Letting Go..........

[BIGFOOT]

Today was the culmination of more than a year of hard work and fun.It started with the exhaustive search and purchase of the best supercub that we could afford.Then the countless hours of cleaning,polishing,inspecting and repairing.Modifications and updates,making sure that no surprises lurked in the almost fifty year old airframe.Then came the enjoyable part the introduction of the fifteen year old boy to the fifty year old taildragger.Soothing his frustrations after those awkward days trying to tame the fabric covered beast with a mind of its own.Watching his confidence grow as his skill and wheel landings finally came together.All these days spent together,father and son, working towards the common goal.With the promise that he would solo on his birthday.Well today was the big day,his sixteenth.The plane was ready and he was certainly ready. The question I had to ask myself as his father and his instructor was this......was I ready? Ive been a professional pilot and flight instructor for twenty seven years logging seventeen thousand hours in cubs to the 747 .Iam here to tell you that when you stand on the ramp next to your wife(tears running down her face) and watch your only son fly off in your only cub,before he can legally drive an automobile.That is the very definition of letting go!.

Dreams do come true (added by Tim) Way to go Sean!!
http://www.supercub.org/upload/Seansolo.jpg

[itsgpk]

Wow thanks for for the note, I wish I had that experience best of luck to your family and to your son

[SJ]

Great post! Stories like this are my favorite part of this website. You are leaving a great legacy.

sj

[RedBaron]

Hey,

That is a really great glimpse of an American really getting involved in the next Generation. They are our future! Thanks for sharing your really awesome story!
Andy

[Tim]

A few years ago a good friend of mine soloed his grandson on his 16th birthday. He soloed in a Stearman, a Taylorcraft, and a Mooney. We all thought the kid was on his way to a career in aviation. He flew for about 6 months after that, and never got in an airplane again. He just got out of welding school and wants to be a welder. Go figure

Tim

[Mauleguy]

Fly for fun! Everything else will follow. If you can figure out what you love to do when your young your ahead of the game of life. I wish I had found aviation when I was young. Would have done things differently. Oh well, I have a great time now every time I climb up into My Maule.

Greg

[don d]

I have twin boys. They are 27 now, one a teacher and the other a home builder. I was a professional pilot when they were born and during their early years. Since I have been in construction but always had an airplane and flew regularly. I was a CFI and tried to enchorage both to fly.

When one was 16, he soloed. After a few controlled solo flights, I told him to go and enjoy himself around the local area for about 30 minutes. He came back all smiles. Then I guess I made a mistake. I told him that he needed to buy some of the gas. He bought a pick-up and never flew again. My other boy is content to let me do all the flying. He has a good job, makes 1/2 agian more money than me, but I can't get him interested in flying himself.

If fuel keeps going the way it's heading$$$ it won't make much difference, only a few that are well healed will be able to enjoy what we had over the years. I'm thankfull it lasted a century. Enjoy, I'm afraid it won't last.

Don

[diggler]

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