On the trail - April 8, 2012

In the movie “Dead Poets Society”, Robin Williams plays a teacher who inspires his students to “carpe diem”, seize the day.  He encourages them to read poetry and to “suck the marrow out of life” quoting Thoreau.  He also challenges them to think outside the box.  He has them stand on top of their desks and take a look around to see what the view is like from up there.

With that same type of bravado, I recently took my first flying lesson at Leading Edge Flight Training at the Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport.  And let me tell you, the view from on top of my desk that day was incredible.  It was a whole new way to experience the beautiful mountain scenery in Northern Colorado.

My instructor, Patrick Hinton, was gracious enough to grant me my wish of flying to Rocky Mountain National Park and back that day.  I was excited at the opportunity to see what the park would look like from a non-commercial airplane.  I learned there are regulations that a plane needs to fly at least 2,000 feet above the park to not disturb the wildlife.  We also could fly near Longs Peak, but not over it, due to its altitude.

On our early morning flight, Patrick showed me around the twin propeller plane as he went through the required pre-flight checklist.  The Diamond Twin Star DA-42 N16FA plane looked like a big fiberglass kayak with long wings attached to it.  I stepped up on the wing and lowered myself into my seat, careful not to bump the joystick now positioned between my legs. 

Patrick lowered the glass canopy, checked for propeller clearance and then fired up the diesel engines.  He handed me a headset to wear to muffle engine noise and to communicate with him.  We taxied for awhile and he had me steer the plane a little with my foot controls.  Soon, we were poised for takeoff on the runway.

Patrick gave it full power and we lifted off the runway.  The first thing I noticed, as we started our flight, was how quiet the plane was.  The speed at takeoff reminded me of a regular commercial airplane, without the loud jet engine noise.

At 150 mph and a climbing rate of 1,000 feet per minute, the distant mountains came up sooner than I expected.  I took as many pictures as I could as we closed in our destination, Longs Peak.  We were at an altitude of 13,900 feet when suddenly we hit some turbulence.  I was bucked up out of my seat momentarily and wondered where the rough air had come from.

Patrick explained that the mountains act like a rock in a river that creates an eddy behind it.  The winds aloft were hitting the other side of Longs Peak, creating an eddy of bumpy air on this side.  We banked to the right and headed back east.

In the brief turbulence, my photography skills were challenged, as the camera lens repeatedly hit the clear cockpit glass.  I had not expected that.

Nor did I expect that Patrick would now have me fly the plane almost all the way back!  I trusted him though when he told me that there was nothing I could do wrong that he couldn’t fix.  Patrick eventually took the controls and landed the plane.

What a great experience!  Here in Northern Colorado, I highly recommend you give flying a try at Patrick Hinton’s Leading Edge Flight Training.  Elsewhere, check out the Let’s Go Flying website at www.letsgoflying.com.  It is an experience you won’t soon forget.  Carpe Diem!