Didn't someone once say that you start out with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience and the trick is to fill the experience bag before the bag of luck empties?
Someone else also asked me if I am ever frightened... after some thought I realised that flying is like motorbiking... too busy at the time saving your skin but afterwards you think "how did I manage to get away with that?" and vow never to do it again.
Lots of minor escapes but here is a rcent one...
Visited Shoreham for a Sunday trip out.
Filled my tanks on arrival.
Then spent several hours looking around the museum in full knowledge of a warm front aproaching from the south west.
Decided to leave in a hurry on seeing the skies beginning to turn grey.
Wind had veered and grass runway was in use.
Although having an aversion to grass runways in tin trikes particularly when fully loaded I followed the tribe and accepted the grass runway (crosswind on the concrete was no sweat at all).
Did not apply full power for the first quarter of the runway as I was unhappy with the surface (nosewheel airplane).
Aicraft did not pick up speed and with a rapidly diminishing take off distance cursing grass runways I dropped an extra stage of flap in desperation.
Wheels unstuck and we clawed our way over the sussex Downs.
"I do NOT want another take off like that again" I said to my grinning passenger... superbike racer... feeds on danger.
2 hours later on downwind checks I released the park brake!
Didn't tell my passenger.
Lessons...
1. Do not hurry your checks prior to take off.
2. Avoid "get-home-itis".
3. If unhappy with an instruction/request from the ground (like a runway selection) insist on your preference.
I suppose I dipped my lucky bag that day!