Flying high

Yesterday was infusion day (round 17) and back on the Oxaliplatin and steroids. Some old side effects are reappearing, ie; mouth cramps. Unable to drink any thing cold, an orange hue to my skin, headache. I feel heavier like I gained 50 pounds. I am feeling the fog rolling in again and I am off my feed. I kept pretty busy today. The steroids kicking in.

I have decided to move on in life and have decided to take up flying model airplanes. Why flying? It's in my blood. I have always wanted to fly. There have been so many pilots in our family. There has been Lt.Charles (Chuck) Porterfield, Copilot, B-24 Liberator. Lt.Robert (Bob) Densmore. Copilot/Pilot B-17, Flying Fortress. Both honorably Serving their country during the hostilities of WWII serving with the 8Th Air Force in the European Theater of Operation. Then there was Ltcdr,Troy Porterfield, USNR ,Pilot, flying A Grumman Avenger off a small aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater of Operation as well as Lt. Leonard Porterfield, USNR, pilot, F4F-Wild Cat Fighter, also flying off carriers in the Pacific. Also during WWII. Troy and Leonard were cousins of my father. Grandpa David's brothers boys. And we should never forget to honor these men. My Dad took flying lessons for a time. He too has had the joy of controlling an airplane. I spent four years in the Air Force wrenching on F-4 Phantoms and then F-15 Eagles. I have been a passenger in a P-51 Mustang. What a great thrill , a C-130 several times ,and several types of Helicopters when working Offshore. And continuing on in the blood line is now, My sister Karyns son, Chris Murray, Copilot with American Eagle flying passenger aircraft.
So now I am too old and physically unable to take up flying real airplanes, But these models are real airplanes. They are smaller in scale but they fly by the pilots input. I will use a remote controller. I of course will be standing on the ground controlling the aircraft so I have to fly by sight and not feel. However I will need to employ all principles of flight. Responces are quick. The aircraft I have chosen to buy and fly is a Cessna 182 Skylane about 3ft.in length and a wingspan of four feet. It's prop driven by electric motor and made of Z-foam .Z-foam is strong and light and repairs easily with glue. It is a high wing with tricycle landing gear, good for novice flyer's. It has throttle control ,elevators, rudder, ailerons and flaps. It also has running lights and landing lights. The nose wheel has steering and a shock absorber. Sounds way to cool for a novice pilot but this airplane is a trainer. I have also bought a flight simulator and have logged a lot of hours on the sim. Basic flight school. I have upgraded the controller and receiver and the controller has dual rate settings- low and high. Low for novice and high for more experienced pilots. Having flaps seems a lot for a model but it allows for dead slow landings, a good thing for novices. If you are interested in seeing this airplane Log onto http://www.flyzoneplanes.com/ and click on RC planes then click the airplane top right. Cessna 182 Skylane RTF & RXR. Flying one of these small aircraft is not easy and is a challenge. That is why I like it. It will give me a sense of accomplishment to be able to master the skill of basic flight and to continue to improve and master faster and more responsive aircraft. In model aircraft the most challenging aircraft are multi-engines. One of my flying goals is to own and fly a P-38 Lighting. I will name it the Charles L Porterfield II. So in honor of all the fly boys in the family, I am going to sign off now. over and out.