I am a pilot!

[Guest Bart]

I'll run my hand gently over the wing of a small airplane and say to him, "This plane can teach you more things and give you more gifts than I ever could. It won't get you a better job, a faster car, or a bigger house. But if you treat it with respect and keep your eyes open, it may remind you of some things you used to know -- that life is in the moment, joy matters more than money, the world is a beautiful place, and that dreams really, truly are possible." And then, because airplanes speak in a language beyond words, I'll take him up in the evening summer sky and let the airplane show him what I mean.

[Guest]

Don't forget an inverted flyby the tower to celebrate!

[akriesman 0]

Congrats Todd !And thanks for sharing all your stories with us !Allen

[Guest Henri W]

Todd,Congratulations to this great achievement. I wish you lots of wonderful flight and always save landings.Henri

[Guest]

Eventually I will, but for now I think I just want to enjoy the PPL for a while before I go under the hood :)Todd

[Guest]

Thanks Rich! In three weeks I am going to fly from San Jose to San Diego to visit my sister. I'll be flying through the VFR corridor that goes directly over LAX. That should be fun!Todd

[Guest]

Already an AOPA member!

[Guest]

I wanted to take my camera, but I didn't want to scare the DE :)

[Guest]

I KNEW it! The first thing my girlfriend asked when I told her I passed was whether the other pilots at the club showed me the secret handshake. They claimed no knowledge of such a thing. I'm looking forward to it!Todd

[Guest]

Thanks everybody! If you feel the slightest urge to try it for yourself, I urge you to at least go for a discovery flight. It's an incredible feeling! I still say Rich and Fly! helped me immensely.Todd

[Guest]

Well Done Todd! I've been following your training posts since the beginning and they have been an inspiration to all PPL wannabees. Congratulations.Best Regards,Rob Young

[Frank Dhont 1]

Congratulatons Todd.Nice to hear You're a PP SEL.Enjoy the skies. :-haloFrankEBKT

[David_FFC 0]

Congratulations, Todd !!!I've not read here for several days, and hadn't seen many updates from you the several days before that. Then, in a flurry you did the final prep and the checkride ! WTG !My plan is to follow you shortly - I still need a couple more CC's, and a solo-CC, and then some fine-tuning and refresher flights for procedures I've not done in awhile. For simming, I've written down the various procedures on little strips of paper and put them in a bowl, and pick them out and do 'em. Kinda simulates the examiner.Weather's been a pain the last month, though, so not much real flying lately.Well done !!!Dave H.Fayetteville, GA

[Guest]

Todd -WAY TO GO!!!! :-) :-jumpyGetting over your nerves to do well on the checkride must have been a bit of a challenge. I'm just about ready to take mine (should be in the next couple weeks; I just finished my three solo cross-countries and have about 43 hours now). I'm more than a little nervous, but reading your story helps build my confidence.A big congrats to you! Enjoy your new ability to take friends and family up with you!Regards,< Eric > :-waveSt. Cloud RegionalKSTC

[jzimmermann 238]

That's excellent Todd! Congratulations!I like the highlights:>Made a steep descent into the Tracy airport pattern. She >said, "What you are doing is OK, *but*, for the comfort of >your passengers you might consider circling to loose >altitude rather than dive-bombing the airport." Good >advice. :-lol Sounds like she was very cool and had a great sense of humour.....;)Jerome