Go find a rainbow

By ROSE RIVERA

As a pilot, I have spent many hours in airplanes, particularly training aircraft.

Because of weather and expenses, my CFI and I have made an effort to make use of the flight simulator when possible while I’m working on earning my instrument rating.

However, my limit for the number of hours with it has almost been reached, meaning the rest of the training needs to be the real deal: Real plane, real flight plan, real tower, and real weather.

Today worked out beautifully for that — well, almost.

I’m a nursing student and I finished class up a little late because of class presentations for group projects. I skipped breakfast this morning, had not eaten lunch yet, and realized at the last minute my flight lesson was an hour earlier than I anticipated. This meant it started in 10 minutes.

I am 15 minutes away from the airport, am still in my student nursing uniform, and am starting to shake because of not eating. Great! Off I go, tearing down the highway, trying to be as on-time as humanly possible, while repacking my backpack, eating half a sandwich, and putting different shoes on. Watch out world!

I get to the airport and we get off the ground in a hurry — weather coming, again.

With our sights to the northwest, we head to Gainesville to pick up an IFR approach. Almost the whole way there we flew through actual IMC — meaning lots of clouds.

While I love flying, training has become work to me at times. I have to think so hard.

It is not that I do not appreciate the opportunity. As a Ray Scholar recipient from EAA Chapter 534, I feel very privileged to be able to pursue aviation like this.

And I can never get over the thrill of flying in and around clouds. It catches my breath every time.

And that is what we did for over half an hour while I ate the other half of my sandwich at 4,000 feet. Nothing as glamorous as being a pilot!

As we flew in and around clouds, I sat and joked with my instructor, learning a few hints and tips about real-life IFR flying.

When you go through a cloud like that, it is incredible. It comes closer and closer until it swallows you up. All around you is thick blinding whiteness (hopefully not grey or black colored). You have no reference to any ground-based physical objects.

All you have are your instruments. And then a few seconds later, you break through out into the sunshine. The rest of the clouds look like wisps of steam.

It’s kind of like life. When things come and take out any reference to what we can see and feel, we have to trust our instruments. The circumstances can blind us to the reality of what goes on. As long as we trust what we know to be true, we will come out on the other side, right side up.

The way back to my home airport of Leesburg International Airport (KLEE) held one or two surprises, including a stunning rainbow spread across a large lake. I told my instructor, “Take the controls. I have to get a picture.”

The colors were so pure and clear. It was amazing.

I have never before seen a rainbow like that. It is a memory I will carry for a while. Words do not do justice to a creation of God like that (but I tried anyway.)

On the way back, we cancelled IFR in order to drop down quick for a VFR landing. Heavy rainstorms were just on the edge of the airport.

That was close! But fun. A really good flight, overall. And I look forward to many more in future.

When the days get hectic and it seems like there’s not enough time for what needs to get done, take a moment, breathe, and then go find a rainbow.

Rose Rivera is the pen name of a 19-year-old nursing student in Florida who received a Ray Scholarship from EAA Chapter 534. She has her private pilot certificate and seaplane rating. Her dream is to work as a medical missionary pilot in Africa.