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A Personal View

03/08 – Love of flight and how I got my start

By Steve Krog
Steve Krog is a flight instructor, EAA member and president of the Cub Association.

I love to fly! I love being around airplanes. I love spending time at the airport talking about airplanes and flying. I especially like sharing this love of flight with others young and old.

Flight in a small airplane late on a summer afternoon is something that must be experienced first hand to be believed. It cannot be explained in mere words. Door open, the 65 hp Continental barking as you fly low over the tree tops, warm breezes in your face, the smell of freshly cut alfalfa/clover penetrating your nostrils and air as smooth as glass; can you picture anything else more peaceful and serene?

It’s a sense, a feeling, and a way of seeing the world in three dimensions. While in flight and at the controls of the airplane, you’re in command of your own destiny. You experience a sense of awe, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of fulfillment simultaneously. Looking down from several hundred feet and seeing things you’ve never before spotted—the whitetail doe with twin spotted fawns in trail carefully venturing out from a nearby tree line. A small flock of a dozen wild turkeys bantering about in the stubble of a recently harvested wheat field; can life get any better than this?

The airplane and flying bug bit me at a very early age. Growing up on a farm in rural southwestern Minnesota, we were located under the flight path of North Central Airline’s daily round trip DC-3 flight from Minneapolis to Brookings, South Dakota. When I saw that big shiny bird approaching from the east northeast against a brilliant blue sky filled with puffy white cumulus clouds, I’d lay on my back watching it until it passed out of sight, all the while visualizing that I was flying that big airplane.

Located about one mile from the family farm was a privately owned public use airport equipped with two grass runways. It was started by a neighboring farmer who thought he’d make millions just after WW II capitalizing on all the returning vets who would want to fly at war’s end. The flying boom never materialized and within a few years all that remained of this airport was four T hangars each housing either an Aeronca Champ or a Piper J3 Cub.

When I learned how to ride bicycle I fast became a kid on a mission, pedaling as fast as I could to get to the little airport and do some serious “hangar flying” in either a Champ or Cub. No one was ever around so I had the entire airport to myself. I logged dozens if not hundreds of hours in those airplanes pretending to be a fighter pilot.

Flying was not a popular activity in southwestern Minnesota. However, my father had a good friend who had served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. I talked airplanes and flying with him whenever the opportunity presented itself. He did take me for my very first airplane ride, too. The moment the airplane lifted off the runway and the surrounding area dropped away, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue.

Moving forward a few years, I was now college bound. The desire to fly still burned deep within but I was working my way through school and money for flying lessons was only a dream. Enrolled in the U.S. Army ROTC program, I was invited to take the aviation aptitude test. Once passed, I had the opportunity for 35 hours of flight training compliments of the U.S. Army. Two months and one additional hour of dual flight training later, I proudly possessed a private pilot license.

One incident occurred during my second hour of dual flight instruction that nearly made me give up flying. My instructor decided to scare me by doing a four-turn spin without explaining to me what was happening. Quite shaken, I decided I was going to give up flying. After giving it some thought for several days, I decided to give it another try, provided I could work with a different instructor. It was the best decision I made during my flight training and it provided me with a guideline by which I follow yet today. I made a personal vow that should I ever become a flight instructor, I would never do anything that would in any way scare a student. Flying is meant to be fun. There is no need to scare anyone, either student or passenger.

My career as a U.S. Army Aviator never materialized due to the significant reduction in forces in Vietnam at the time. I continued to fly for pleasure while beginning a career in marketing. Two years plus of wearing a suit and tie every day wore on me. I wanted to fly! I contacted the flight school where I had obtained my initial training and 30 days later, I was working on all of my ratings.

The next four months were devoted to flight training earning a Commercial license, Instrument rating, Multi-engine rating, and a Certificated Flight Instructor rating. The flight school then hired me as an instructor and I was on my way, flying seven days a week.

Too much of a good thing can make work of something fun. After three plus years of seven day a week, 10-12 hour work days, I had second thoughts about an aviation career and made the decision to pursue my marketing career full time while continuing with my flying on a part time basis. Flying was still my first love though.

My wife, Sharon, and I bought a Piper J3 Cub to fill our flying needs, but I soon found that I missed sharing the true pleasure of flight with others and began giving tail wheel instruction for all who were interested. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of signing dozens and dozens of logbooks endorsing the individuals as safe new tail wheel pilots.

Today, I’m back doing what I love most, sharing the pleasure of flight with others on a full-time basis. Sharon and I have established a small flight school offering tail wheel training as well as sport pilot and private pilot training. This past year I worked regularly with approximately 22 students.

For most, the pursuit of flying is a hobby and hobbies are supposed to bring pleasure and satisfaction. I try to make every flight lesson fun as well as challenging. Recalling my second lesson vividly yet today, I go to extreme lengths to never scare a student.

Working with a student to perfect his or her landing skills can be quite taxing. However, when they finally master the landing and it’s time for me to exit the cockpit permitting the student to make that memorable first solo flight, I’m not sure who is more proud! I love standing off the edge of the runway watching those first three or four takeoffs and landings and seeing the student’s confidence grow with each landing.

It doesn’t make a difference to me if it is the first takeoff of the day or the fifty-first. Each time the airplane rises above the runway it brings a smile to my face.

I’ve found my true purpose in life and thankfully, have the support of my wife to pursue my dream. I want to share the pleasure and the challenge of flight with as many interested students as I can for as long as I’m able to do so.

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