“Ready?”
“Ready.”
Alex called our position on the common frequency as we taxied out—her inputs on the controls even smoother and certain now.
At the runway, we completed the run-up. Everything looked good.
“Your airplane,” I advised. “Standard takeoff.”
“My airplane.”
I heard Elena’s quiet breathing through the headset and my pulse picked up. This was it.
“Full power, smooth and steady,” I watched over Alex’s shoulder. “Let her tell you when she’s ready.”
Alex advanced the throttle. The Cub accelerated down thegrass runway, eager and alive. She held the nose level, waiting for that moment—
There. The transition from rolling to flying, smooth as silk like always. The rumble of wheels on grass replaced by the clean hum of flight.
“Beautiful,” I smiled. “Climb straight ahead.”
We climbed into clear morning air, Alex making tiny, confident corrections that kept us tracking perfectly. No wasted movement.
“Level off at pattern altitude.”
She eased the nose down as we approached a thousand feet. Not perfect—she came in slightly high—but she caught it and adjusted without me saying anything.
“Nice catch. Turn right, take us away from the pattern.”
She banked smoothly, the Cub responding to her touch like it always did.
And we were airborne. Really airborne.
We spent the next twenty minutes working through turns. Each one cleaner than the last, Alex’s feel for the airplane growing with every maneuver.
“Let’s try something’ steeper,” I decided. “More bank. You’ll need more back pressure to hold altitude.”
“How much more?”
“You’ll feel it. Trust what the airplane tells you.”
She set up the turn—smooth, coordinated. The bank angle increased steadily, the horizon tilting sharp in front of us.
I watched the altitude drop slightly—nine-eighty, nine-seventy-five—
“Back pressure,” I reminded her.
She pulled and the descent stopped, altitude steadying right back at pattern.
“Perfect.” Pride colored my voice despite trying to stay professional. “Feel that? You’re readin’ what she needs now, notjust following instructions.”
“It’s like she’s talking to me.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“Exactly,” I was grinning behind her. “Roll out on heading.”
She timed it perfectly, stopping exactly where we’d started.
“Outstanding, darlin’. That was advanced-level flying.” My professional facade was completely gone now. “Better than some pilots with twice your hours.”
