In 1948, living in New Jersey, I wanted very much to get into flying. My inquiries led me to Secaucus (now a metropolis in its own right, 10 minutes from New York City), where I found the Dawn Patrol seaplane base located on the Hackensack River. The owner-operator was a veteran Navy pilot, who just a few years earlier had engaged in combat flying a torpedo bomber. His name was Cliff Umschied, and the fleet consisted of two Luscombes on floats. I was a kid and didn’t have much money at the time, but it was the beginning of a long and wonderful love affair with aviation. The lessons that my own flight training taught me stayed with me over the years until I eventually became an instructor and a designated pilot examiner.
Hawaii Lessons in an Ercoupe
Key Takeaways:
- The author recounts his lifelong passion for aviation, beginning with initial lessons in 1948 and continuing with formative and challenging flight training in Hawaii in 1951, which included cross-country flights over open water in basic aircraft.
- These early experiences, navigating with limited equipment, shaped his extensive career as a flight instructor and designated pilot examiner (DPE), underscoring the enduring value of fundamental flying skills.
- A memorable incident as a DPE highlighted the critical importance of comprehensive training in basic maneuvers, such as stall recovery, for pilot safety and preventing accidents.
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