Had my first flight ever in a Chippie with 9 AEF at RAF Finningley in 1983, back when I was an Air Cadet. Gutted that I don't have a picture or even a record of the S/N.
Anyhoo, we're flying along and my pilot asks if I'd like a go. I say 'Yes please Sir' so he gets me to follow him lightly on the controls - which I duly do. I'm a bit overawed to be honest (never having been in the sky before remember!) and my thumb & forefinger are only just touching the top of the stick as it moves around. He then utters the immortal words 'You have control' and I do, I actually have control - of an aeroplane!
But, so nervous am I (and he hasn't
actually told me to do anything with said plane) that I sit there rather like a rabbit in the headlights, not moving the stick at all. The graceful Chippie just flies along perfectly trimmed in level flight and a couple of minutes later my pilot says 'I have control' then compliments me on my smooth flying!
Still makes me smile today - must sort another go sometime
