Short Final

Back when I was a student pilot in Navy Flight School, I was flying solo along the beach, conducting precision aerobatics practice. As I finished a barrel roll and set up for a loop, I heard a student-and-instructor aircraft check in to the area, and the exchange went like this. … Instructor: “Solo aircraft 123, was that you that just did the barrel roll and loop?” … Me (half-expecting an observed critique from the instructor): “Solo 123. Affirmative.” … Instructor: “Solo 123, I have a FAM-1 [new student] here that wants to be just like you when he grows up!” … Me: “Roger that.” … as I pulled a victorious aileron roll! — Greg Cole

Editorial Staff

Updated Jun 13, 2019 8:59 PM EDT

Back when I was a student pilot in Navy Flight School, I was flying solo along the beach, conducting precision aerobatics practice. As I finished a barrel roll and set up for a loop, I heard a student-and-instructor aircraft check in to the area, and the exchange went like this:

Instructor:
"Solo aircraft 123, was that you that just did the barrel roll and loop?"

Me (half-expecting an observed critique from the instructor):
"Solo 123. Affirmative."

Instructor:
"Solo 123, I have a FAM-1 [new student] here that wants to be just like you when he grows up!"

Me:
"Roger that."

... as I pulled a victorious aileron roll!

Greg Cole

Editorial StaffAVweb