My last flying lesson

Bubba met this young lady, Dorothy, and she and her sister double-dated us the day I was to practice my steep turns. The four of us went to Lakeside and after Bubba gave each of them a ride, we took off to practice steep turns. After we were airborne and over Horseshoe Lake within sight of the clubhouse, where aerobatics were performed, Bubba asked me if my seat and shoulder harnesses were tight. It was always standard procedure to do that before we taxied from the apron, so I looked back at Bubba and nodded affirmative. "Make sure, pull on them to make sure they are tight," he said. I yanked, pulled, and looked back at his smiling face.

Bubba applied full power to the 175 hp Ranger engine and dropped the nose until it was headed for the lake, then pulled the nose up towards the sky. Horseshoe Lake was now over my head and the sky was where the lake should have been. I closed my eyes and grabbed the side of the cockpit with all of the strength a boy of 16 could muster. I felt my weight transfer from my bottom to the shoulder harness. Shortly thereafter, my sensations returned to normal and I looked at Bubba. "How did you like that?" he asked. I learned a lesson about truth telling that day. I figured if I nodded affirmative, he would not do it again and I could save face. My head was still nodding "yes" when I heard the Ranger 175 hp engine roar and could feel the nose drop. I held on so tight, I thought I was going to break my fingers.

Coming out of the loop, Bubba let the craft slowly ascend until the nose stood still in the sky. The nose suddenly dropped and the earth started to spin. Bubba pulled the nose up and applied more power. Then we slowly rolled over and flew inverted. Yes, this was a show for the ladies. I looked at Bubba and shook my head from side to side. Bubba returned to normal flight and said, "take over and return to base leg" (that portion of a landing pattern just prior to final approach). The only thing that I could think of was if he was trying to impress this lady, why not take her to a movie and buy her a five cent bag of popcorn. Why scare the hell out of your brother?

Bubba made the final approach and allowed me to "S" turn back to the clubhouse. Alvene, Bubba's plan worked because as soon as the propeller stopped turning, this starry-eyed female ran to her man in a flight jacket, helmet, and white silk scarf.

This was my last flight with Bubba and the end of my flight training.