The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-12-14
LOVE AFFHRST FLlGfl Z
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as well have been on the Magic
Carpet.
watch the wings. Keep them
level with the horizon" criticized
Mr.. CLOSEUP.
evened the wings.
God, the air speed" he snap
ped.
The indicator represented the
air speed in the dangerous red
segment as fifty-fise knots. 1
dropped the nose and thrust the
throttle forward.
Seventeen hundred r. p. ms is
ample" said the Voice. "You
seem determined to ruin this en-
CINE for the better student who
will follow you. Now will you
look at the wings? Didn't just
explain about the wings? Use
your head" he implored.
| I could have managed with
another pair of hands and feet,
but it was so hard to get extra
help in those days.
"Cut your gum" he moaned.
"Cut your gun. Well be over the
Navy Yard, and they shoot at
YOU"
I followed instructions to the
letter and banked sharply to COM
pensate for errors.
Fine, oh fine!" the Voice child
ed. Wrap us up tight. We are
two hundred feet. above the
ground and you wrap us up in a
knot. Bundles for hell"
After some uncertainty we
Strengthened up over the runway.
forced the descent by pointing
the nose down.
"How deep do you intend to
bury us this time?" asked Mr..
CLOSEUP in a resigned Oriental
tone.
It was too late to make any
changes. The plane hit the
ground as if it had been pushed
off cliff.
"Oh!" groaned Mr.. CLOSEUP.
The plane leaped into the air
like stricken thing and then fell
back.
''Myw groaned Mr.. CLOSEUP.
The plane bounced up once
more and then came to a final
rest.
/ 'Lord!" breathed Mr.. CLOSEUP.
J I opened the throttle and pre-
pared to take off again.
| ''This is an airplane, not yo-
yo," explained Mr.. CLOSEUP.
| The plane staggered and swerv-
ed.
"And these pilgrimages of
yours on the runway! When day
is done you may inspect every
inch on your hands and knees.
In the meantime I advise some
thing simple in a straight line"
Day after day this routine was
repeated as 1 CROPPED for the 'feel"
of flying. Most of the others
caught on rapidly. Tim Carpen-
ter referred to his plane as if it
were female in gender and shy by
nature. Flying for him was just
matter of putting his arm around
this pretty, fat, backward child
and getting her to talk to herself.
With Tim it was love at first
flight.
II give her throttle, but she
says No. she don't want to come
around. So then I give her
more throttle and she comes
around so nice and sweet - and
puts her nose just where I want
it." He shook his head at such
compliance.
AS far as 1 was concerned "she"
was just a dumb animal. With
Gus" it was a marriage of con-
venience. After the crisis, when
the children were old enough to
know, there would be a quick di-
vorce. She could 60 her way and
I would 60 mine, and there would
be an end to this silly pretending.
The day for my first solo arrived
at S a. m, like all the other days.
It had unconsciously developed
| tremendous Importance. All the
letters from home ended with
Love, and have you soloed YETI"
Aunt Nab always wrote that af-
ter she recently talked to your
mother" and she was constantly
under the impression that I was
about to solo. Mother had COM
missioned me before I left. Now
on the eve of the Big Game there
was an ominous telegram of good
cheer from Father.
BEST of luck, son. Everybody
here hopes you make it."
The message was, apprehenSive.
There seemed to be some doubt in
the family whether or not the
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