Never Have I Ever… Taken Flight Lessons

As you’ve seen, this issue is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and living on the edge, right? Well, I didn’t just fly with that—I took it to new heights! Buckle up for my high-flying adventure in the cockpit!
As I rolled into the parking lot of The Flight School of Gwinnett at Briscoe Field, my excitement was sky-high. I’ve navigated tiny propeller planes before, but this was a whole new altitude of adventure! Buckle up, because Discovery Flights were about to take my comfort zone to new heights!
The Flight School crew welcomed us with smiles that were practically on cloud nine, and I was introduced to our Certified Flying Instructor, Wahab. He handed me a headset and we made our way to the Cessna 172, ready to defy gravity. Wahab gave me a crash course on the aircraft and the pre-flight checks. And then, with a grin, we were ready to hit the runway!
Before we took off, Wahab asked if I wanted to assist with the takeoff. Um, yes, please! As we roared down the runway, I pulled back the control wheel and felt that thrilling lift-off—talk about taking things to new heights! During our hour-long Discovery Flight, the sights were out of this world. We soared over Lake Lanier, and I spotted landmarks like Striper Stadium, Georgia Gwinnett College, Mall Of Georgia and even my office! Wahab let me take control, showing me how to monitor crucial gauges like the Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter and Attitude Indicator. It was a bit rocky at first, but I eventually got the hang of it. Just as you should always keep your eyes on the road, the same goes for flying high in the sky. I found it tough to enjoy the sights while flying, so I had to let Wahab take over so I could soak up all the lake views. And let me tell you, the view is even better from 3,000 feet up!
We then cruised over Stone Mountain, circling the “big ol’ rock,” and had a chat with Wahab. Despite being only 19, his knowledge was beyond his years, and he was a fantastic instructor. He shared his favorite moments, career goals and answered all my ridiculous questions. After capturing the stunning views of Stone Mountain and glimpses of the Atlanta skyline, we headed back to the airport. We wrapped up with all the post-flight protocols, ending the experience with an educational debrief.
While there’s no future career in flying for me, I must say this was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. A huge shout out to The Flight School of Gwinnett for this unforgettable adventure and for letting me add “captain” to my list of titles!