Flying lessons begin

It’s official. I’m training to be a pilot, a radio-controlled model airplane pilot.

I know I could never afford to fly full-scale airplanes, hearing all the horror stories of how much you have to pay for an hour of flying, including airplane and gasoline.

Starting last week, Mahlon Hirsch of Fairview, PA, an extremely experienced radio-control pilot, began my instruction. Mahlon is 90 years old and has been flying for 50 years. He has taught a lot of others to fly, and I am honored he came out of retirement for me.

The airplane, an Alpha 40, came from the Hobby Shop at the Thermal-G Airport on Hamot Road, Summit Township, south of Erie, PA. Full-scale flying and model flying has been in the proprietor family, the Gehrleins, for decades. The knowledge  is deep in the Gehrleins old buildings, and the laughter plentiful.

I received the airplane as a birthday gift from my wife, Bernadette. Why an Alpha-40? On orders from Rory Gehrlein, the third generation of the Gehrlein family at the airport.

In the remaining pleasant days of fall, I’ll be learning to fly out on the field at Mahlon’s side, his left side if I know what’s good for me.