Fear of Flying Solo

This is the story of a man who was afraid of nothing. Nothing at all except the fear of flying, and more so flying solo. He went to apply for the lessons, went to pay the fee and even planned the dates to take the classes and lessons when he was off from work.

There was only one problem. It stemmed from a childhood experience that left his filled with fear like having stage fright on opening night of the school play.

He was out with his uncle, learning to fly and suddenly while they were looping and doing twist and sharp turns, his uncle had a massive heart attack and perished. The man known as Gropher, as he was Clark Martin, his uncle being the famous fighter pilot in World War II, Groger Martin Jr, had been his inspiration for wanting to tame the air and his love for flying at a young age.

So, this event that started exciting and filled with joy, turned into a tragedy instantly. It was with fear and screaming that Gropher was having to take control and try to find a place to land. He had only taken several lessons in the actual flying of a plane, but this caused panic and anxiety, both at the loss of his beloved uncle and having to learn to fly with only the minimal knowledge he had.

Then the engine sputtered, with lights flashing and a low siren that seemed to become louder, indicating an immediate emergency. Gropher looked quickly to the right then left as realized that they had forgot to fuel up before takeoff. Number one rules of flying are you check the plane over for anything that needed to be fixed, and you check your fuel.

It was then that instinct kicked in like a bolt of lightning, Gropher grabbed the controls and lowered the plane in an abandoned airstrip. Bouncing and relieved, Gropher was very shaken and nervous at the thought of crashing on the way down to land. He hurriedly removed himself from the plane's cockpit, ran to the area where other planes had once landed and been serviced.

Gropher decided to use his cell phone to contact someone. He looked up his aunt Maggie, notifying her of her husband's demise and then contacted the police. After that he fainted and woke up in a hospital, with a minor concussion. Then while there, his mind went blank, like he had been in a coma or had amnesia.

Back to present day:

Gropher was less than enthusiastic about flying in a two seated plane. It brought back that day of sadness and loss. Gropher was here once more to try overcoming his fear of flying, especially solo.

Gropher was not really wanting to do this, even after his therapist drove him to the same abandoned airstrip that he was trying to avoid. He knew that this was more a test. A test of courage and wits, of determination and a passion and desire to once again be in the skies and feel free and carefree.

The difference was that this time it was his therapist, who would be helping him instead. John Jimmings, who was to be his copilot and the one who was to help him take on the very fear itself. To slowly but surely help him to regain his confidence.

They had discussed this in therapy. Gropher had agreed to being put under hypnosis for the sake of trying to remember what had caused him to stop flying not only that but flying solo. Gropher missed that very much and still was uncertain.

John and Gropher both checked the plane over thoroughly, making sure it was flight worthy and then lastly, John checked the gauge to be sure they had enough fuel. This was double checked by Gropher, mumbling, "Better to be safe than sorry." John replied, "Good idea."

They both were a little anxious and nervous, one for Gropher was because he was trying to avoid getting in and taking off. John was both because Gropher was. Seems some emotions are present in all those nearby.

They climbed into the cockpit, started the plane and taxied down the runway before turning the plane in the direction it was to take off from. It was first bumpy and then as they reached the necessary speed, they begin to feel the plane slowly lifting off the ground.

The ground went from close up to a blurred mass of asphalt and grass, then they coasted across the skies and rose to an altitude safe for flying. They were flying east then west then up then down. Slowly the fear was becoming less of a problem.

Without warning some dark clouds were seen on the horizon, and the fear returned suddenly. Gropher was weary of the idea of flying even near to clouds this dark, yet he wanted to prove himself worthy of flying. John was beginning to fear that Gropher was being overconfident, boastful to say the least.

The dark clouds felt like a large hand surrounding them and John spoke to Gropher loudly over the plane's engine, "Say don't you think we ought to land somewhere, for safety reasons, before the storm gets any worse and we have to fight the storm?" Gropher replied, "Why are you too scared to battle this and hope we survive?"

Then a bolt of lightning struck the wing, sending a charge of electricity through plane and knocking John unconscious. The plane stayed up for another 10 minutes, before nosediving towards a hillside, yet the plane went upward. Then Gropher took the controls, landing the aircraft safely on the top of the hill, bumpily.

One things for sure, Gropher had overcome his fear of flying and yes even his fear of flying solo. He checked on John, who was still unconscious, then exited the plane's front cockpit and was jumping excitedly and screaming, "I finally overcame my fear of flying and I want to thank all those who possible to achieve."

Looking up at the sky, he bowed his head and whispered, "Thanks Uncle Groger, for giving me the courage to take on and willingly return to flying once more." "This was all done for you."

The clouds seemed to be smiling as though his uncle had heard what he had spoken and to show their gratitude.