Quintessence

This evening as the temperatures cooled off, I went back out to Kokomo to fly the T-6 for awhile. The airport was deserted, even though it was a beautiful evening. The FBO was closed and there just was not a soul or another airplane anywhere around. I didn't wear my helmet today, not being worried about hearing passengers or the radio, so I just grabbed my Bose, opened up the canopy, and went out alone, and I have to say, it was wonderful.

Tonight I just went up and did some yanking, banking and cranking. Much of the time I've flown has been either with students, flying with the family on trips, or carrying passengers for hire, and when you fly those particular missions, you fly gently, smoothly, and easily. Going up tonight and just cutting loose in a decidedly not gentle manner in an airplane like this was liberating. I did some other practice too. I did some wheel landings since it had been awhile since I'd done one on purpose. ;) I did a few normal landings and a couple of short field landings, did some flying down the runway on the mains, did some strafing runs.

I realized something in all this tonight that is so simple, but I'd lost it. I really just needed to relax and not try to be anything or anyone but myself. It was the most fun and the least amount of pressure I'd felt flying the 6 in awhile, and it was also the smoothest takeoffs, landings, roll-outs, and flying I'd done in it for awhile too. It reminded me of the days Nathan and I would just go out all the time and have fun while I learned as we went. It was...worthwhile.

I flew until past 9 p.m., and I watched the sun go down from the air as a thunderstorm moved in. When I climbed out of the plane, I realized I was drenched in sweat. While normally I detest that, I was strangely satisfied with it this time-though I did make a mental note not to wear these khaki pants if I'm going to be flying in public in the heat. ;) I got the plane put away and drove home hot, tired, sweaty, hair all snarled up, satisfied, and watching the lightning flash in the distance as the storm headed my way.

I took a few photos from the airplane with just the little Canon.

I needed that.