Darlings,
Didn’t have time to write yesterday. We flew in the morning at school in the afternoon and flew again at night. Gosh! Is night flying ever fun. My instructor took me around four times and then hopped out and said “Okay Jago do a good job.” I feebly answered “I’ll do my best sir.” Gosh! I was scared-my knees were knocking. I tried to comfort myself by blaming my shaky limbs on the cold weather. I have my winter flying suit on so that didn’t hold water. I gave my call into the control tower.
“Lower zone one ready to take off.”
“Okay lower zone one you are free to take off.”
When I got the okay, I wound down 20% of the flaps put the prop in low pitch-zero off my stabilizers. Then checked the mags and cleared the engine.
I forgot to tell you about the zones. During night flying the Chico area must be divided into zones. Zone I, II, III, IV. Upper and lower. This is necessary because they will know where the ships are then and also there won’t be any midair collisions.
Well, when I got my bearings I swung the nose of the ship parallel with the string of lights on the take off strip. I looked over the nose-everything was black. Well, Jago, you had better watch your instruments because it’s blacker than pitch. Finally I gave her the throttle and off we went. When I reached my zone again circling up to 1726 feet. Then I waited for my call to land.
“Lower zone one come in for a landing.”
“Lower zone one okay pitch and flaps.”
Down I circled to 1000 feet making a rectangular pattern to the landing spot. Then I turned on my base leg and gave them a call I was coming in. Then I turned on the final approach, turning on the landing lights at the same time. Saw I was a little high so I wound some more flaps down and cut the throttle slightly. And I am correcting for crosswind-then down for a pretty good wheel landing. Well, darlings I hope you have enjoyed my night flying-write soon-I miss you terribly-
your loving son,
Jim