October 25, 2007

In mid-October, Shannon Woodward, a reporter with the Airdrie City View newspaper accepted an invitation to learn more about the Airdrie Flying Club. This meant a flight of some kind and Trent Leinenweber accepted the task. Mother-nature however made sure the ground was covered with the first snow fall of the season.

"Shannon from City View and I had a great flight after work today. Wayne (van Beek) introduced Shannon to Bob (Zabolotney) and myself at the airport and then we strapped in and were off in the BD. She was a little nervous but this proved to be just a couple jitters as once the engine was running she had a great time and her stomach was rock solid.

"We did a city tour and then quick trip to Crossfield. On the way back we raced some cars and then gained a little altitude for another city tour. The flight was going quite well and she made a comment "it must be cool to see the badlands from the air" so we were off to Drumheller. We went up and down the Drumheller valley a couple of times and then back to Airdrie. She nervously flew some of the way back.

"Landing was uneventful and I actually managed to pull off a proper 3 point landing (and no, not landing 3 times Leon). Hobbs time was around 1.2 which is a fairly long flight for a first timer. We did do some 60 degree turns after some talking and ensuring she really wanted that. I don't think I could have turned short enough to bother her, but I stayed away from any wingovers or negative G stuff, shall leave that at the gliding field. I declined the picture of me in the plane Wayne in hopes she puts in a picture of Airdrie or the airport, plus it looked like a nice camera and the last that tried to take a picture of me broke..."