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I remember one year on the Fourth of July being excited to see fireworks later like we did every year. I was maybe 10 or 11 years old. But hours before it got dark my Dad said get in the car. He packed me, my brother and Mom in the family car and off we go. I did so under protest.
Why are we not going to see fireworks? Not much said from Dad in response. . About a half hour into the drive, finally after being asked incessantly he said we are going to Aurora Airport. I rolled my eyes and said so we are going to miss fire works..
We get to the airport, park and load a Cessna Dad had rented for the night (he had his private pilot’s license). We do pre-flight which seemed to take hours and finally got the bird fired up. I’m still pissed, but loved flying with Dad.
We take off before dusk and climb out of Aurora Illinois (Chicago suburbs) up into the sky. The sun starts setting as we slowly climb higher into the sky. Okay. We’re flying tonight, I’ll manage to enjoy it.
The sky finally goes dark and Dad says look down. My brother and mother and I do. We are above the fireworks looking down. Not just at one show but several dozens from towns and cities as far as our eyes could see.
I’ll never forget that year of watching fireworks from thousands of feet in the sky above the shows. It was amazing.
Why are we not going to see fireworks? Not much said from Dad in response. . About a half hour into the drive, finally after being asked incessantly he said we are going to Aurora Airport. I rolled my eyes and said so we are going to miss fire works..
We get to the airport, park and load a Cessna Dad had rented for the night (he had his private pilot’s license). We do pre-flight which seemed to take hours and finally got the bird fired up. I’m still pissed, but loved flying with Dad.
We take off before dusk and climb out of Aurora Illinois (Chicago suburbs) up into the sky. The sun starts setting as we slowly climb higher into the sky. Okay. We’re flying tonight, I’ll manage to enjoy it.
The sky finally goes dark and Dad says look down. My brother and mother and I do. We are above the fireworks looking down. Not just at one show but several dozens from towns and cities as far as our eyes could see.
I’ll never forget that year of watching fireworks from thousands of feet in the sky above the shows. It was amazing.
