My First Plane Ride As The Pilot's Wife


When Danny earned his pilot's license in May, I said that I could not have been more proud of him. Apparently I lied. This weekend he took me for my first flight with him, and I can now say that - really - I've never been more proud of him than I am today.


Flight is in his DNA and his history, so it is my absolute pleasure to play just a small part of him becoming a pilot after all these years. Just watching him pull the plane out of the hangar made me cry happy tears, seeing him doing the little things like he's been doing them forever.


I've flown many times, even internationally, but never in a plane this small. I was a little concerned that my vertigo would be a problem and that I'd get too warm with no air conditioning in summer. But Danny was amazing in his prep with me (there's even a book for passengers) and did the best briefings and walk-through when we got there. Plus, I get my own headset. And my responsibility was to bring snacks and know the weather and traffic patterns.


Danny is a wonderful pilot, especially for just getting licensed. I was completely calm through preflight checks, taxiing, and takeoff. Not having butterflies was a surprise, but his calming presence keeps my emotions in check, for sure.


Once we were in the air I went into photography mode. It wasn't a very bright day and there were lots of clouds, but that kept the cockpit from being too terribly hot. If you've never seen Iowa from the sky (we're often considered just a fly-over state, unfortunately), then this is your chance!


It was such a change of perspective to see all the places I normally see when we're driving, but from the air. The farms are laid out so perfectly, the trees grow in such beautiful patterns, and there's literally no way to hide things in your pack yard from an airplane passenger. Yes, I saw some pretty weird stuff...


Danny took me south into Davis County as far as the rain would let us, then we turned and flew into Van Buren County, then back north to Ottumwa. It was lovely to follow the Des Moines River part of the way, watching it meander and feeling my stomach meander as we turned at different angles to follow it. 


I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, and it was such a blessing to see the results of what Danny has been working so hard for over the past year. And I'm so excited to see how he uses his new skills to bless other people. That's his heart, and that makes my heart happy. Here's to years of flying together!

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