The hard, inescapable reality is that anyone who flies may die in an airplane.

I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play upon the banking, wheeling wings, I am completely, vibrantly alive. With the stick in my right hand, the throttle in my left, and the rudder beneath my feet, I can savor that essence from which life is made.

All really great flying adventures begin at dawn.

Mistakes are inevitable in aviation, especially when one is still learning new things. The trick is to not make the mistake that will kill you.

With the stick in my right hand, the throttle in my left, and the rudder beneath my feet, I can savor that essence from which life is made.

It's the most exciting thing you have ever done with your pants on!

Here you are truly separate from the earth, at least for a little while, removed from the cares and concerns that occupy you on the ground.