Every time I pick up the control box for my RealFlight RC flight simulator, I think of my dad.
When he was sick, he passed a lot of time by working on a HUGE RC Piper Cub. This sucker was massive, and while I'm pretty sure he never actually flew it due to his health, he tried to do the next best thing and use RealFlight to simulate the experience.
My dad and I never had a lot in common, but that was something over which we could connect. When I visited him, it never took long to make my way to the computer to open the RealFlight program. Both he and my brother Doug made fun of me for not being able to land a plane ... and flying a helicopter? That was absolutely out of the question. Within seconds, I would always crash.
While Dad and Doug gave me a hard time about not being able to land, I absolutely gave it right back to my father.
Hey, Dad, I would begin. Remember that time you demolished that plane you spent so much time and money on?
Yeah? What about it?
I would start a new journey on RealFlight and right away spiral it into the ground.
Watch this.
Clicking the reset button on the control box, a brand-new aircraft would immediately appear on the screen.
Crash. Reset. New aircraft.
Crash. Reset. New aircraft.
Crash. Reset. New aircraft.
He laughed.
After picking up a copy of RealFlight for my own computer, I'm now able to land an airplane on the runway ... most of the time. And helicopters? I'm still no pro ... but for your viewing pleasure ... I present to you the results of a lot of practice.
I typically fly a Huey, because that's the bird on which Dad flew so often in Vietnam. This isn't the prettiest flight you'll ever see, but ... hey ... I didn't crash.
This one's for you, Dad.
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