Picture yourself at 2500 feet above the ground, sitting in a Volkswagen Bug with wings. You are at the controls of a Cessna 152 single engine airplane sitting next to an FAA inspector who has your future as a pilot in their hands. At the moment you have their life in your hands, but since this model airplane has two yokes that really is not the case.
Yesterday I shared the meaning of “The Hay Is In The Barn” with you. Today has a similar theme, but in today’s case the result of making a mistake could prove to be far more painful.
Today was the day I had been training for, studying for, reading for, practicing for and looking forward to. Today was the day. And I felt I was ready.
One of the tests is to take into consideration the four forces of flight: weight, lift, thrust, and drag. The strength and direction of the wind also comes into play.
The test is to pick an object on the ground and maneuver your aircraft in a circle around that object, keeping it below the tip of your left wing. In my case, I picked a water tower.
Three times around holding position was the objective. I flashed back to my readings. When you are flying into the wind, do this. When the wind is to your back, do that. When it is coming from the left, do this. When from the right do that.
I began my first turn. I was about to experience the wind from four different directions in a short period of time. The wind was slowing me down, speeding me up, sliding me to the left, and sliding me to the right. I kept circling, but the tower was no longer below my wing. In fact it was a mile away by now. My mind was in a spin as I tried to figure out where I went wrong.
The instructor simply said, “Now go back and do it again.” I did. Same results. She repeated herself, “Go back and do it again.” Same results.
That is when she told me in no uncertain terms something I will never forget as long as I live. “Go back there and forget everything you ever read about making coordinated turns and fly this box around the &*%& water tower.” And that is exactly what I did. Three times. Perfect. Tower holding steady right below my left wing.
Lesson: There is no substitute for studying, reading, practicing, researching, and thinking. But when all the preparation is finished and done, it is time that you simply grab the bull by the horns and “fly around the water tower.”
Note: If you feel there is still some room for a little more preparation, my Mastermind Owners Retreat for Entrepreneurs just might be what you have been waiting for. Stuart Cohen and I will be your facilitators. Check it out.
Mike Marchev is always looking for a few more proactive travel professionals to join his Sales and Marketing Club. Send for details.
