The Nickel Ride

Today was one of those days that is hard to sum up in words.  I finished my academic classes at around 10:30AM and quickly jumped in my truck to head out to the pick-up point for "flight-line".  Today was the day we (my flight school buddies and I) got to participate in the legendary "nickel-ride".  It's one of those traditions that is so old in the Army it's difficult to trace back the exact roots of the history of it all.  After asking a myriad of individuals and consulting google and wikipedia I think it's safe to say that it all started back in the "barnstorming" days when pilots would take people for a ride in an airplane for the bargain price of a nickel.  I've been told by some it was designed to try and get folks hooked so they would spend more money for flight lessons thereby providing the pilot with an opportunity to earn some money instructing.  All I know is, regardless of the tradition, I got to fly a helicopter today.  Having already earned my FAA private pilot rating I don't believe I was as nervous as some of my other classmates.  However, my emotions were slightly stirred as I stood out on the ramp right before it was my turn to fly.  I couldn't help but recall where I was three years ago when I started the process which would eventually bring me to the cockpit of the mighty TH-67 (Bell 206 Jet Ranger).  I remembered raising my right hand as my Father (a retired Army officer) administered my enlistment oath,… I thought about leaving the place I loved so much (Austin, TX) … Going to Basic Training for what proved to be the coldest experience of my entire life,… Advanced Individual Training at Fort Rucker to earn my initial primary military occupational specialty as an air traffic controller.  Then back to Austin for a year before returning again to Fort Rucker for Warrant Officer Candidate School where my Father would once again administer another oath, only this time it would be my oath of office to become a Warrant Officer,… Then Dunker, Basic Officer Leadership Course, SERE, and now finally IERW (initial entry rotary wing training).  So, yes, I will admit to being ever so slightly emotional as I let that all marinate as I walked towards the helicopter today to take the controls for the first time.  This experience (Army flight school) is incredible, exciting, stressful, and humbling.  I shared my thoughts and emotions with my Father on the phone as I was leaving the flight line today.  It's hard to put it all into words,… but, it was one hell of a day,… one for the memory books for sure and one I'm not sure I'll never forget.  My Instructor Pilot is now the proud owner of a 1976 nickel… Why a nickel with your birth year on it?  I have no idea… but it's tradition.