So it has come to pass that Number One Son (NOS) has completely lost his mind. Having just turned 17 he’s often getting the question “So, what do you want to do for a living?” Over the years NOS has given answers you would expect from my son, Skydiver, NAVY Seal, Drop Zone manager and airplane mechanic. His latest and so far most serious is ARMY helicopter pilot and I couldn’t be happier. I spent 12 years in ARMY aviation and know a few things and a few high ranking people that will help him get selected for flight school, weather it’s as a Warrant officer or after attending ROTC in college. One of the first things he asked me was weather having his pilots license would help him get a flight school slot. I told him that of course having a pilot’s license would help get selected and if selected would really help him in flight school. I told him that if he’s serious I’d pay for his flight training. NOS then asked me if I could teach him to fly. “No son, I don’t have my instructor’s rating.” “Well, couldn’t you get it and then teach me?” “Oh crap,” I thought, I’d never wanted to get my instructor rating and had no desire to teach flying. I got my fill of teaching by being a full time skydiving instructor and the thought of flying students trying not only to kill themselves but me as well held no appeal. But I had to admit that having my instructor rating would come in handy. My daughter “Super Girl” had a terrible time finding an flight instructor she liked, and it would be nice to be able to give my father and pilot friends their biannual flight reviews. So reluctantly I agreed to get my Instructor rating. Step one- hit the books and take two written tests, ugh.
