Happy Fly Day

 I was at Ipoh for another day trip, but this time it’s not about bike hunting. I bought this flying package from Groupon which includes on ground flight training and some air time in a single engine plane, Piper PA-28. There’s nothing much to plan in this trip except finding a friend or two who is willing to risk their lives sitting in my plane. Approached a few person but unfortunately they can’t make it due to commitment but one guy accepted my invitation and he is none other than Mr.Jason Chew. I don’t think he knows what he is getting himself.

So the night before Jason slept over at my place because I plan to leave Penang at 6am. My appointment is at 10am, so I was thinking reach there about  8am+++ have a nice breakfast and head straight to the airport. The plan went smoothly except the time and the breakfast. We left Penang at about almost 7am and we skipped breakfast because we got a little difficulty locating the airport due to the lousy GPS on our iPhones. 

Reason why we were late. This guy keep snoozing his phone. This pic has the evidence.

Slept all the way from Ipoh to Penang ><

The weather was not bright and sunny as I picture it in my head weeks and nights before the real day. I picture myself in aviator glasses, standing beside the plane with bright sun lights shining at me. The weather is always hot and humid but on the real day it was gloomy and cold. It was raining all the way from Penang to Ipoh, I was praying really hard that God would stop the rain and grant me a nice weather so I could enjoy this experience to the fullest and take nice photos of me and the planes. 

Rain rain rain

 We reached the Sultan Azlan Shah airport at about 9.30am, and there was no one in the airport. Even the air-con was still not on. Jason asked is this a ghost town. I checked the plasma TVs and the next flight would be at 11am SIN – IPH. I called Ms.Rajes, the lady who liaised with me from the booking till D-day. She met us 10minutes later, greeted us with a nice warm smile and handshake. We spoke briefly about our country and about ourselves. A van came right to the airport and picked us up to the designated location, which is probably 1km from the main terminal. Picked up our pilot/instructor and we were introduced to one another. He is an elderly man with vast experience about flying. Guess his age.

Captain Tony Thoo

The quiet Sultan Azlan Shah airport

Pick-up Van

Our access pass

Rain stopped!

73 years old with 50 years of flying experience. I told him to call me Wan, he replied you can call me two. I was like huh? Is his trying to be funny or what. He showed me his name tag, it was written Tony Thoo. WAH!!! I was like how rare is this to meet someone with a ‘Thoo’ surname. Had a great laugh over this matter. Anyways, to get through that security check point, we have to register ourselves and wear our badge. After some paper work, we were granted access and were brought to a hangar owned by Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA). I got down and the first thing I did was, took out my iPhone and started taking pictures of the planes. I can’t help it but I got really excited. Not many of them, but enough to make my heart jump with joy.

Company signboard just outside the hangar

Twin engine plane

More planes

Another twin engine plane owned by a Hongkie

 

The plane we flew in

Plane that matches Jason's shirt

 Another man appeared at the hangar, his name is Chief Dorai, he has really thick moustache. He shared a little bit about what he does and the course that are being offered. We then walked to their cabin where I was given a briefing. A nice cozy office with vintage photos hanged on most parts of the walls. There was a plane toy hanging above that cabin roof. Moses, 22 a undergrad piloting student gave me an basic introduction on the checklist, dos and don’ts before flying.

Future pilot Moses

The checlist which I don't really understand

Moses checking the fuel reading

Showing us the reading of the fuel which is sufficient for us to fly

  I asked a lot of questions and they gave me a lot of information but I can’t remember most of them since I don’t speak aviation language. The jargons are just too much for my accounting mind to absorb. All I remembered was all about numbers, i.e we flew up to 3,000 feet at about 110knots, we landed at 70knots, we were up in the air for about 25minutes and I spent RM459 for this experience. Just numbers!

Captain Tony Thoo briefing on the runway track

After going through our checklist, the moment that I’ve been waiting for has arrived. I helped the other engineers pushed the plane out of the hangar. Surprisingly, it's quite light and easy to push. Easier than pushing a car out. The pilot hops into the cockpit, Jason up to the passenger seat and finally me, beside the pilot. I was really excited and a bit nervous. I’ve never been so close to the front before. Mr.Tony Thoo started the engine, the propellers started to turn, few seconds later, it stopped. I was starting to have second thoughts about doing this. He turns off and on some switches and tried starting the engine again. This time, it was a success but I was getting all nervous inside. I was on radio communication with him and he started communicating with the people in the flight control tower. I can’t understand 90% of what they are speaking about, it’s all delta Charlie delta Charlie@#)$(U#@)$(*#@_$)(#@+_(@!+#!@+3 ipoh _#$*_#@($*@_#$*_@# delta charlie $#)@($*@#_($*_#($#@_(  ready _$(#*_@#*$_#@ permission )(#$*)#@($*_@#$*_)@(#_@( 04 #)($*@#)($*#)@($*_#@$(_ 22 #)($*#@)($*#@)($*)#@(*$#)@(*$#@)(*$_#@*. We then took off. 

Pushing the plane out with the crew

Captain Tony doing the checklist

Jason getting nervous. LOL

They have two sets of control. And my hands are on the 'controllers' all the time to feel the movement. 

 Up in the sky, he said when he flies, he feel s like he is half fairy and half human. Hahaha. Kinda funny when you try picturing him as a fairy. He then let me take control… that was MAGIC. That was the best experienced I’ve ever had. I did some mini dives and it really felt like a roller coaster. The scenery was beautiful the weather was perfect. The rain did stop just as we reached the hangar. My little prayer was answered, my dreamed was achieved and I just enjoy the experience as much as I could. It felt like driving a car without the traffic jam and worry of knocking into someone because you are up in the sky alone. It was like a big playground for me. Turn left right up down etc. It was time to get down on earth, he communicated to the control tower people and all I hear was )$(*@#)($*@)#($*)@#($*#@)(*  delta Charlie delta Charlie $*)(@#*$_(#@*$_#@($_#@($ permission )#($*#@)($*#_@$*#_@$*#@_ landing $)(#@*$)(*#@$)(*#@$)(*#@)($*#@_(*$_(@#*$_@(U$ left wing landing #)($)#@$*)#@(*$)#(@*$_#*$(U@!_#(*!@_#( Mr.Tony lowered the speed to 70knots and maneuver the plane towards the airport. His landing was perfect, we didn’t feel a single bump at all.

Giving a thumbs up for Captain Tony's landing

Wan & Thoo

Me & Jason

Trying to be funny

Friendly Ms.Rajes & I

Me & Moses

There was a man with those banner thing that directs him to the hangar. I asked about his responsibilities and all, Tony the pilot replied, “You cannot follow him blindly. You are the captain of the plane and you are responsible for anything that happens. If you see something suspicious, free feel to stop and check before going back into the hangar.” That lesson reminded me on the first LOV. Leadership is responsible. Lazy to elaborate on it further.

Got off the plane and started taking more photos. Jason and I exchange our experience excitedly with one another and I’m glad he was there with me. It was a great moment I shared with a good friend so it made this experience even sweeter. Went back to the cabin for a little debrief and presentation of souvenirs and certificate to ME! yahoo!!!!!

Receiving my certificate from the man himself. proud moments. kakaka

A personalized post card given to them by one of their friends. I asked them signed their names on it as a souvenir

Co-pilot Deswyn =)

 Now I can proudly say, I’ve pilot and fly a plane before! “WINGS!”