Dear Dad,

I'm sorry that I haven't written to you lately, but I really meant for my letters to Mother to be for the family. However, I'm going to write "all the way around" from here on in.

I've completed 2 and 1/2 hours of actual flying instruction now. Today I did some stalls and threw the plane into one spin. However, my instructor had to recover from the spin. It was the first that I ever did. It's really a surprise to throw a plane into a stall, drop off into a spin and find yourself heading straight for the ground and spinning like everything.

My instructor said that I can do a stall fairly well so I'm not worried about that. What happens is that you put the plane in a 45 degree climb and keep it there until you lose flying speed. When this happens, you drop straight down. Then you recover by pulling back on the stick and coming to level flight.

In a good stall, a plane will drop about 1000 feet straight down before recovery. It's really a wonderful feeling. I also made my first landing today. It was rather rough as I was about 3 feet off the ground when I stalled instead of 6 inches off the ground. However, I know that I'll do better the next time. I won't fly again until Monday, as we are up on our schedule and therefore have open post Saturday evening and Sunday until 5:00 p.m.

I guess that the garden is O.K. Mother said that you picked the first tomato in the neighborhood. How's the car? I'd love to drive it again. I just wonder whether I can drive any more or not. I'm really looking forward to seeing you this summer. Try to bring the whole family down if possible - at least you and Mother.

Thanks a lot for the card. It really hits the nail on the head.

Dad, I can truly say that flying is 100 times safer than driving a car. Our ships here are always in top condition and fly with an ease that you can't imagine. And, naturally, we are always required to wear parachutes for a "just in case."

Well, this is my last sheet of paper, so I'll have to go scout up some to write Mother with. I have an exam in Meteorology tomorrow and have lots of studying to do, so must sign off now.

Write soon - I will also.

Love,
Jack

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