Five decades. Fifty years. I remember Mother’s “50 year high school reunion”, which to me at the time seemed very odd…who wants to remember things from 50 years ago?

Turns out, I do. Lots of water under the bridge, but 50 years ago this spring an airplane went aloft, with no one but me in the cockpit. Fifty years ago, the FAA designee in Levelland, TX looked at me with an eyeroll, completed the paperwork allowing me to be a “Private Pilot, Airplane, Single-engine, Land”.

Returning to T-Bar airport, I gave my sister a ride (she is still a fan of riding in planes with me…much to my surprise), my dad, and my mom. Mother was skeptical.

Dad, for reasons I still don’t comprehend, co-signed a note at the bank so I could buy a Cessna 140…a 1947 plane…for $2400. I had saved the $400 for the downpayment, and I started down the “joys” of ownership. I’m sure I never gave him enough credit for supporting me in my varied interests…rodeo (ever see a fat kid ride a bull?), ham radio (he built shelves, watched as I tried to make electrons flow in orderly directions), and most of all…airplanes. At least they were mechanical, and he had a deep understanding of all things mechanical.

Over a hundred planes have passed through my ownership since then….warbirds, twins, taildraggers…each with a story, and each with a lesson it passed on to me. Flying has remained a passion. Today, I sit at a fire base in Oregon with “my” tanker. I’m happy at an airport. Horse aficionados are happy sitting at a barn, smelling and seeing horses. I’m happy seeing and smelling planes.

Flying them makes it even better. Yesterday’s proficiency flight was smooth. Fully loaded, the Air Tractor eased aloft, cleared the hill and the high power transmission lines with hundreds of feet to spare. Split loads over the top of the designated practice area, marking the ridge with water somehow felt right. A decent landing ended the flight well.

Plans are being made for the 50 years of flight celebration. The number of friends who are willing to travel simply to laugh, and enjoy the moment leaves me in awe.