FlyingJohnny is now FLYINGjohnny!!

This has got to be one of the "historic" posts... why?
Because... I'm finally up in the air... I'm FLYING!!!

Yep... I had my first flight yesterday and there's one word to describe it... AMAZING!! Finally I witnessed for real what flying really is. Really, I think I can't actually describe the real feeling I had up there. It just feels great... you're free... floating freely in mid-air... as if nothing and no one can bug you... up there, it's just you and your aircraft (well and your flight instructor telling you to watch your altitude speed etc. heh!) But ye, it's one great sensation!

I was really excited and looking forward to my first flight. I went quite early to the Flight Dispatch to get things done as early as possible. I went through the weather briefing and prepared the mass and balance and performance documentation. I then met my flight instructor who gave me a short briefing of what we will be doing during our first flight together. He would do the take-off and landing (first time ey!!) and then I would fly to the south-east practice area for some turns, climbs and descents and familiarisation with the area. We picked up the aircraft keys from dispatch and off we went to our aircraft, N4107A. We performed a walkaround together and the little birdie seemed good enough to fly. And then, it was time to get in the cockpit and kick off!! I plugged in my headset, sat in the cockpit and my instructor helped me out with the cockpit flows (which I still had not yet studied well!)

Engine startup... few rounds and the engine came to life!! Then came the first radio call... "Sabena Dispatch, Diamond 4107A is leaving the ramp..." For some time, I couldn't really beleive I was actually going up in the air! Then, a taxi clearance to the run-up area, then to runway 04R and... "Diamond 4107A cleared for take-off, runway 4 right..." Full power and off we went! I was finally in the air! After take-off, the instructor gave me the controls and we proceeded to the South-East Practice Area. I couldn't beleive I was actually flying... for real!! But I was! I then performed some basic turns, climbs and descents and the instructor also showed me some visual reference points on the ground. We flew for about an hour, but really time passed so quickly up there!

We flew back towards Falcon Field where I handed over the controls to my instructor. He performed the landing and then we taxied back to our parking position. My first flight was over. Later on I had a de-briefing with my instructor and he signed my logbook. I now have my first flying hour for real!! Below is a photo of me and my instructor taxiing back to our parking position after the flight. Thanks to Andre' for the photos!!

And now, I can finally say it myself...

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return"

It is a quote attributed nearly everywhere to Leonardo Da Vinci. Some dismiss this however, including an expert on Leonardo Da Vinci (according to http://www.spacequotations.com/). Whoever said it, I think it's true...

And now... next flight, tomorrow (or rather today now) 12th December at 1115 local time (1915 Malta time). Obviously, I'm looking forward to it... I want to fly!!

Till next time!!
FLYINGjohnny!!