My Husband Wears These Now
As of 11 April 2008, M is designated as a Naval Aviator and entitled to wear Wings of Gold. Wrapped up in that pin are years of hard work and dedication: long evenings of studying, simulator events hours before dawn, flights lasting late into the night, rough flights, instructors both excellent and aggravating, and flights that made him remember why he wanted to get into the flying business in the first place.
Flight school was an adventure, but we're excited to see what new, different frustrations and rewards life in the FRS and the fleet squadron thereafter will bring us. I bet it won't be dull, even if the gray fleet aircraft he'll be strapping into are rather drab compared to the bright, cheery orange-and-white trainers. I'll miss the Killer Clown Jet and the mighty Pegasus...
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The best part is that when he does some paperwork and passes the FAA Military Competence exam, he'll finally be able to take me flying. I've only ever been in an airplane with him twice, neither of which he was actually flying: once we were stuck in coach on the way out to Texas, and once last week when he was showing his folks and me the mighty T-44A as it was sitting in the hangar being worked on by the maintenance people.
Congratulations to M! Well done! We'll be awaiting the post about your first flight with him...with him in the pilot's seat, that is...and the plane actually in the air.
That is an important distinction. In the T-44 last week, he let me sit in the pilot's seat while he pointed everything out from the copilot's position. I think we'll let him do things the other way when we're able to actually go flying. ;-)