"Tko leti, vrijedi". This sentence describes the essence of what I feel about flying. Roughly translated from Croatian it means - "He who flies, is worthy".
I've already written about my passion for flying.
Lately I was able to revive this passion with a series of successful flights. I've even recorded a bit from one of the recent cloud jumping experiences.
Old school is the best
During my flight training I had the privilige to meet two very special people, my flight instructor mr. Ziva Frenc and mr. Kusic, an elderly gentleman still in love with the skies.
Listening to them talk about the aviation is fantastic. They spent all their lives flying and I have a lot to learn from them.
Few days ago mr. Kusic had an emergency situation when the towing plane released the rope for it entered a flock of birds. The glider was released on mere 100m leaving mr. Kusic in a very unpleasant situation. Luckily he was able to make emergency landing. In the process the towing rope was lost... Later we spent three hours on a hottest God's day looking for the rope through the neighboring terrain. I was exhausted but mr. Kusic, 73, was just tireless. I had to follow. I couldn't understand that rock strong determination to find a piece of a flying gear.
My instructor mr. Frenc, is one of the most experienced pilots in the country. Having flown thousands of hours of jet instrumental flying over all the continents in the world, I absorb every word of his like a sponge. Some say he is a strange old fellow, but for me he is an aviation legend. Just to be able to fly with him presents me a great honor. Rarely can you meet people with such experience, and to be alive to tell about it. Old pilot is the best pilot.
And the day is over. We spent almost 12 hours, some flying, some helping others fly and some just trying to understand the essence of flight. We are all looking forward to the next occasion, becoming one with the skies...
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Posted in: Leisure
TAGS:airport listening, airport listening beginner, blanik l13, day airport, five days airport, frenc ziva pilot, funny birds picture, google frenc, l13 blanik, looking forward flying hours, pilot ziva frenc, ping list, what told blogspot, zdenka aleksic, ziva frenc, ziva frenc pilot
5 Comments
Glad you like gliding. As a retired private plot with over 1600 hrs PIC I can understand. I always welcomed my gliding training as it makes you a better powered pilot. But what I liked about gliding is the serenity and woosh sounds as you worked the thermals.
Happiness would be a glide, some cevapcici and a beer ):
Real pilots know how to use most inexhaustible source of power, sun, where the only limit makes the limitation of our own bodies. I had the privilege to be taught by Mr. Frenc, and to spend, I don't know exactly how many hours together through thick and thin in the airline. One thing I have to admit, if anybody was born to fly, it was Ziva Frenc. I consider him a great friend and a great man. For Mr. Kusic, I know him too and I spent my entire professional life being evaluated by him and working on projects together. It is great to see those men appreciated by others.
Well, that would be quite a different story :)
What if I told you I was afraid of heights before? :)
It feels so unreal from my point of view to be up in the skies in a flying machine with no engine. It is obvious from your videos and your writings that it is a wonderful and intense experience. I'll just have to take your word for it, 'cause I doubt I will ever have the courage to do something similar :)