My First Propeller Plane Ride

 

        I had my first propeller plane ride in mid-October last year. When we got there, Pilot Dave welcomed us inside the office by the Riverside Airport. He told us the plane was fueling. We couldn’t wait to see the plane, so Dave led us to the parking area. A white aircraft was parked in the middle.  “Is that the one we’re going to fly?” I asked with excitement. It was a two-person plane with big windows and windshield, and two comfortable cushioned seats in the spacious cabin. Under the complicated instrument panel with many buttons and wires, two throttles emerged for each person to control the propeller speed, direction, and height of the plane. The plane was about 7 meters long, with a wingspan of 9 meters. Dave told me the aircraft was called the Skycatcher. I wanted to catch the sky immediately! Mom was a bit worried and asked if there was enough gas for a 45 minute-long flight. Dave said a full 24 gallon-tank would last for 4 hours. Here we go!  

     After the door was latched, I put on my sunglasses and fastened the seat belt. Pilot Dave asked me to put on headphones to talk because of the loud rumbling and vibrations of the powerful engine. When we were all set, the engine sprang to life, and he drove the plane to the ramp and took off. I felt excited and a bit nervous. The adventure began.

        In a few minutes, we had already climbed up to 4,000 feet and were increasing speed. Pilot Dave allowed me to touch the throttle in front of me and pretend to fly by myself. We flew south, and then two huge lakes and lots of hills caught my eyes. The moving cars on the freeway, trees in the parks, and buildings all looked like toys to me. I heard the deep rumbling of the engine, and the humorous voice of Pilot Dave beside me. The weather was nice and clear, and even without AC, I felt cool because of the holes in the windows that allowed fresh air to come in. Luckily, I didn’t throw up in the aircraft, and all I felt was joy.

        On the way back to the airport, I also asked some questions, such as what kind of fuel he used to fill the plane, and how high or fast it could go. Dave told me the speed could reach as high as 219 kilometers per hour, and could fly about 15,000 feet above the ground. And I was impressed to hear that the normal 80 minute-drive from the airport to Temecula takes only 15 minutes by plane, with no traffic or speeding tickets to worry about.

         Finally, after 40 minutes in the air, we sighted the landing strip. Soon, we zoomed toward it and landed smoothly. Mom was upon me immediately after she had finished taking her pictures. She hugged me and asked if I liked it. I told her it was a ride that words simply could not describe. Pilot Dave also gave me an aviation badge to remember this ride. I told Dave that I definitely would recommend this flight to anyone who also has interest in flying!