Flying: A Story of Confidence and Admiration

While I was living in Los Angeles, my parents and I each flew to the other coast to visit each other once a year.  On their annual trip west in 1985, they looked forward to getting to know my fiancée, Chris, better.  One of the activities we planned for them was to take a trip to Palm Springs to visit their friends who had moved there a few years earlier.  Although the trip was only about a two-hour drive, we decided to fly because Chris was a pilot.

They greeted the offer with enthusiasm.  They had never flown in a small airplane before.  We were able to leave when we wanted, not when a timetable demanded.  We got to bring what we wanted and did not have to go through any screening.  We planned the day trip for a Saturday when we were off from work.  The plan was to fly from Van Nuys Airport to Palm Springs.  Their friends were excited about our visit and awaited our arrival.

We arrived at the airport and relaxed in the lounge while Chris did all his pre-flight requirements.  My parents soaked in the experience that I was growing accustomed to.  After taking photos with the Piper Archer and the pilot, we climbed and entered the plane.  If you have never been in a 4-seater airplane, entering requires stepping onto the wing, and crouching down to enter the back seats.  Then you have to push back the front passenger seat, much like entering a 2-door car.  The pilot and co-pilot enter last, in that order.  My parents took the back seat, while I flew up front as the co-pilot, a job I was beginning to enjoy.

After more pre-flight checking of instruments, we were finally cleared for take-off.  One big difference with flying in a small plane is how loud the noises are compared to large jets that many of us are accustomed to flying in.  Up we rose and after circling around, we were on our way east to Palm Springs.  One thing that Chris always tells his passengers is to always look for other airplanes in the sky.  This is not because he is not looking, but because extra eyes are always a good thing, whether you are ‘back seat driving’ in a car or plane.  Occasionally we would say ‘plane at 10:00’ or ‘plane at 2:00’ and inevitably he would already know about it, but we were just doing our back-seat jobs. 

One of the amazing sights when flying to Palm Springs is going through the Banning Pass.  Interstate 10 was constructed between two large mountains and the air path to Palm Springs pretty much followed above I-10 through that mountain pass.  We all enjoyed flying ‘through’ the mountains and seeing their beauty up close.

Upon landing, the Voorhis family was there to greet us.  They, too, were captivated with the small plan experience.  We enjoyed a visit with our old neighbors from Yorktown, where I grew up. We relaxed in the dry desert air, enjoyed the town, and had a nice meal together.   We stretched the day out as long as we could, then after dark, decided to head back.

Flying at night is a different experience.  Although I was more accustomed now to the small plane experience, my parents were not.  As we approached that same Banning Pass on the way back, we entered a hazy area of reduced visibility.  We could no longer see the two mountains which would shortly be on either side of us.  After a minute, I could feel the tension radiating forward from the back seat.  My father slowly leaned forward and whispered loud enough for only me to hear, ‘He does know what he is doing, right?’  I nodded with great confidence, although it was still a little scary for me too.

Chris had his commercial and instrument ratings.  An instrument rating means you can fly using instruments only and do not need any visual sight outside the window.  A commercial rating means you can be paid to fly people, like the pilots of major airlines.  The instrument rating is what was important that night.

We landed safely and without incident at VanNuys Airport just under an hour after leaving Palm Springs.  Although they didn’t say it, I know that Chris’ approval rating soared to the top of the charts that day.  Yes, he would indeed be a good husband.

A view of Banning Pass with the two mountains we flew between.  Interstate 10 runs through the pass too.

Here I am with Chris and my mom, handing him things to load, before we loaded ourselves.

My dad, always the ham with photos.