so i make it to the airport - and low and behold, my flight to SF is delayed. don't get me on the topic of SF weather and the delays it seems to cause. so i get some lunch - grab my book, buy some water and settle in for a wait. just when we are supposed to be taking off - the podium guy who helps us board - gets on the speaker and says, the pilot wants to board, we're going to take our chances and see if we can get an earlier spot to take off... if not, we'll be sitting on the tarmac away from the terminal for up to 1.5 hours. (ugh)
well, i take my chances, board the plane and settle in. we pull away from the gate - and yup - the captain informs us that we'll be sitting on the tarmac for 90 minutes, but that once we get parked "in our parking space" they will be opening up the 'flight deck' and the co-pilot will be offering 'flying lessons'. i thought this was a joke. so did the guy next to me. so the guy next to me and i start chatting. me chat with a stranger? the heck you say. so we chat about the crap movie they are showing us ('swing vote' starring kevin costner, dennis hopper, nathan lane, kelsey grammer, stanley tucci, george lopez- yes even with a cast like this - it was crap, i didn't need audio to tell you that) ...
and we talk about the reason we're flying, me - home, he's doing a snowboard convention thing... turns out he's a photo editor for a snowboarding magazine... interesting...
so time for drinks - we're not going anywhere for 90 minutes - so a round of beers is in order. we chat. we enjoy our beer. and finally, the captain reminds us that the flight deck is open - come up for your flying lesson...
well - we did. here's the photo to prove it.
yep, that's me in the pilot seat... watch out!
so the co-pilot takes me through the infinite buttons and dials (it was just like that scene in Airplane). It was interesting that there wasn't a 'steering wheel' just a joy stick for the up, down, left and right of the plane while it is in the air and a disk next to that for when on the ground. and for those of you who wonder if there is a speed limit on the ground - it is 30 mph and other planes will tattle if they think you are going too fast. i know i've been on a few planes that the pilot has been bookin' it on the ground.
well, my new friend, joined me for the grand tour of the flight deck and the pilot thought we were together and he took out his camera and took a picture of us both. the pilot then gave me his card with the photo reference number on it - and said to email him with that number and he'd send us the picture. we set him straight that we'd just met but thanked him for taking the picture. i thought it was SO cool - that the pilot would take pictures of folks and send them copies.
so random... or really... how bizarre!
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