When I was younger, I absolutely hated flying on commercial airplanes. Turbulence terrified me more than anything else. Every bump, drop, or unexpected shake sent my mind racing. This fear went on for years… until I took my first flight in a four-seat Cessna.
At the time, I was in a band, and we were on our very first East Coast tour. One of the gigs we were hired for was a private event on a small island, which meant flying was the only option. Since it was such a short trip, there was no need for a large commercial plane—just a small aircraft to get us there.
When we took off, the weather was far from ideal. To put it briefly, the ride was rough. We were tossed around constantly, feeling every shift in the wind. If turbulence scared me before, this was on a whole different level. The plane bounced and dipped in ways I had never experienced, and I was certain my fear of flying had just been validated.
At one point during the flight, the pilot casually asked—actually, encouraged—my friend and the band’s lead singer to take the controls and fly the plane himself. Before any of us could fully process what was happening, my friend pulled back on the wheel. Within seconds, we shot upward, gaining altitude far too quickly.
Needless to say, then next time I flew commercial – it didn’t seem SO bad. Check out the story below!
