One of the best things about being a pilot is the ability to take friends flying. It’s wonderful to see their smiles when they first take command of an airplane, see the world upside down, pull G’s or feel the absence of gravity.
In August 2010 I rented for the first time an airplane. I took CS-APN, a Reims-Cessna F172 Skyhawk from a company based in Cascais Airfield.
Before being allowed to take their plane out, I was required to perform a quick check flight with one of the company’s pilots. Twenty minutes later I was given the OK.
On this first flight we flew from Cascais to Santa Cruz and joined a good friend of mine in another Cessna 172 flying out of Santarém for a quick formation flight before returning to Cascais. Part of the flight was flown by my young “brother” Gonçalo and with André seating in the back.
(Formation flight near Santa Cruz)
(Cape Roca – The westernmost point of continental Europe)
(André flying in the back seat of CS-APN)
(About to land on runway 35 at Cascais)
On August 16, I returned to Cascais after spending four days away from home, in which I flew 26 hours in “my” Cessna 402 Businessliner. Instead of resting I went on my second flight with friends. Again Gonçalo and André on board, but this time also with Fábio in the back seat.
(Flying with André, Fábio and Gonçalo)
Sadly a couple of weeks after my flight, CS-APN had a bad landing at Santa Cruz and is still in maintenance. As an alternative I had to take CS-AZB, a Cessna 152, on my next flights.
Flying with Ricardo:
And two flights with a couple of friends from the Azores islands:
(Flying with Rui to Santa Cruz)
(Mafra National Palace)
(Diogo enjoying his first time at the controls)
(Estoril shoreline)
My friends, I hope you all had as much fun as I did on those flights!
Thank you for stopping by!
Name: João Couto Resendes
