In the Air in a Cessna C-172

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A couple weeks ago my longtime friend Jeff “no relation” Robichaud took me up in a Cessna west of Calgary. Jeff and I have known each other since 1983. All those years, he’s demonstrated that he likes to master things. I think getting his pilot’s license a few years back is a vestige of having been infatuated with Top Gun.

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The only time I’ve been up in a tiny plane was when I went skydiving in 1998. I didn’t realize all the paperwork and prep time that went into taking a plane up. Weather, fuel, weather, weather, log books, waivers and weather checks.

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He takes me over Ghost Lake, up the valley, down towards Morley. We face the low sun gleaming just above the Rockies at 7000 ft (or 4000 ft above the ground).

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The most intimidating part about flying seems to be the radio contact with the air traffic controllers at YBW and YYC. Jeff’s voice changes to a lower register when he talks to them. I can’t understand a word. Terrifying.

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Jeff gives me the controls for a couple minutes. Pretty responsive machine. Happy to pass the controls back to Jeff.

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It is beautiful country from the ground. The dramatic relief of the rivers carving through the foothills from the air is spectacular.

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Facing east we follow the Bow River towards Calgary and land at Springbank.

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Jeff, thanks for the flight and for landing the plane so well.

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3 Comments

  1. Awesome pictures! I’ve always had a fascination with flying too, looking forward to getting an HTC Vive soon and getting into some hardcore flight siming 🙂 How are you these days? How is your math program coming along?

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