Alas, this is all that's left of my first trainer.......




It's been stuck on my garage "passed-on" wall for many years, but will never be forgotten.

She was covered in (wrinkled) green Ultracote and I will always remember thinking I was ready to solo.....She was so beautiful, and I was invincible! A champion. A wizard. I could DO IT!

I took her up by my self ...AND IT STARTED TO SNOW!!!!

There must have been 1/4" of snow on her wings and she didn't handle like I was used to. Sluggish. Not on my channel. "I DON'T REALLY HAVE HER" "OH, God help me"

I screamed to my instructor "HELP!!!!" "HELP!!!!!!!!!!!" "HELPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All he said was"That's a GREEN plane and it's unlucky" You're on your own, I'm not touching it!" "That plane made it SNOW!"

Out of desperation, I landed her. Not pretty, but in one piece.

I'll never forget my solo as long as I live and I used to take her out before I'd fly a new build, just to calm the nerves.

Lost her in the sun......but that's another story for another day.

Keep that first trainer. She's your good luck charm!

-dave-
Medford, Oregon