[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Winni-Retired

Wow, all this talk about flying brings back memories of my youth and the days without joint pain and not being able to pass the FAA physical.

I learned to fly at age 15 and soloed in a Piper Colt, PA106, out of North Central Airport in Rhode Island, back in 1962, on my 16th birthday. I had to peddle my bicycle or thumb a ride from Pawtucket, RI to North Central Airport in Smithfield, RI. I soloed with a bit under six hours of instructions. My instructor, Dick Burke, later went on to be the corporate pilot for AT Cross, the pen company, at one point. I had a bit over 43 hours when I took the test for my private license. It was very common, as a senior in high school to pass on the drive-in and take the date flying.

My flying buddy from high school went on to fly Huey’s in Nam and survive losing two of them to ground fire. He now lives in LA and fly’s a new Ranger for an off shore oil company (not BP according to him). I could not fly in the military because I wore glasses and that was not allowed in 1964 - 1966. Later on it did not matter, but it was not an option for me back then.

I did get to fly during my service days, but in the back of a Huey as a medic, but flying is flying. I must admit that I did get the opportunity, albeit not sanctioned by the military, to right seat it in our Huey, once the command pilot knew I had a civilian private license. He felt I would be the “life ring” if both of them up front were unable to “get us home or down” I continued to fly until I was about age 36 then the cost of adulthood and family, overcame the desire and I let everything expire.

I remember it cost $8.00 to rent a Cherokee 140 for an hour and $16.00 if you had an instructor. You could rent a Piper Cub or Colt for as little as 4.00 per hour, no instructor, way back in 1962 / 1963. Since I was making about 75 cents per hour working at Hasbro after school ………. That was a fortune to me… …………

I have it on my “bucket list” to go up again, fly solo one more time ………over the lake ………….and shoot a perfect cross wind, slip it in, landing…….then check it off my bucket list ……if only I could pass the FAA physical !!!!!!!!

Great story and memories winni-retired!! Thanks for sharing! I hope you get your chance to go up again and fly solo!!

Dan