They Say A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words.

I must admit that it certainly is a pretty sight ...

Yep, that's right. Last Thursday I left behind my days as a student pilot by successfully completing my check ride with an FAA designated examiner!! It was an intense morning that began with me knocking on the examiner's office door at 9 a.m. and his reply, "Come in, said the spider to the fly..."

Once up in the air, I aced the three maneuvers I lay awake worrying about on Wednesday night, but could have done better on a few others. Still, at the end of the hour+ flight the examiner told me that he "couldn't think of any reason not to give me a license," and that was good enough for me!!

I trust the below photographs of our celebration that night need no explanation.

Because in this one, Rich is warning me that former flight students who successfully complete their check rides should never have only one drink in their hand.

While in this one, Greg is making sure that his former flight mentee ... oh, whatever.

It was a terrific party. What started off as one hell of a morning, turned into one amazing day. And yes, Friday morning at the office hurt. A lot. But it was totally worth it.

"Up, up, and away!!!"