10 Comments
User's avatar
Louise Haynes's avatar

I love this post, Mark. And I am quite envious that you are able to fly!

I remember when I was quite small, I begged my mother to buy me a package of the red feathers. I got some glue and was determined to make my own wings. (Must have read about Icarus in school.) I had (literal) dreams of running down the sidewalk and taking off.

Just recently, I was thinking how wonderful it would be to go hang gliding or to learn to fly a glider. Guess that will remain a dream for me, but it's great to live vicariously through your post!

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thanks Louise. I was smiling as I read of your childhood aspirations. I remember building a few model airplanes, but they did only minimally better than Icarus did.

Hopefully this spring I'll start doing some more flying/photography, so others won't have to work their imaginations so hard.

Expand full comment
Louise Haynes's avatar

Wonderful! Looking forward to that! 🛫

Expand full comment
Tara Penry's avatar

Mark, This is so timely! My flight enthusiast just turned 15, and a few days earlier he got his Civil Air Patrol cadet pins. Fifteen is a good age for getting airborne. As in your family, father and son share this love of flight. If you have a local CAP squadron, they could possibly use you and let you fly a 3-seater! Enjoy the fall colors up there.

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Well, that would be an exciting time. The mid-teens are always interesting, but the CAP has a great mission, and some good stuff is likely to rub off on your son. Is your husband a pilot or A.F veteran? I'm no longer current as a private pilot - and struggled with the expense and environmental issues of burning so much fuel.

We're just starting to see a little color here in Wisconsin - how about you?

Expand full comment
Tara Penry's avatar

The kids’ dad has worked mostly in non-military aviation administration - wildfire helicopters to private charter - so the kids grew up around aircraft, air shows, and Christmas parties and some birthdays in hangars. It rubbed off on one of them. We’re seeing color here, too - still early but cooling fast. We’re lucky to have a large and active CAP squadron close by.

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

That all sounds good, like a wonderful exposure to what I've grown to think of as the positive side of aviation. If I had ended up dropping bombs or napalm on civilians in Vietnam, my life would have been over - one way or another.

I hope you get to savor the remaining cool and beautiful days before they turn brown and cold!

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

. . . and then white and beautiful - we can't forget about that part

Expand full comment
Priscilla Merrill's avatar

So cool! Yup! I can fully relate. Wonder Full flying machine. Enjoy!!!

Expand full comment
Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Hi Priscilla,

Thanks,

Why am I not surprised you're almost onboard? Having only one seat lessens the chances of me generating any converts.

Expand full comment