Flying High

Dan Sorkin is the founder of the Stumps ‘R Us amputee support group. We came across Dan last year, a few months after I was back up and about after my accident. The Stumps group are a light-hearted, fairly irreverent bunch of amputees and as part of the group’s charter, Dan, (who lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident), takes members flying. He’s an avid pilot, and has been flying for over 50 years!

Kerry and I hadn’t had a chance to go flying with him and his wife Jodi, but finally at the end of last month we managed to get a day…and as it turned out, what a gorgeous day it was. We met Dan at Buchanan Field airport in Concord were a friend of his keeps their plan. The plan was to fly from there to San Francisco, over the Golden Gate bridge and down the coat to Half Moon Bay for lunch.

It was a lovely blue day, not too hot or cold and really clear. We jumped in the plane, I sat in the front with Dan, Kerry in the back with Jodi. Dan got clearance from the tower and off we flew. Flying over the Bay Area makes you realize just how beautiful it is, the views were wonderful as we flew at 4000′ over the hills toward San Francisco and then down the coast to Half Moon Bay. It was interesting to be back in the air again in a small craft, I haven’t been up in the air like this since my paragliding accident. I realised how much I missed the feeling and enjoyment of free flight.

We landed after a 30 min flight at Half Moon Bay airport, parked up and got out to walk to the Ketch Joanne restaurant…now this is the way to get around town! After fish & chips and fun discussions over lunch we headed back to the airport to fly home again. Dan kindly let me fly the plane over the Golden Gate bridge, right over the middle at about 1500′! Not something you get to do everyday.

All-in-all, a great day out and yet another benefit of being an amputee.