I will do my best to describe the feeling I had flying my airplane for the first time.  IT WAS AWESOME!  I decided to take it easy and get to know this finely crafted piece of aluminum and steel.  It was built back in 1965, two years before I was born.  But it has been kept well maintained over the years. 

So I did a bit of flying around the Bend area getting used to all the controls, how the engine feels and sounds.  I also took the time to configure how I would use my iPad with Foreflight – I’m sure I will make adjustments on all of this as time goes on. I also did some touch and go’s to get used to landing and taking off.  I have to say that the Piper Cherokee is truly a forgiving aircraft and very stable.  At no time did I feel like the airplane got away from me due to speed or complicated controls. It’s a very simple plane with regular steam gauges and manual controls.  Even the application of flaps is manually performed with what looks like a parking brake lever.

My first flight was only 1.2 hours on the Hobbs meter but it was the most fun 1.2 hours I’ve had in a long time!  I still can’t believe it – I feel like a kid that has gotten the best Christmas present ever and I don’t want to anyone to touch it or even look at it for fear they might break it!

Today was a great day.