WINGS 0VER ITHACA Written by Jessica Dillon Photographs by Shawn Steiner EAST HILL FLYING CLUB DISCOVERY FLIGHT “We’ll be flying the same plane you flew in when Elson was here learning how to get his instrument license,” David says as Patti, Amy and I walk out to the tarmac. You mean the one so small you lifted it up with your hands by the nose and wheeled it out on the tarmac? It was inspiring to watch David teach Elson when we flew a few weeks ago, but I was a simple observer of his lesson and nauseous from being stuck in the backseat. Now, I’m ready to take Elson’s spot and have my own little adventure. “Can I take pictures?” Amy asks excitedly.
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“Yes, please take as many pictures as you’d like, and I’ll take some with my camera too if that’s okay. We want people to have a memorable experience here,” David says. David begins to show us the pre-flight preparation work that needs to be done before we can take flight. We walk around to make sure there are no hinges loose, no damaged areas, and David shows us how to check to make sure there is no water in the fuel. If it is dyed blue, then there is no water in the fuel and we’re good to go. I remember from my flight with Elson. But I’m jittery and can’t stand in one position for too long, bouncing from right to left foot and back as Amy and Patti take in what David is saying and watch intently. His words are getting jumbled with my own thoughts of just wanting to get started, the wobbling and tingling in my