After a few minutes of dead heading towards Ponce, Puerto Rico due to loss of St Croix’s VOR, and no signal from Ponce, I was flying by the seat of my pants. A few minutes later I noticed the signal flag on my VOR instrument edging away from “OFF” to “ON” with Ponce’s VOR frequency dialed in.  I flew on for another five minutes until the signal was strong enough to indicate to me that I was off course by five degrees, I corrected my heading. I wanted to fly directly to the approach end of runway two niner.

I never knew how beautiful this part of the world was until I decided to become an airman; The varied but co enhancing colors of the island of Puerto Rico are breath taking, the three shade waters off the coast, the tall mountains to my right and center.  Then there’s the large Delta to my left which contains Las Ochentao, Paso Seco, Santa Isabel, Jauca, Descalabrado, Cuarto de Tierra and many other beautiful villages. Tucked in the far left, (West), corner of this Delta Lies La Ciudad de Ponce and the airport bearing it’s name five miles to the east.

Close to five miles, (as the cessna flies), to the east of runway two niner lies Ponce’s VOR ”PSE” , Frequency 109.0 Mhz, which is now in sight dead ahead. I’m prepared to initiate a “straight in approach” which was granted from the tower as I fly over the VOR.  I’m now lined up with the runway as I lower flaps to 15 degrees, carb heat on, scan the skies for traffic, mixture rich.  I’m maintaining eighty miles per hour approach speed. Full flaps, seventy mph now. I’m over the runway now, throttle back while pulling back on the yoke to sustain my two feet clearance off the runway until this beautiful little cessna becomes too heavy to fly.

Just a second before my plane touched down my yoke looses back pressure indicating full stall. Perfect landing. I leave tower freq for ground freq where I receive taxi instructions.  I bring 19599 to a complete stop, walk to the tower for log book signature. I shoot the bull for a few minutes before continuing my flight. I’m covered in sweat while at the same time jovial while on my natural high. Ten minutes later I was climbing out for Borinquen, heading 320 degrees, there’s a song in my head: “Tis well with my soul.”

After climbing out and studying my charts I identify a small air strip off starboard as Villa Perez. I fly for another twenty minutes when I pass over the city of San Sebastian. I then contacted approach control which after receiving numbers, passed me to the tower.  I was given clearance for straight in approach on runway niner.

It was necessary for me to fly offshore just north of the city of Aguadilla.  I flew parallel to the coast which is off my starboard wing, until I turned towards runway niner at Punta Borinquen.  This is a former bomber strip which was constructed during world war two, and the tower is centered just off the strip.  I therefore extended by flight just above stall speed until I was at the exit to the tower.

I quickly had my logbook signed..(I’m getting tired now)..then received clearance to taxi to runway niner for take off. I taxied onto the runway after receiving take off clearance, then applied full throttle with full flaps. After transition I raised flaps, throttled back for climb out then steered heading 100 deg.  I fly offshore eastbound towards Isla Grande.  After receiving instructions and numbers from approach control they passed me to proper frequency for landing.  After landing I have my log book signed, then it was off to Fajardo Unicom, another signature, then I was airborne again for the very short hop to my starting point at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station.

I taxi to the fuel pumps, mixture lean, engine stops.  I shut down all electrical switches in preparation for refueling. After refueling I taxi 19599 to her tie down pad.  I’m starting to come down off my high now, I’m tired.  I perform my post flight inspection. I read the HOBS meter then log it later when in the club building.

As I leave the building thirty minutes later I kept telling myself “remarkable just remarkable.” I realized I just became a pilot although I was still a student. Thank you God in Heaven for sustaining me all these years since.

WallyGater

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