07/09 - Flying High

07/09 - Flying High

By Martin Walke

According to my parents, it seems I was always interested in aviation. They tell me that when I was just a toddler playing outside, I would look skyward whenever a plane flew overhead.

We live in the Orlando, Florida, area and my father took me with him to Lakeland most every April to the Sun ‘n Fun air show where we watched airplanes from practically every era perform aerobatic maneuvers. And it was there in Lakeland in 2004 that I took my first flying lesson.

Our good friends and neighbors, Barbara and Pat Phillips, mentioned that there was a summer camp affiliated with the Sun ‘n Fun organization which introduced young people to flying (Barbara was one of the camp’s instructors). It was a weeklong session in Lakeland that included building model airplanes, learning the basics of aviation, how the weather affects flight, and other activities. The camp concluded with a trip to Vero Beach for a guided tour of the professional airline pilots’ training center. Here, I saw the flight simulators that replicated real-life, real-time conditions that are used to train pilots and hone their skills. This is also where I took my first unofficial flying lesson at the age of 11. I was so small at that time that I had to sit on phone books to see over the control panel. But I was hooked!

I went to the aviation camp again the following summer and on July 14, 2005, I took my first trip up in the left seat. I knew that’s the place I wanted to be and I was willing to do whatever was necessary to become a licensed pilot. So I took flying lessons when I could between my schoolwork, sports and other activities, and the more I learned the more I wanted to learn even more.

As I mentioned, my parents and friends encouraged me, but it was my grandfather, David H. Walke, who truly inspired me to pursue my dream to fly. My grandfather, whom we call Big D, tells me that he was affected much the same way when he was growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was constantly asking his mother to drop him off at the airport on the weekends or after school so that he could take in all the aspects of aviation. He watched the planes takeoff and land, the mechanics work on the engines, and he was determined that one day he, too, would fly.

As Big D got a bit older, it was his grandmother who encouraged and supported his interest in learning to fly. He went away to boarding school but when he came back home for the summers, Big D was in an airplane as often as his grandmother could get him there.

When the United States entered World War II, Big D was a junior in high school. After graduation the following year, he applied for the Aviation Cadet program at what is now Barksdale Air Force Base, but there was a hitch. Being only 17 years old, he had to have his mother’s written approval to do so. She reluctantly signed the necessary papers and he was in.

After flying fighter planes during the war, Big D was a civilian flight instructor for 18 months—7 days a week—until he went to college in Atlanta. While attending Georgia Tech, he flew P-47’s in the 128th Fighter Squadron, Georgia Air National Guard. He was also a military Instructor Pilot, an Instrument Flight Examiner, and an Engineering Test Pilot.

After college, he went into the insurance business and was eventually able to acquire his own plane, which allowed him the freedom to fly whenever and wherever he pleased. That, too, is one of my long-term objectives.

It was on October 3, 2006, that I took my first lesson in a sailplane (glider). Pat Phillips and Big D, independent of one another, had suggested that I become proficient in gliders—”true stick and rudder flying”—before resuming lessons in single engine aircraft. They told me that if I really wanted to learn the “fundamentals of flight and the art of airmanship,” then I should start with gliders.

Soaring is the art of using air currents to stay airborne. In order to keep a sailplane aloft and maintain control, you must be able to handle several tasks simultaneously. You must monitor your airspeed, altitude, attitude, variometer (an instrument used to measure the rate of climb), other air traffic and weather conditions—being constantly aware of ‘lift’ (thermals, or rising air) and ‘sink’ (the lack of thermals).

So, after about nine hours of instruction with Jim Gager, my FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), I soloed in a Blanik L-23 sailplane on August 15, 2007, at Seminole-Lake Gliderport just west of Clermont, Florida. I was just 14 years old and I was on Cloud Nine—literally!

Martin taxies his Cessna 172 Skyhawk to the tie-down area at Showalter Flying Services after completing his first solo flight on March 8, 2009.

In June 2008, I resumed taking lessons in single engine aircraft with Flight Training Professionals at Orlando Executive Airport (I’ve been training in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk). My CFI, Doug Diersing, is an outstanding instructor and a great guy. He’s very knowledgeable and very thorough, but he also knows when to cut through the tension and “lighten the load” with a corny joke or goofy response. Anyone who’s had a flying lesson can appreciate that because sometimes conditions can overwhelm a novice pilot.

Martin poses with his grandfather (David Walke Sr.) and his CFI, Doug Diersing (right) shortly after his first solo flight

In November 2008 Doug told me that I was qualified and ready to solo, but there was a problem. According to FAA regulations, you must be at least 16 years old to fly solo and my birthday was four months away. At the time that seemed like an eternity to me, but my parents were thankful for the extra hours of instruction and experience. So, I practiced more landings in strong crosswinds, worked on emergency procedures, and I even took a night flight on New Year’s Eve. That was a blast—lots of fireworks on display!

At last, the target date was in sight. I was scheduled for my first solo on Sunday, March 8, 2009. I passed my FAA physical exam on the prior Wednesday after school and I went up with Doug on Saturday morning to practice “‘touch and go’s” (this is when you stay in a pattern around the airfield and briefly land your plane, then immediately throttle up and take off again). And this practice run was very special for me because my grandparents, Gran Ann and Big D, were in town. But what made it so special was that Big D was in the back seat (I wear my grandfather’s military ID bracelet on my wrist every time I fly). I was excited that he was going up with me but it also made me very nervous. How could I possibly measure up to my role model—a former WWII fighter pilot, CFI, and military test pilot who has more hours in the air than I have on the ground?! It wasn’t my best performance (there were swirling cross winds), but I managed to get the plane and my passengers back safely on the tarmac.

Now, the day was here. Finally! I wasn’t the least bit nervous (my parents took care of that for me—they were really tense). I had prepared for this event for the past five years, I was confident and I was ready.

Martin with family friends Pat and Barbara Phillips, both long-time EAA members and accomplished aviators.

Other than a light fog, which quickly burned off at sunrise, the weather conditions were ideal. I did my pre-flight, went up with Doug for a checkout ride, and then taxied in close to the hangars to let Doug out of the plane. That’s when I noticed a rather large group of people standing on the tarmac. My mother had invited “a few friends” (57 people were there) to witness my solo flight and to help me celebrate my 16th birthday. It was a surprise party and trust me, I was really surprised!

Doug Diersing, CFI (right) cuts off Martin’s shirttail after first solo flight.

I then taxied back out to the active runway, asked the tower for permission to take off, and I was up and away. That’s when I noticed, for the first time ever, there was an empty seat to my right. I was on my own. I thought, “OK, I got off without a problem. Let’s see if I can get it back on the ground in one piece.” And I did get it back down. In accordance with FAA regulations for a first solo flight, I took off, landed, and taxied back to the active runway three times. Mission accomplished!

Some of the 57 friends and family who came to witness and celebrate Martin’s first solo flight (and 16^th birthday) on March 8, 2009.

As I taxied back to the hangars, I was stoked! All I could think about was 1.) Giving Big D a big hug, and 2.) Starting preparations for my next objective—a cross-country flight.

As I got closer, I could see my friends and family clapping and cheering. Shortly after getting out of the plane, Doug met me with a pair of scissors to cut off my shirttail. This is an age-old ritual that started years ago when the student pilot sat in the seat in front of his instructor. When the instructor wanted to get the student’s attention (these were open cockpits), he would pull on the student’s shirttail. Once the student flew solo, the instructor cut off his shirttail because there was no need for further instruction.

I’m very grateful to all those who took the time to come out to help me celebrate this special occasion, but I’m especially thankful that I have people like Barbara and Pat Phillips, and my grandfather, Big D, in my life to encourage me, support me, and guide me in the pursuit of my dreams to fly.