A few days before the Abbotsford International Airshow Sophie and I were given the opportunity to go for a flight. Actually, let me correct that. I was given the opportunity and I was able to bring the kids along to get some photos of them by/in the Jelly Belly Airplane. As we walked towards the pilot and a few others we could here them say, “Do you think they would both fit?”
We met the pilot of the aircraft, Kent Pietsch, and a few others who were there to help us get ready for a little flight. Kent then asked if I would like to have Sophie join me for the ride. “That would be amazing!” I said and kneeled down to ask Sophie if she wanted to go for a ride too. She was beaming!
After a few minutes we were hopping in the back of the Jelly Belly airplane and Kent was buckling us up getting ready to go. Forgive my lack of knowledge for this word, but there was a ‘handle’ between my legs in the back that could be used for steering the aircraft. Kent let me know that as we were going up he was going to have me fly the plane. Once we got to the right altitude, that is. Not gonna lie, I was pretty unsure about my abilities here.
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Up, up and away we went and he asked me to take flight. His hands off his ‘handle’ and my hands fully guiding the plane with mine. Talk about adrenaline rush! It was crazy looking outside as the smoke from the BC Wild Fires was still very heavy. When we would normally be able to see mountains far and wide, it was a smokey sky and vast farm land below.
(The Abbotsford International Airshow set up in action)
At this point Sophie was still beaming from ear to ear. We were taking it nice and slow as I wasn’t about to make any fast movements. Kent let me know that he could do a stall in the air. Turning the aircraft off within mid air will make the nose dip down and then he would recover it quickly bringing us back up again. Sounds pretty cool to me.
Down we went for about half a second and to my left I hear, “Mommy, I didn’t like that. Let’s go back now.” Then, “I think I feel sick Mommy, my stomach feels weird.” Thinking that maybe it was just from the dip we waited a minute but she wasn’t beaming anymore. Someone was over it. That was enough tricks for her, so back we went. That beaming smile turned to a concerned frown and neither of us wanted her to be feeling anymore sick.
After we landed, very gracefully I might add, it didn’t take long for Sophie to start feeling a bit better. She was back to hanging around the airplane and giving me some pretty cute smiles in front of the camera. She for sure had an amazing time, just maybe no stalls for her the next time we are inside an airplane.
When we headed to the airshow this weekend it was so cool to see Kent preform his acts. He is known for having his airplane loose parts mid flight, engines that quit mid flight (got a little taste of that myself), and landing on top of moving vehicles. He preformed all three acts at the Abbotsford International Airport this weekend, did you see him?
Thank you so much to Kent Pietsch and the Abbotsford International Airshow + Brew North Strong for the opportunity to take this flight. Sophie and I were beyond thrilled with the experience.
Learn More about Kent Pietsch + his Jelly Belly Airplane on his website.
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