Keith preflights our airplane, a Cessna Skyhawk SP

This is the flight that started it all. After careful consideration, I made a decision that if I wanted to learn to fly that there was no better time than the present. I accepted a tempting offer from Cessna for a $49.00 Discovery Flight. I arrived for my 10:00am appointment filled with excitement. This was not my first time to fly in an airplane, but it was the first time in more than ten years. I met Keith McDonald and we proceeded to conduct a preflight inspection of our aircraft, N3521A a beautiful Cessna Skyhawk SP. The sky was a brilliant blue with puffy white clouds.

The view from 1,600 feet

After completing the preflight inspection, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I would be sitting in the left seat of the airplane. A few moments later, with headsets firmly in place, we were taxiing to runway 14. The runup procedure followed, with a thorough checkout of flight controls, instrument checks and engine/oil/fuel indicators. Taxiing up to the "hold short" line of the runway, I was thrilled once again to learn that I'd have the opportunity to perform the takeoff! The tower cleared us for takeoff and with a surge of power, the Cessna's 180 hp engine carried us down the runway. At the indicated liftoff speed, I gently pulled back on the yoke and felt the lofty sensation of landing gear leaving the firm grasp of earth. We were flying!!

As we climbed to about 2,500 feet, I admired the scenery below. Neighborhoods that I knew so well looked so different in the air and the blue sky above seemed to welcome us with outstretched arms. As we leveled off, Keith once again gave me the opportunity to "take the helm". I made several gentle turns to the left and right, thrilled that I was flying an actual airplane. This was a simple yet profound recognition.

Ladies and gentlemen, I was hooked. Yep, the experience of flying an airplane had forever changed me. A quiet decision followed : "I'm going to do this! I'm going to learn to fly!".

Entering a left downwind, runway 14

It wasn't long before we were back in the traffic pattern, entering a left downwind for runway 14. A nicely executed landing, a few moments later, ended our adventure. As we taxied back to the parking area, I had decided that not only was I going to take flight lessons but Mr. Keith McDonald was going to be my flight instructor! I purchased Cessna's "Cleared for Takeoff" private pilot multimedia course and looked forward to getting my FAA Class III medical exam out of the way.

A word of advice: if you've ever wanted to fly an airplane, get your tail to the nearest airport and sign up for a Discovery Flight. This is the best $49.00 you'll ever spend and you can print out your own online coupon by visiting Cessna's Learn to Fly website. Don't forget your camera!!