Read Time= 4 Minutes
I was thinking of coming up with some clever way to tie this experience into a post about how to convert time to UTC, civil evening twilight as it relates to night operations or something else. Instead of making this particular piece educational, I wanted to rather share my deepest feelings about particular moments that happen as a pilot.
Several days ago I was traveling from Salt Lake City, UT to Denver, CO to get an annual inspection done on our aircraft. This trip takes me from one end of the Rocky Mountains to the other. This is a quick flight that seldom disappoints with it’s scenery and challenges. I must say, however, this was the most memorable of all the experiences.
Because the aircraft needed to be in Denver for the start of the mechanic’s work day, and I wanted to spend one last night with my wife before spending a few days away, it meant I needed to be up BEFORE the buttcrack of dawn. Yes, I said buttcrack. Better get used to it because you’re sitting on one!
With 20*F temperatures outside, it was a cold morning to pull the airplane out of the hangar, slightly uphill. As if that wasn’t enough, the refueling operations needed to be done as well.
But how I LOVE the cold. I’d trade it for dying heat any day of the year.
After getting that done and updating the navigation database in the Garmin, I was taxiing and on my way.
A brief run-up and thorough check was done before takeoff to let the engine warm up and make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything with my slightly tired eyes.
All systems go.
At a lonely and silent airport, I keyed the frequency and spoke the words, “South Valley Traffic, Bonanza Thirty Victor taking One Six for Departure”
Taxiing into position, I eased the throttle ever so slightly as the engine loves to surge in these cold temps. The turbo simply wants to get up and go, in a big and powerful way.
Although alone, I spoke to myself during the takeoff roll. “Airspeed Alive… Engine in the Green… Rotate Coming Up… Rotate… Positive Rate, Gear Coming Up… Engine Still in the Green…”
Wow, did it ever want to fly! Because of the lite load and crisp air, I maxed out at 3500 FPM. I climbed 1400 feet in the last half of the 6000 foot runway. (Airport Elevation to Bravo Floor)
The rest of the flight was like going through the motions, and typical for an early morning flight. It was lonely, slightly cold, but also invigorating for those very reasons.
It was just me, the Rocky Mountains, and a reddening horizon.
As the autopilot took me the rest of the way, I just watched in awe as the horizon turned from black, to a deep red, then to a light orange with a purplish sky. So still, smooth and breathtaking. I couldn’t believe my eyes and took in every last ounce of the rising sun.
I thank God for moments like this. There is no other way to say it. It is moments like this that I just love being a pilot. But during these times I can’t help but reflect back on my own personal journey and realize that it’s been a road that hasn’t always been easy, but the moments like this sure make it worth it.
I also couldn’t have done this alone. The efforts and dreams of many enabled me to be suspended in solitude at this moment.
In whatever we do in life, whatever our calling, it is these moments that validate what we’re putting our life’s work into. Everyone needs their moment, small from day-to-day, and large moments every once and a while.
This sunrise over the Rockies was a big moment for me.
What moments are you experiencing day-to-day? What is the most recent big moment you can think of?
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