Rolling her shoulders once, she gripped the throttles and eased them forward. The little Archer began moving, and Jannie felt a thrill unlike anything she’d ever felt.
Except five years ago, when she had last flown a plane.
She quickly tapped the brakes to ensure they were working, then guided the Archer into the penalty box.
Yes, she could do this. And she was doing it.
Reading the items aloud calmed her and helped her focus. “Oil temperature, check, fuel pressure, check; flaps, set …”
With the run-up complete, she cued the mic. “Tower, November 290 Fox Delta, ready in sequence.”
“November 290 Fox Delta, wind is five knots. You are cleared for takeoff with a westerly departure.”
“Cleared for takeoff, November 290 Fox Delta.” Jannie checked the approach end. No traffic.
She moved the airplane into position and finally allowed herself a glance at Nick, who sat there, far more relaxed than she expected.
She smiled at him. “You ready?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He didn’t smile back, but a spark flickered in his eye.
“Anything you don’t like below sixty knots, callABORT,ABORT,ABORT,” and I will stop the takeoff. After that, we take it into the air. I will fly, and you will communicate.”
Nick nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
“We’ll determine if we can do the impossible turn depending on altitude.” With that, she advanced the throttle to the stop and began anticipating the Archer’s left-turning tendency with right rudder. The plane responded better than she expected to the push.
“Sixty knots. Cross-check. Rotate.” She pulled on the yoke, watched the nose tip up, and they were in the air.
“Positive rate, eighty knots, flaps up,” Jannie announced.
She smoothly rotated the yoke, guiding the airplane westward. A thrill shot through her core. God, she had missed this, and now sherealized just how much.
“November 290 Fox Delta, no aircraft observed between you and the practice area,” came the voice from the tower. “Radar service terminated, squawk VFR, have a good flight.”
Nick cued the mic. “November 290, Fox Delta, squawking VFR.”
In no time, they climbed through three thousand feet. Nick ran his hands along his thighs.
Wiping sweat? Jannie wondered. But no, he still looked relaxed, as if the cockpit were his place to chill.
“That was a smooth departure even for someone who was current.” Admiration was evident in his eyes and voice. “Well done! Want to continue?”
She grinned at him. “I do.”
•
Jannie removed her headset and hooked it on the yoke, unable to suppress a grin. “Well.”
After takeoff, something clicked, and all remaining nervousness disappeared. The lesson had actually been fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she had done something fun.
Nick, too, slid off his headset, his teeth flashing white as he smiled back, and Jannie’s chest swelled with pride at the admiration in his eyes.
“You misled me, Miss Larssen.”
She tipped her head. “Miss Larssen?”
“Mastered this bird like a true Larssen. You said you were rusty.”
