Father's Day flight

Aztec Driver

Aztec Driver

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Mar 7, 2005
Messages
982
Location
Elizabethtown, PA
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Display name:
Bryon
Finally got a chance to take my Dad up flying. I wish I would have taken the time to do this years ago. He used to take lessons when he was young. He introduced me to airplanes by having someone take us up when I was a youngster. After I became a pilot, he was always very interested in going up, but with my very busy schedule, his busy schedule, and various weather scrubs, we never got a chance to go flying together. A few years ago, his health started to deteriorate, to the point that he was on and off of oxygen frequently. He was in and out of the hospital various times throughout the last several years, as well.

He was quite weak, and getting in and out of the Twinkie can be described as torturous at best. Even I have to roll out and crawl many times. I managed to use a step stool and help him into the co-pilot's seat, and then my wife crawled into the plane via the baggage door after putting the stool in.

Getting out was a fiasco, as he had to slide out onto his back laying down on the wing backwards, until I could get out and help him up. Did I mention all of this was done while hooked up to an oxygen concentrator?

We then enjoyed a good meal and returned to fly over his old house and his new house. Experience taught me, though. The second exiting was a lot better. I got out over top of him and then lifted him straight up to a standing position. Much better, and much more dignified.

He felt feeble and embarrassed, but he did enjoy himself. Both of us wished we had taken the effort to do this years ago.
 
That's awesome. I was able to take my father flying several times, including bringing him to visit his side of the family in PA three times.

Assuming the concentrator is continuous flow, may I suggest bringing a longer line next time?
 
That's great, Bryon! I was lucky and managed to take my father up once before he passed. Luckily, he was still mobile, and didn't have difficulty getting into the plane. It's a memory I'll always cherish, and I'm sure yours is the same.
 
Bob Noel said:
That's awesome. I was able to take my father flying several times, including bringing him to visit his side of the family in PA three times.

Assuming the concentrator is continuous flow, may I suggest bringing a longer line next time?
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We had a nice long tube, just had to keep moving it around. Next time I think I will borrow the Aerostar.
 
My father who flew and loved airplanes - and brain wiped me at a young age to be a pilot - died when I was a teenager... I would give anything to be able to take him flying one time....
Rent a Cardinal and take your dad up a time or two more while he is still able... With a step stool he will be able to make a dignified entry and exit...

denny-o
 
Dr. O said:
My father who flew and loved airplanes - and brain wiped me at a young age to be a pilot - died when I was a teenager... I would give anything to be able to take him flying one time....
Rent a Cardinal and take your dad up a time or two more while he is still able... With a step stool he will be able to make a dignified entry and exit...

denny-o
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Or a 182 works well too, and gives a great view of the ground. Better than both would be a Pilatus PC-12, but that's more than a little out of reach for most of us. But rent SOMETHING and take your dad flying!
 
Didn't do squat with my old man, and he's been gone decades. You guys who get to take your fathers up in the aircraft are really, really lucky.
 
Dr. O said:
My father who flew and loved airplanes - and brain wiped me at a young age to be a pilot - died when I was a teenager... I would give anything to be able to take him flying one time....
Click to expand...
+1. My father was not a pilot but was interested in airplanes and would point them out to me in the sky. Unfortunately he also died when I was a teenager (at the age that I am currently) before he ever realized I would later learn to fly.
 
One of my great frustrations about my prolonged effort to get my ticket involved my older sister. She wanted to go flying with me so bad, it is all she talked about. She died two weeks before I got my ticket. My brother refuses to get in a small airplane.

Life ain't always fair, be glad you had this chance to take him up.

John
 
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