"The rays of happiness, like those of light, are colorless when unbroken."
Henry W. Longfellow
My height has caused some issues for me when I fly. I have trouble putting all the force I need to on the rudder pedal during take off. Shane says it takes 40 and 50 lbs of force to push the pedal all the way in. My short legs really have to stretch to get it all the way in which has caused another issue for me. The last month I've had off and on intense lower back pain. I finally put two and two together and figured out that the pain seemed to pop up after Shane and I would go flying. Earlier this week we flew two days back to back and I could barely bend over the day after the second lesson. No pain no gain, right?
Shane says there's a solution and that his other Cessna 172 (27G) doesn't require as much rudder pressure, but I DON'T WANT TO fly it! Early on in our lessons we flew that plane and flying it didn't go that well. I really didn't like flying it, and after that lesson I didn't want to fly it again. I would rather learn one airplane and learn it well. I favored 3NK (tail number of the Cessna 172) from the beginning and would like to think there was probably a good reason I did. Oddly enough the majority of the private pilot students that Shane and his instructors have favor 27G. I think this just drives Shane nuts. He should expect it because he knows I've always done things in my own unique way. He really can't expect anything less from me.
I've been flying 3NK for 16 lessons and am progressing so I want to stick with it. If I wasn't making progress in 3NK I'd figure we needed to change something. I am progressing though and don't want to take the easy way out. I want to finish what I started in the airplane that I like. One of the best things in my life, my mini pilot, didn't come easy. After 9 months of obstacles his birthday finally came, and he made me work for 14 hours with no intentions of coming out. A c-section was performed because the little stinker was far more comfortable with his surroundings. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
I want to teach my children that there is no obstacle that they can't overcome. I truly believe the best way to teach this is through modeling and flying 3NK seems like a good place to start. So Shane may continue to ask if I want to fly 27G and I'll continue to tell him no. Eventually he'll stop asking. :) It may take more flying time to be able to fly 3NK competently as opposed to 27G, but I'll get it. And when I grease the three landings needed for solo it will all be worth it. Ok, so I probably won't grease them but as long as they're safe who cares! If Sullivan shows in interest in learning to fly someday (highly likely with the way things are going) that if I could do it that he can too!
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