FROM THE EDITOR finding home in the heavens
Sometimes my job can be life changing .
This year , I began Leadership Duncan as a member of Class XXVII . The goal for the class ? Building connections between upcoming leaders in the group . You can check that off my list .
I received a message from classmate and 5B Aviation Head Flight Instructor Richard Martin , who you ’ ll read about later in this publication . The message contained a simple request : Can you please come cover 5B Aviation ’ s celebration for Oklahoma Aviation and Aeronautics Day ?
My answer was “ of course ” as always . I attended that celebration on Aug . 19 . At this point , our staff had previously covered aviation topics in The Banner ’ s newspaper — that included everything from coverage of the Soaring Aggies summer flight camp to “ You Can Fly ” curriculum coming into Duncan and the availability of a flight simulator .
I already concocted a plan for this magazine . Fall means back to school . It was clear that we had a great basis of educational topics to report — a new superintendent , new flight curriculum , a new Pathways teacher and a new football campaign returning recognized voices to the sidelines .
Then it hit me . What about a feature on Richard ? The expansion of the flight school was new and Richard definitely needed to be introduced to the community so people could put a face with the title of head flight instructor .
After he finished handling Aviation Day , I then returned a message to Richard . Again , a simple request : Let me tell your story .
I went to interview Richard , thinking the day was as normal of a day as any other . We talked for a while , had a great conversation , and I knew exactly where my story was going to head .
When we were done , I asked one final thing : Is there anything else you think I should know or you want the community to know ?
Richard looked back at me quickly and grinned . “ Do you want to fly ?”
CHARLENE BELEW
The excitement and the adrenaline that filled my body was intense . I almost knocked over the chair at the table we were sitting at and dropped my notebook in disbelief . “ Are you serious ?” I asked . “ Well , I just figured if you want to tell the story you should see what it ’ s like ,” Richard said .
I ’ ve always been a rather anxious person . I ’ m scared of heights , I don ’ t like crowds and I ’ ve only been on a plane once by myself and I was a ball of nerves the entire time . None of that phased me . I immediately said yes and as soon as he was ready and I had a headset , we were on our way .
“ You ’ ll need to get in first so you can sit in the pilot ’ s seat ,” Richard said .
I looked at him nervously ( I ’ m not even really sure if he could tell I was nervous because masking is a hidden talent of mine ) and I climbed into the pit .
He slid in behind me and immediately began giving me the run down on what was in front of me . I learned that you actually steer the craft with your feet , which was an odd sensation to me . It took me a while to get used to , but he let me steer the plane around the runway . “ Alright ,” he said . “ Are you ready ?” I nodded my head eagerly and he prepared the plane for take off . Down the runway we went and before I knew it , we were in the air . That ’ s when he let me take control .
I know what I was experiencing and it was amazing , but you can ask Richard -- the Charlie sitting to the left of him was incredulous the entire time .
“ I can ’ t believe you ’ re trusting me to fly a plane ,” I squealed in excitement . “ My boss doesn ’ t even know I ’ m doing this !”
And my gosh , it was so beautiful . I ’ ve never experienced anything as calm , or as peaceful , or as refreshing , or as amazing as I did that day .
That ’ s because when you ’ re in the air , all of your problems on the surface seem as tiny and far away as the buildings and trees and fixtures below you . The experience was almost spiritual .
We flew around Duncan and up north toward Marlow . I even got to see Waurika Lake south of us . Richard encouraged me the entire time , reassuring me that I was doing well . I ’ m glad he thought so because in my head I was thinking “ so what happens if I accidentally take this thing down ?”
Richard directed me around Duncan so I could see our staples -- the Simmons Center , Halliburton , DSPAC . He then took me up to Zero-G and told me to grab my water bottle . I did , holding it as he instructed , and it began to float . I immediately started giggling like a child . This was really the best day of my life .
Richard showed me a few more things and talked to me about the discovery flight , which is what we were actively doing . It only costs $ 100 , I learned , and I decided right then I would make a return to take another flight .
Eventually though our time in the open sky came to a close . I was sweating from the excitement and could hardly contain myself . I thanked Richard , told him I would be back to see him and went back to work . Man , I couldn ’ t wait to tell my boss .
I actually walked into my office screaming . I talked so ecstatically you could feel the happiness radiating off of me . I tried to recount what I felt to my boss and tears came to my eyes . Because for one day , I got to leave it all behind . And boy , what it ’ s like to discover real freedom and peace .
I ’ ve never felt the way that I did on Aug . 29 , 2022 . That day really changed my life . Since then , I ’ ve craved desperately to feel that freedom again , to experience the sensation of being above the surface again , so much so that I ’ ve considered joining the flight school myself so that I can .
Richard : I want you to know I understand perfectly now what you meant when you said it ’ s peaceful up in the big blue among the clouds . I ’ ve never felt entirely at home on the surface and have often looked up to the sky wondering why that may be .
Simply put , I think it ’ s because home truly is in the clouds where the Vault of Heaven can be found .
4 DUNCAN MAGAZINE | FALL 2022