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 First Flights and
Turtles
by Dave Mote
I performed my first "turtle" on my 15th PPG flight.
I had read about "turtling" and how it could happen. Like all other PPG errors you hear about I had determined to avoid the maneuver. Nevertheless, there I was; staring into the sky, flat on my back like an upside-down turtle, helpless on top of my SkyCruiser and wincing as my prop dug into the ground.
After a beautiful 45-minute evening flight I cruised in for my first no-wind landing, correcting my direction with my right brake and suddenly finding myself coming in way too fast. I fell hard to my right, hammered my prop cage, and fell backwards.
Bill, Jim, Tom, and Don ran to my aid and pulled me to my feet. Looking at my crumpled cage, they shook their heads and lamented the crash landing. Bill and Jim were in training (Bill was preparing for his first flight in a few minutes). I could see that they felt that I must have been really bummed about the accident. But I wasn't.
The flight had been so exhilarating that I was still pumped and smiling. I wasn't even fretting the crash or the busted cage--and I wanted Bill and Jim to understand.
"If I had to land like that every time I flew, I think I would still fly," I said without thinking. That sums up my love of PPG.
- Lesson 1: On approach for a no-wind landing, moderate brake corrections to change direction can accelerate your speed beyond control.
- Lesson 2: PPG is gas!
My first wonderful flight was on June 3, 2002. After months of research and a few weeks of training with my brother-in-flight, Don Jordan, I launched from the Monticello Municipal Airport just a few miles from my home; Nice reverse, great flight, and a crash landing. I was hooked.
The next several days were unforgettable and permanently etched into my memory--flying over my beautiful little town of Monticello, above my home on Lake Freeman while waving to my 3 kids (aged 2 - 5) and wonderful wife in the yard, cruising just yards above miles of corn and bean fields, and curving at canopy level around dark forest borders. Walking into smooth air and melting into orange horizon, I was living a PPG dream. I remember telling Don that I felt like I was 16 years old and had just gotten my drivers license.
My wife delivered our 4th child on June 10th. A few weeks later I was back in the air. Although I had a few mishaps--I ran out of fuel, for example, and landed in a bean field--there were no injuries and almost all of my take-offs and landings were clean.
My Kodak moment occurred when everyone came to see me fly (when else?). My parents and my family were eating KFC in a field when I came in for a nice three-step landing. It's a long story, but as I touched down my propeller fell off; "Was that supposed to happen Daddy...?"
My 15th flight, when I turtled, was last week on July 20. I am still as fired up about PPG as I was after my first flight, and my need for a PPG fix every few days grows as my skills improve. After a flight I feel redeemed, peaceful, exhilarated, and satisfied. My first-flight jitters have slowly been replaced by a calming confidence in my improving skills and greater understanding of my machinery and wing. I live vicariously through other students preparing for their first flight, and I share their excitement.
I think it's important for the PPG brotherhood to share flight experiences and love for the sport. I hope new pilots will record their first impressions so we can all share and relive their victory and fulfillment.
Dave Mote
Monticello, IN
member, HoosierPPGAHoosiersPPGA@yahoogroups.com |
