Perfect end to the day

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cessna170bdriver
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Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Perfect end to the day

Post by cessna170bdriver »

When we first moved onto Brighton Airport our neighbors’ son Deacon was just learning to walk. A couple of years later he came into the hangar while I was working on the170 and spent some time inspecting my RV-7 project. As he was leaving, he got my attention and informed me that I’d have to put the wings on it before I could fly it. Smart kid!

The first time he asked for a ride in the 170 I told him he had to bring his Mom or Dad, put on some shoes, and get his car seat. He came back with shoes, but no parent or car seat, so I sent him home for those. A few minutes later his Mom came over and asked if I had really consented to give him a ride, as apparently they’d had some issues with him coming up with tall tales. Just a few minutes before, she’d caught him in the car trying to remove his car seat, and the airplane ride was his explanation. Needless to say, he got his ride but did decide he had to have his Mom along for moral support.

He’s now a gangly, tall-for-his-age, shy 6-year old. He came over last evening with his Mom and finally worked up the courage to ask for another ride. It had been a couple of years since the last time I’d taken him up, but this was the first time he wanted to go without his Mom. When I offered to help him up into the airplane, he shrugged me off and stepped up into airplane like walking up stairs; one foot on the step, the next on the floor of the airplane without even using his hands. 8O We only had time for about a 15 minute ride before sunset, but I think we both had a perfect ending to the day.
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Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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brian.olson
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Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by brian.olson »

THAT is what aviation is all about. Thanks for sharing and for bringing a smile to my face this morning.
Brian
1950 170A
N5762C s/n 19716
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cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4059
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by cessna170bdriver »

brian.olson wrote:THAT is what aviation is all about. Thanks for sharing and for bringing a smile to my face this morning.
Thank you Brian. I was thinking last night, experiences like this one are why I love living here. I’m really looking forward to watching this young man grow up.
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
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c170b53
Posts: 2527
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:01 pm

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by c170b53 »

Fantastic…
Jim McIntosh..
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
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Bill_Green
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Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2020 12:53 am

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by Bill_Green »

Absolutely great!
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mmcmillan2
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Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2020 9:30 pm

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by mmcmillan2 »

Cool!
170B owner, KCFD, CFI(I), ATP Multi
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edbooth
Posts: 498
Joined: Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:03 am

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by edbooth »

cessna170bdriver wrote:When we first moved onto Brighton Airport our neighbors’ son Deacon was just learning to walk. A couple of years later he came into the hangar while I was working on the170 and spent some time inspecting my RV-7 project. As he was leaving, he got my attention and informed me that I’d have to put the wings on it before I could fly it. Smart kid!

The first time he asked for a ride in the 170 I told him he had to bring his Mom or Dad, put on some shoes, and get his car seat. He came back with shoes, but no parent or car seat, so I sent him home for those. A few minutes later his Mom came over and asked if I had really consented to give him a ride, as apparently they’d had some issues with him coming up with tall tales. Just a few minutes before, she’d caught him in the car trying to remove his car seat, and the airplane ride was his explanation. Needless to say, he got his ride but did decide he had to have his Mom along for moral support.

He’s now a gangly, tall-for-his-age, shy 6-year old. He came over last evening with his Mom and finally worked up the courage to ask for another ride. It had been a couple of years since the last time I’d taken him up, but this was the first time he wanted to go without his Mom. When I offered to help him up into the airplane, he shrugged me off and stepped up into airplane like walking up stairs; one foot on the step, the next on the floor of the airplane without even using his hands. 8O We only had time for about a 15 minute ride before sunset, but I think we both had a perfect ending to the day.
0A253998-8090-4C34-AF81-CF319F450E30.jpeg
8188BD34-1B86-4184-8070-C521A290C88C.jpeg
45C5BE4E-B5F5-4D6F-9B29-AA20CC3AD3A4.jpeg
B01F0C15-0C35-49E5-B6A6-7D8FDD2D1BC1.jpeg


Good story Miles, hopefully he will be a new addition to the aviation community one of these days. :)
Ed Booth, 170-B and RV-7 Driver
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DaveF
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Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:44 am

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by DaveF »

cessna170bdriver wrote: We only had time for about a 15 minute ride before sunset
But it was the perfect 15 minutes.
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GAHorn
Posts: 20967
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by GAHorn »

DaveF wrote:
cessna170bdriver wrote: We only had time for about a 15 minute ride before sunset
But it was the perfect 15 minutes.
I’m sure the 15 minutes will be remembered for a looong time.... (time probably passed s l o w l y since it was a Green airplane.).
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
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bsdunek
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Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:42 pm

Re: Perfect end to the day

Post by bsdunek »

I'm sure you've done a great service to Deacon. Hopefully, the bug has bitten him, and he will follow up and pursue, either just for personal enjoyment or as a career.
Bruce
1950 170A N5559C
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