Head in the Clouds

I've always been captivated by aircraft and aviation, and I got my pilot's licence at Fullerton, California, in 1993. I've been back to California a few times since, flying out of Long Beach.

For anyone who remembers what it's like...

First solo landing in a 10 knot crosswind when you suddenly realise the reason the runway's accelerating across the windscreen is you're dipping the wings the wrong way and then round out too high and you blip the throttle to recover after moving hastily across from the mixture control you've been fondling all the way down but shit you've given it too much and I bet they're watching this one oh god that's half the runway and you've gone from pre-stall to seventy knots and still sideways but there's plenty of time and hey you would have made it if it hadn't been for that gust and...

You: [FX: calmly] "Two four niner, going around"
Tower: "Two four niner, roger. Ahh, say fuel on board?"

Above - Overshooting at Santa Catalina Island
Top - Piper Seminole on the ramp at Long Beach