Dan, whose childhood dream of becoming a pilot/astronaut was thwarted by his height, experiences his first small plane flight in the author's practical Grumman Cheetah, visibly rekindling a deep-seated passion.
The author later reflects that the "practical" Cheetah offered a limited experience compared to a more "inspirational" aircraft like a Decathlon, which provides superior views and a more visceral, "motorcycle-like" connection to flight.
Despite wishing for a more exciting plane to fully share the magic of flying, the author ultimately treasures the memory of witnessing Dan's unadulterated joy and the spark in his eyes during their initial flight together.
The graceful, curving point of Half Moon Bay is moving closer in the windscreen, and the airport runway there is now clearly visible. “I can take the controls back, if you want, to get us around the airport,” I offer to my friend Dan, in the right seat. He answers without taking his eyes off the horizon in front of him.
“Actually, I’d like to keep flying, if that’s okay.”
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