...I bought Microsoft Flight Simulator. For $50, I could pretend to fly! I was so impressed with it's realism and challenging on-line lessons, I became obsessed with learning to fly.

Soon after, I bought an actual aeronautical chart and studied Los Angeles' air space. I also bought an E6-B Flight Computer ($20), a plotter a actual training manual and learned the instruments as well as navigating.

A couple years went by and I became quite the "simulator-pilot." Not only could I fly from airport to airport within the proper airspace, I could actually estimate time en route based on airspeed and winds aloft. Continuing with my on-line studying, I learned to fly in clouds using only the instruments and find airports hundreds of miles away.

My buddies teasing me about spending time on a "video game." They were right--it was a waist of time.

Or, at least I thought...

One day after work I stopped off at a local airport to watch Pipers and Cessnas take off and land. I walked into a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) to see what lessons cost. Linda Frank of FAST Aviation suggested I take a demo flight for $35.

The next day the flight was set for 6:00 PM. My appointed instructor was Scott Pearson. We performed the preflight, got in the 2-seater Cessna 152 and took off. Once we were airborne, Scott handed the controls over to me. I could not believe how similar the real plane was to the simulator. I felt as though I had two years prior experience!

For the next 30 minutes I controlled the plane and loved every minute. Because of my flight simulator experience, I knew the instruments and understood the basic characteristics of the airplane. I also understood at least half of the pilot jargon. I was, however, deficient on the radio! They all talk too fast.

Scott landed the plane and I immediately signed up for the next lesson as well as ground school.

For the next couple weeks, training was challenging but a whole lot of fun.

After two weeks training (six hours of time behind the stick), learning emergency procedures, taking off and landing, Scott asked me head back to the airport. I landed the plane and pulled off the side of the tarmac. Scott opened his door and jumped out. I was alone.

With a smile and a wave, he yelled from outside the plane, "She's all yours -- have fun!"

After completing my first solo, I received my Private Pilot License three months later. Since then, my passion has been taking people for rides and allowing them to experience the joy of flying. And if the weather is good, I will hand the controls over to you.

Want to go flying?