Dear William (and Daniel, Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),

Did you know that I was a pilot? Yes, I was (I think that my license is still valid, although I have not piloted an airplane in many years).

When I was stationed at Fort Benning, attending U.S. Army Infantry School (October 19, 1971 – January 18, 1972), I was living in the officer’s housing complex [(1) on the map above], which was very close to the Airborne School field where I spent my previous summer [(2) on the map above].

During my free time, I would explore the Base — one day I drove to the airport [(3) on the map above], and discovered that I could take flying lessons — an opportunity I could not pass up.

There, I learned to fly the Cessna 150. Unfortunately, however, I was discharged from active service at Fort Benning before I completed my pilot license requirements.

Once I was back home, I started to look for a flying school where I could complete my lessons. I found one at Teterboro Airport, in N.J. (at that time, Babcia Krysia and I lived in Greenpoint, Brooklyn).

At Fort Benning, I learned to fly the Cessna 150; at Teterboro I learned to fly the American Aviation Yankee Trainer.

Soon thereafter, I passed my flying test, and received my pilot’s license (VFR — that means Visual Flight Rules; I was NOT yet qualified to fly at night or in the clouds).

Once I got my pilot’s license, I had to take a medical examination to be allowed to pilot an airplane — no problem here.

Babcia Krysia and I would go flying on the weekends — exploring the surrounding areas.

For me, the scariest flight was from Teterboro Airport to the Jersey Shore, crossing over the N.Y. harbor area — such a large body of water, and if a problem developed, there was nowhere to land.

Another constant problem was the air congestion — with so many airports, including the three major airports, Kennedy, Newark and LaGuardia, vigilance as all times was very important.

Once Babcia Krysia, your Dad and I moved to Westfield, N.J. in September 1975, I started flying from Linden Airport, wich was close to Westfield. However, soon after that I decided to give it up because, now that we owned a house, and our family was growing (your Dad was born on February 21, 1974, and Wojcio Rysio was born on December 3, 1975), we did not have the money for such luxuries as renting and flying an airplane.

Nevertheless, while it lasted, I very much enjoyed flying.

William — I hope that some day you will have the opportunity to fly in a small airplane — it is a BLAST!

Love,

Dziadziuś Paweł.

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