Headwinds and Tailwinds

 

Dad the Rocket Jockey

Today is my Dads birthday, he's 87 and he's a flight instructor. I've grown up hearing about Headwinds and Tailwinds. Dad started flying when he was in his early 20's. He still flies and teaches several times a week. He loves it. His goal is to be the oldest flight instructor in the state. I think he's there,(maybe the nation) but he doesn't want to draw any attention to the fact.
Dad was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award several years ago by the FAA. You have to have been flying consecutively over 50 years with no accidents to even be considered for it. Dad has a great reputation and students like to learn from him because he's the best, with all of his experience, including combat. He was in the first class of jet fighter pilots, The Guinea Pigs. They lost half of his class in plane crashes. I don't know how my Mom stood it. She said when someone went down, the wives would all hurry down to the flight line to see all the planes land, who made it home and who didn't.
I didn't get the flying gene and don't like to fly. I consider it a necessity to get from one place to the other. I hate turbulence and flying through storms. I once wrapped my arms around a pole in the airport and held on with all my might. I refused to get on the plane with my family. We were boarding a plane headed for Japan. My Dad was going to be in VietNam for part of the time. We would stay behind and live in Japan with Mom.
At the last minute, I refused to get on the plane and fly over all that water. I was 11 and I was panic stricken. My good friend had just died in a plane crash. He was going to visit his grandmother in Denver, and the new jet crashed.
The PanAm plane was on the tarmac and completely boarded. In those days, a protesting eleven year old could hold up an entire flight. It was a huge new white jet with a bright blue logo. The plane was filled with young military men on board and my family. It looked gigantic to me. I decided that second to stay behind in California while they lived in Japan for the next 3 years.
The only way I agreed to release my grip on the pole was my Dad promised to fly the plane if we got into a storm or into any trouble. (Come to think of it, it was my first experience with holding my space) Dad agreed and I reluctantly boarded. It took everything I had to walk up the metal stairs to board. I felt like I was going to the gallows. I had my rosary clasped in my sweaty palm. Mom gave up her seat and I sat by Dad. I prayed and prayed that rosary. My younger sisters and brother were sitting calmly in their seats already buckled in. I didn't even care that I was the oldest and would get flack for it. It didn't matter. I was frozen in fear.
We didn't have much of a headwind or a tailwind. The flight was smooth. I learned to play poker with the young airmen. I played with them for hours and didn't hardly notice when we landed in Hawaii.
We stayed for a week and then flew on to Japan. It was easy to board that next flight. I'll never forget the pilot let me go into the cockpit to see beautiful Mt. Fuji as we descended into Tokyo.
Looking back, I really appreciate the fact that Dad didn't strong arm me or force me onto the plane. He was normally a really strict disciplinarian. Had I not let go of the pole, who knows how it would have ended. I've never forgotten that Dad was patient and understanding. He was kind when I really needed it and I love him for it. Happy 87th Birthday Dad!