May 2011 Neroli Henwood’s Solo, 24 years in the making!
Ladies, I know you’ll be as happy as I was when you read the following email sent by Neroli Henwood from Hamilton, New Zealand – she’s got great news! I’m very excited for her and proud as heck she’s back in the air again! Neroli, I know you doubted it for a while, but trust me – that Super Cub is one of the best things to happen to you and your family!!
“Hi Judy, hope all is well with you and you are getting lots of flying in.
I wanted to share my exciting morning with you and the ladies, so here goes.
As you know I have a Piper Cub, which I just adore. Up until today I have had to fly it with my husband Bill in the back as Instructor, because I haven’t held a Pilots license since 1987. We were newly married when I let my license lapse, mainly due to lack of money and we were living on a remote Island with only commercial aircraft and nothing for me to fly. To cut a long story short, along came a couple of kids etc. and a husband flying commercially, I was grounded.
We have owned the Cub for 4 years and it was after a gap in my flying of 17 years. I hadn’t flown taildraggers either so I was in for a big learning curve. At first I thought we had bought the wrong plane, as I couldn’t even taxi straight, let alone take off and land! 🙂
However, once I got the hang of it, it turned into a passion.
I have had some medical issues in recent years and have only just managed to get my medical certificate, so that I can fly solo and regain my Pilot’s License.
Sooo… this morning I got to go solo in my beautiful Cub for the first time! It was fantastic and I loved every minute of it. I did 5 circuits and found that I didn’t miss having Bill in the back at all 🙂
It is 27 years since my first solo and 24 years since my last.
So, now I have a smile a mile wide and am wondering what else to do today that will be that much fun?
Attached is my solo photo with Bill, funny it is similar to Olivia’s!!
Best wishes to you and all the ladies.
Neroli
christina chapman
Posted at 11:17h, 15 MayHow incredible. You stayed with in, at least in your heart, and 27 years later you made it happen! Congrats. The rest of your life started with that solo. Keep it going!
Lisa Martin
Posted at 08:39h, 13 MayThat’s awesome! I know exactly what you’re talking about. I got my private when 7 1/2 months pregnant with my first child…then came years of very little flying…until they graduated. Now I’m a “freebird” again 🙂
Posted at 22:37h, 12 May
Awesome is right! WELL DONE!!! Oh…and if you don’t taxi straight in a taildragger…. then you ARE doing it right!!!!!
YOU GO GIRL!!
Susan
Neroli Henwood
Posted at 22:23h, 12 MayThanks so much Anne,
I am already thinking the same : )
Otherwise the girls may end up pinching the Cub and what would Bill have to fly!!
There are no PA-12 Supercruisers in NZ so maybe we should look at importing one?
Take care
Neroli
Anne Wright
Posted at 20:28h, 12 MayWhat can I say, except: AWESOME!! Congratulations, Neroli!!!! Now with three of you flying the Super Cub, you just might have to get a second one!