AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - 41

Little did I know that throughout my
time flying there would be many first solos.
They would include more complex airplanes of varying types, a Cub on floats, a
glider, and tailwheel endorsement.
This is where my story really begins:
taildraggers! Citabrias, Piper Cubs, Piper
Clipper, Cessna 170-and my favorite, the
Luscombe.
I found my true joy came not from
power, speed, and a full avionics stack but
the pure joy of a low-and-slow flight in one
of these old-timers. They have personality,
history, and a story to tell if we'll only listen.
Their stories can be of long ago when
pilots flew from one place to another by
ground reference and town names painted
on towers at the edge of town. Back then
no one ever imagined some gizmo that
would draw a magenta line on a glass
screen for us to follow.
The story might be of a 10-year-old's
first flight and the view of his house from
this new perspective. On another day it
might uncover clues of how and where
turbulence can hide. The stories can also
be serious, and we should always be listening carefully.
After renting from the local FBO for
some time everything pointed to me owning my own airplane. The decision about
what to buy was easy.
A Luscombe. About a year later my search
led me to a pristine 1947 Luscombe 8E.
All the paperwork completed, it was
time to fly. A knowledgeable instructor
was found and training for my first solo in
the new airplane began. After a thorough
checkout, my instructor shook my hand
and said, "Go have some fun."
Saturday morning, the sky is clear, the
wind is calm. It. Is. Perfect.
As I taxi out the Luscombe begins to
talk to me. Let's be a little quicker on the
rudder, don't be in such a hurry, careful
with the brakes. The coaxing is subtle at
first, then more clearly and I begin to listen.
The sounds are wonderful; I think, what
was that shudder, does the oil pressure seem
low? No, of course not, I'm just nervous,
this being my first solo.
Run up complete and ready to takeoff.
Add power slowly, keep the nose straight,

keep the nose straight, let the tail fly, and
we're off. This is how it was meant to be.
Effortless, graceful, and a smile on my face
that cannot be controlled.
What was that noise? My plan was to
go to our practice area south of the field
and get better acquainted. I'll start with
some steep turns, then some slow flight,
and maybe over to the grass strip for some
soft field work. Does the oil pressure seem
low? This old-timer is talking to me, telling me stories, but I'm not really listening.
Suddenly it speaks to me in unmistakable
tones. Harsh noise. Some vibration. No oil
pressure. High oil temperature. Loss of
rpm. My mind races. What's happened? Is
this it? Is this how it ends? No! Remember
my training. What was Yauka's favorite line
in emergency practice? Fly the airplane.
There is something very wrong, but we
still fly. I go through the usual-add carb
heat, mixture rich, check mags, switch
tanks, all the while knowing in my soul this
is much more than any of those checks will
correct. Establish best glide, turn toward
home, call the tower. Fly the airplane.
Everything creates an extreme sense
of awareness, not to mention about a
98-percent adrenaline saturation in my
bloodstream. Time seems to slow. I know
it sounds like a cliché, but it's true. No fear,
no panic, just important things to do. I hear
my instructor's voice. I feel an unreal sense
of calm, in the knowledge that I know what
to do. Fly the airplane.
And we do fly. Although there's only
enough rpm to maintain roughly 300 or
400 fpm descent, the whole event started
at about 2,500 feet msl (2,100 feet agl). I
can tell the airport is in reach. I make it to
a straight-in for landing. The engine finally
stops about 300 yards from touchdown.
Landed. Stopped. Safe. Thank you, Yauka.
Upon inspection by the A&P it was discovered the crankshaft had broken in half
at the cheek between number one and two
cylinders.
While flying, listen to what our airplanes are trying to tell us.
It could be important.
GLYNN DENNIS flies a 1959 Cessna 172 in

Carmel, California.

EVENTS

|

AIR AND SPACE
MUSEUM HONORS
AFRICAN AMERICANS
THE SMITHSONIAN Institution will
honor "African American Pioneers in
Aviation and Space" at the Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center February 8, 2020,
in honor of Black History Month.
Features include:
* Learn about the "Triple Nickles"
smokejumpers while designing and
building a parachute.
* View special collections from the
National Air and Space Museum
Archives related to African American
figures.
* Take a special highlights tour of the
museum focused on African American
accomplishments in aviation and
space.
* Enjoy Flights of Fancy story
time readings of  Nobody Owns the
Sky: The Story of "Brave Bessie"
Coleman  and  related hands-on
activities.
* Listen to a panel discussion hosted
by Legacy Flight Academy about
the careers available in aviation and
engineering.
* Watch the "Take a Giant Leap" puppet show, featuring stories of great air
and space adventurers, including the
Tuskegee Airmen.
* Hear from Tuskegee Airman Col.
Charles McGee (see "AOPA Honors
World War II Vet," p. 12).
airandspace.si.edu

aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 41


http://airandspace.si.edu http://www.aopa.org/pilot

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - 4
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - Cover4
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