Flying Carpet

The bond between aviatiors

It's hard to beat the thrill of flying an airplane. But just as fulfilling is the amazing bond between aviators. Twice in one recent month, pilots I barely knew did wonderful things for me.

"I've been out of the cockpit for a while," wrote a student pilot from Pennsylvania, "but look forward to getting solo qualified again and starting on the cross-country phase. Although I'm rabidly interested in flying and have been all my life, I've always been nervous before lessons. In the past that feeling went away each time I started the engine, but after this prolonged absence I'm particularly uneasy about getting back into the airplane."

I tried to phone back with encouragement, but received the following e-mail reply: "The Army Chief of Staff showed up today, so I'm swamped and can't call you back until this weekend." That certainly got my attention. "Col. Kevin Weddle," said the signature, "Director, Advanced Strategic Arts, United States Army War College." It was a refreshing reminder that regardless of other life accomplishments, we all face challenges in mastering flight. That's what makes piloting a worthy endeavor.

"Those flying skills will quickly return," I reassured Kevin when finally we connected. "Pilot confidence usually erodes long before competence does." That brought Kevin to the core of his concerns. "Does everyone feel nervous walking out to the plane before lessons?" he asked. "You bet they do," I replied. That was all he needed to hear.

"We have more than flying in common," added Kevin, relieved. "My first book, Lincoln's Tragic Admiral: The Life of Samuel Francis Du Pont, comes out in May from University of Virginia Press." At the Army War College, Kevin teaches aspiring generals the strategic lessons offered by history. "I conduct classes at Gettysburg and Vicksburg," he explained, "and in Europe we study firsthand the battles of both world wars." When I grilled Kevin further, he made an offer that no amateur history buff could refuse. "Next time you come to Pennsylvania," he said, "I'll give you a personal tour of the Gettysburg battlefield."

Family matters soon brought Jean and me east, and Kevin was as good as his word. Guiding us through this most famous and complex Civil War battlefield, he and wife Jeanie brought the conflict alive using colorful anecdotes and battle maps carried along for the occasion. "Next time," Kevin promised, "we'll trace the footsteps of Pickett's charge."

Warmed by the afterglow of that visit, I returned home to a message from Tim Evangelakos, a flight instructor from Montreal. "I've started my own business," he wrote proudly. "I named it L'Olive Noire. Like airplanes and flying, olive oil has always been a passion of mine. My Greek relatives own olive orchards, so it was a natural for me. Did you know that olive oil is replacing wine as a popular hostess gift?" With Christmas coming, I recognized an opportunity. By ordering a holiday basket from L'Olive Noire for my friends Lise and Marcel Duval of Quebec City, I could avoid the usual cross-border shipping hassles.

"I rarely fly these days," said Tim when I phoned to arrange the Duvals' gift, "but that's only temporary. Looking back at life, the worst things one could say are: 'I shoulda, coulda, woulda...' Learning to fly was a turning point in my life. Always follow your passions, and things will work out."

I learned the next day that Tim lives what he preaches. "Instead of just mailing the Duvals' gift basket," he wrote, "I'll fly to Quebec City and deliver it personally! It's just an hour away in my friend Ga�tan's Cessna Cardinal. We'll meet Marcel and Lise at the Quebec airport, enjoy coffee and chit-chat, and return home by noon. Ga�tan's plane has just been painted -- for my purposes we'll call it olive green." This seemed a heroic measure given the value of a gift basket, but Tim wouldn't be deterred. "Time is precious for me lately," he said, "and I've fallen into the trap of being 'too busy' to fly. This aerial delivery is the perfect excuse to hop into the left seat. Besides, I know the Duvals from your column and can't wait to meet them. And maybe they'll know of business opportunities in Quebec City." (See "Flying Carpet: L'Aventure Au Quebec," March 2001 AOPA Flight Training.)

A few days later, Tim shared the details. "Yesterday, Ga�tan and I flew from Montreal to Quebec City," he wrote. "Les Duvals watched our trusty Cardinal land with yours truly at the controls. They were thrilled to receive your gift, and even brought one for me, a yummy maple jelly. You see, Lise's brother-in-law makes organic maple products, and I think there's a business opportunity there. You never know where life will take you....

"The flight itself was a real confidence booster," he continued. "I maintained altitude and heading like a pro, and although a little long, my touchdown was a greaser. Ga�tan flew back and impressed me with a masterful crosswind landing. What a wonderful day."

Attached were delivery photos, including an aerial shot marking the route to Tim's favorite flying destination, Sherbrooke. "It has everything," he wrote, "great skiing, river tours, and magnificent mansions. There are also many specialty food shops that might need olive oil...."

Perhaps Lise best explained the bond between aviators in her thank-you note. "This was our first gift delivery by air," she wrote. "Tim is very sociable and generous -- that seems characteristic of airplane pilots." How true. Kevin, Jeanie, and Tim are just the latest wonderful friends Jean and I have made through flying. It's incredible, the fine folks we meet just because we're pilots.

Greg Brown was the 2000 National Flight Instructor of the Year. His books include Flying Carpet, The Savvy Flight Instructor, The Turbine Pilot's Flight Manual, Job Hunting for Pilots, and You Can Fly! Visit his Web site.