The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

"It's Time For Me To Fly"

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

16 August 2000

A couple of years ago, Larry Louden who graduated from La Harpe High School and now lives in St. Louis, took my husband, my son, and me through the TWA training facilities for pilots at the St. Louis airport. Larry, who is retired from the United States Air Force, works for TWA as a pilot and as an instructor. He gives pilots their training and recertification for TWA.

Besides the classroom, the majority of his teaching is done in flight simulators.

The simulators look like a large steel box with huge robot legs. But once you are inside the simulator, you can't tell the difference than TWA's largest jet.

As we walked through the facility, a mechanic was ready to take the simulator through a test run, something that is routinely done before Larry can begin training of a pilot.

He said three of us could go inside with him if we wanted, so Michael, Matt and another boy his age went inside. The scene out the window of the simulator looks as if you were outside on the St. Louis runway.

Larry and I stepped outside and they closed the doors as we watched.  Soon, you could hear an engine start and the simulator rock as if it were being taxied down the runway, then you seen it quickly tilt as the jets fired and it sounded as if a jet had actually taken off.

I wished I had been inside and felt the action.

Larry said all his training of pilots happen from inside this building using simulators, but Larry said the flying situation is as real as any of their planes. When pilots finish the course, they are ready to fly passengers anywhere, are prepared for any emergency.

Larry sits in the back of the simulator and throws emergency situations at the pilots and they must learn to deal with any of the problems before they can pass.

We were pretty impressed with the technology of TWA and of Larry's responsibilities.

Saturday, I decided I would stop at Remmer's Aviation in Burlington and take an introductory flight lesson for fun. I was inspired by Larry, Max Hart, who is a pilot, and by June Galbraith, who learns something new every year, she told me. June has her pilot's license.

I thought an introductory lesson which was only $35, would just be a ride in the plane and some instruction on what I would be taking if I signed up for the 40 hour course to get a solo license.

As I met my instructor, Craig, he quickly explained the outside moving parts of the plane and how they worked. Then instructed me to get inside the small 4-seater Piper Cherokee.

He explained everything from the seat belt to the emergency brake, the foot pedals for guiding it down the runway, to all the controls on his check list.

After going over each he asked me to put the key in the engine, turn it and push it in, and soon I had the engine running. The next thing he asked me to do was guide the plane down the runway, not using my hands, but with the feet peddles.

This was a new experience and I felt like a drunk on a tricycle at first but soon was pretty steady on the orange line. Then he asked me to push on the brakes, rev up the engine so we could again over the check list.

After we checked everything from oil pressure to vent fan, he said to taxi on around the curve and face the other way. So, I did. I thought we were about done with the first lesson when he told me to push the throttle full forward, stay on the yellow line and when I get to 60 mph pull up on the control. I explained I couldn't do this and he said sure I could and he was right there to help.

I was really feeling anxious but I did as I was told and I was surprised how easy it was on the take-off. I was flying over the river toward Dallas City and climbing to about 2500 feet above sea level. I could see Dallas City and Carman and the bridge as if they were all a block away.

After picking out Oaklane Nursing Home and then my home, I banked around Stronghurst which wasn't a smart thing to do. It was like being on a merry-go-round with everything spinning. Craig told me to keep my eye on the horizon and head for the bridge.

When you aren't feeling well, the flight back seemed long but soon I was flying across the Mississippi on the north side of the bridge and flying over the city toward the runway.

Now, you are going to land, he told me.

Of course, I said I can't do that. Craig said pull up one notch on what looks like an emergency brake.

That slows down the speed as you land, he said. I managed to pull the brake up but I wasn't feeling up to landing.

Together, somehow, we made one of the smoothest landings I had ever made, and he opened the air vents to cool me off before I turned blue.

He instructed me to taxi the plane and park it, and to shut everything down, and it was all done in less than 30 minutes.

He logged my first 1/2 hour of flight training and said within 15 hours I would probably be flying solo.

I will have to rest up before I take lesson number two. I just didn't think I would be flying on my first lesson.

But as the song title says, "It's Time For Me To Fly."