It was July 26, 1977, exactly four days after I passed my instrument check ride—one that was performed almost entirely in IMC, but that is another story. I was headed out on my first IFR flight as a rated pilot to see my parents in St. Louis. My flight that day was from the Strongsville, Ohio, airport, now a housing subdivision south of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (KCLE) to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) in suburban St. Louis.
My ride that day was a brand-new Piper Archer, N2876K. It was well equipped for that era; it even had a two-axis autopilot and DME—a luxury in those days. The flight was planned for four hours plus, with a stop in Indianapolis for fuel and to check weather at the Combs Gates FBO. I filed my first solo instrument flight plan and departed at 8:30 a.m. local. The weather was VFR all the way to Indianapolis International Airport (KIND)with only early morning haze to contend with. After picking up my IFR flight plan from Cleveland Departure, I climbed with the sun at my back into a cloudless blue sky. I felt like I belonged.
