so excited, when I think about that airplane)))
Kit brought an extra headset (headphones with a microphone) for passengers because it is impossible to communicate without it in an aircraft. Next, he asked if we only wanted to fly, or if we were also interested in learning how to check a plane before taking off. Of course we were interested to see everything! Kit demonstrated to us how to check fuel level, movement of flaps on the wings and tail, and many other interesting things. In short, in that airplane model, everything was based on simple physics: air resistance and gravity.
Finally, it was time to fly! Everyone got to their seats, and I was in the role of a co-pilot)) Kit instructed us not to pull the control column like a steering wheel in the car if we wanted to sit more comfortable. Chief pilot placed an iPad in a special case by his right leg. There was a special map on the screen. Kit began to start the engine. It took a lot of manipulations, buttons, levers for one key turn ... And it didn’t start! Ok, relax. Manipulations again, loud transport squishing and .. didn’t start! Scary))) However, the following try was successful, and we exhaled with relief.
And then we drove to the point of departure. There were 2 pedals under the pilots’ feet. They work by pressure and foot rotation (pulling feet make them take a horizontal position). So you control aircraft’s chassis to turn to the right, to the left, or to stop. Kit showed how it works first (the movements of his pedals and control column were duplicated on my side), and then he offered to continue by myself. I did it not go as straight by the yellow line on the way to take off as he did, but Kit said it was great)) Many people drive from edge to edge for the first time.
We stayed in line to take off. Chief pilot talked for a long time on an already known for us language (I mean English), but had a completely different dialect)))) At the end of our conversation, he said "bebA". Perhaps, it was "bye-bye")).
And we took off! It was my favorite part! There was a loud engine roar. My husband pressed himself into the seat, while Kit and I were keeping everything under control and were gradually pulling the control column when needed.
Suddenly, we began to realize what a beautiful place we live in ... No more words, take a look at these pictures.
There was traffic jam when we approached Santa Monica. Can you imagine? Traffic jam in the sky! To fly out to the waterfront))) It was just unreal! When you are driving a car, you must look forward, backward and to the sides. When you are navigating a plane, it is necessary to look at 360 degrees in all directions! Because near might be the dirigible. Dirigible, Carl!
I was satisfied and happy! One of my dreams came true)) Come and get experience)) I wish you all can try this and even study and get pilot's license.)
PS .: We paid about $ 200 for the flight.
P.P.S .: Sorry, I don’t have enough time to write. But it is still so many things I can tell and show you) So don’t forget about my blog please)) And I always remember about you :)
It was really hard for me to translate this post in English.. Thank you, my dear husband for your help.
And this is my good friend, beautiful, wonderful Miss Anna Batyan!
She checked it all and did a great job! Thank you very much!