Return to Moffett Field
When we were closer to the airfield, Fred took a couple of turns around the area above the field. This gave me more time to continue my aerial sightseeing. I saw the NASA wind tunnel complex like I had never seen it before. As the landing strip began rising up to meet the wheels of the plane, I saw the huge NASA cargo plane that is Russian made. Our return route on the ground took us past the big plane on our right side.

An aerial view of a very familiar area (to me) of Mountain View, California

It was nice to get back to the starting point so John could now have the fun of flying a great little airplane called “Betty Jane.” I could see Lynn and my friends waiting in the observation area as I climbed out of the cockpit grinning from ear to ear. I was smiling so much I thought I might strain my smile-muscles. That was the “hardest” I had smiled in a long time. The last time I remember smiling so much was during my Zero-G weightless adventure flyinng in G-Force One outside Las Vegas.

My crew awaits my return

Even though I was very excited after the flight, I tried to not talk too much about it so as to not take away from the excitement John was about to experience. However, I couldn’t quit smiling. Before John could go aboard the P-51C, it had to be refueled. Fortunately, after refueling, the P-51C was ready in a short time for John to go aboard. I watched as John went through the same preflight checkout that I had experienced. It wasn’t long until John was strapped in the trainee seat and ready to fly. Shortly, the little plane found its way out to a runway where it began climbing for the sky.

John's flight begins – Take off

Now while waiting for John to return I moved around among the bombers taking photos of these war birds. The B-24 took on passengers and flew off for a trip around the South Bay Area. After the B-24 took off, the little P-51C appeared in the sky as it circled in for a landing. I followed the little plane with my camera so as to chronicle the end of John’s flight with photos.

When the plane was stopped and John was still strapped in, he gave a thumbs up sign for a great flight. Once he was out on the wing, getting ready to get on the ground, John gave me a salute while grinning from ear-to-ear just as I had earlier. Now we both had shared a great experience that we would be talking about for many weeks to come.

John gives his flight experience a "Thumbs up"

John just finished saluting

I’m sure that what John and I experienced seems pretty routine for people who fly often, but for me it was an unexpected and amazing adventure. So, as long as I have a functional memory, I will remember that flight in a great World War II fighter named Betty Jane where I truly learned the meaning of “Flying by the seat of your pants.”

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