Finally, a first lesson is scheduled

After some phone calls and e-mails to the AAC, I received a suggestion that I try a woman named Liz Sommers for an instructor. They say she's new but she knows what she is doing. After some phone tag, it turns out I am incapable of raising her on the horn, however, so another instructor (Mike, I think? I'll know Saturday) volunteers.

My first lesson is Saturday, 2 pm, E-gate. I'm damned excited, but of course anxious to suffer the agony that will become my ever-lightening wallet. A double-edged sword.

Another thing nagging at the back of my head is an interesting desire. "I wonder how well I could fare if I just told my instructor, 'Sit back and let me see if I can wing it!'" See, I've been playing flight sims for a good long while, and flown a few real planes too, and I've gotten to a point where (at least in my own head) I think I could do a fairly good job if I was plopped into a sleeping plane on the tarmac.

Assuming it's a 172, I might be able to successfully start it up. I figure I'd have a tough time with the ATC, but I might get by. Flying the thing would be a cinch; done it before, could do it again. Takeoffs, probably. Landings ... well, maybe. There's a chance.

Anyway the thought going through my head isn't, "Let me prove to the world how awesome I am by starting up and flying around a plane all on my own on my first lesson!"; it's more of, "I wonder if I'm deluding myself or if all this knowledge I think I have is actually useful in the real world." The question actually burns pretty strong in my head.

Whether I will actually have the gall to request my instructor let me "wing it" on my first flight, and if that happens, whether he will let me, entirely depends on how things play out when the time comes. I'm not making any resolutions now, and leaving it up to my questionable judgement down the line.

Anyway, to reiterate the big news. Saturday afternoon at the old T's, I have a date with a very old lady, tied up on the tarmac. Sure, she won't be a looker, and she'll be worn to hell and all used up, but when you're just getting started like me, beggars can't be choosers.