I love new experiences.

[Kap142]

Today (thanks to a 2 year old gift cert) I took my first training flight in a Boeing Stearman Bi plane. With a very competent instructor I did an actual hands on flight nearly an hour long. Damn that was fun.

Left turns 10*, 20* 45* and the same to the right.. power management, stalls.......jeeze. That was great.

I'll just bet sleeping tonight will be a tuffy. That's great stuff. Just bet I'll end up back lesson #2.

Best high I've had since............well never mind .

[Rich Z]

I've always thought that flying would be a real thrill. A friend of mine that used to life nearby had a pilot's license and unfortunately I never took him up on offers to take a flight with him. He has since moved to Arizona, so that opportunity has been lost.

He would often tell me about all the hoops he had to jump through in order to keep his license current, though, and it seemed like quite a chore. And certainly upkeep on a plane is not for the light of wallet, neither.

But still, I think powered flight in any form is a dream we have all had more than once. Who wouldn't just LOVE to have a personal jet pack like we've seen in movies and such?

[Kap142]

Very neat aspect was that a Stearman has only 5 gauges (or 6) so you very quickly learn to be aware of you aircraft and surroundings not just the dad gum instruments.

Didn't take long to begin looking around and enjoying the world from 500'. Fantastic experience.

[Pres712]

When I had my rep agency I decided to get my pilot's license. Did so and bought a Piper Cherokee 180. Went ahead and got my instrument rating and had the plane for about 10 years. What a blast to get in and go when and where you want to. That was back in '69-'79. So I havent' flown in quite a few years but last year for my birthday I treated myself to an hour in a Stearman at the Fantasy of Flight. Until you have experienced an open cockpit, you haven't flown! As you say 500 feet above the earth at 90 mph is one of my highlights. One more off my bucket list!!

[Kap142]

Jim, it sounds like it might have been the same aircraft I was in. It was Waldo. He has the Stearman and the Standard.

Open cockpit is just awesome.