Heading out to the flightline at the Navy Flying Club, I feel a rush of excitement for my very first single-engine airplane flight. Jeremy French, my flight instructor for the next two hours, carefully examines and verifies the checklist of safety procedures as we prepare for takeoff. 

I nervously eye the light blue motion sickness bag peeking out of the passenger side window. Am I in for a bumpy ride? What have I gotten myself into? I swallow my anxiety, buckle up and sit back.

We take off from runway seven and spend the next two hours soaring over the aquamarine waters of Deception Pass and the pristine communities of the San Juan Islands, enjoying some amazing sights and even testing the Cessna 172s versatility with 60 degree banks and altitude drops. 

My two-G-force experience can’t exactly be compared with a reconnaissance expedition in a Prowler, but nonetheless, it is a thrill for my roller coaster-wary stomach, not to mention a feast for my eyes.

Back on the ground, in the cozy confines of NAS Whidbey, I step out of the Cessna with an ear-to-ear grin, some amazing photos and that dreaded airsick bag (empty and untouched, thank you very much) to hang on to permanently. 

Over the next couple of minutes, I considered chucking the rest of my marketing responsibilities and “promoting” the Flying Club with eight hours of flight time each and every day.

Okay, I love all the aspects of my job, and that statement is an exaggeration, but I definitely would enjoy making air travel a more regular mode of transportation for myself. Compared to the reliability of my over-mileage, overworked, overheating car, a resilient airplane seems like a pretty good option. A 15-minute commute to Bellingham or two-hour venture to Portland, without the hassle of traffic and both possible by air, sounded like a dream. 

Flying Club manager Eric Miller consistently responds to pleas from customers, regarding inconvenient transportation and desire for more reliability, saying, “You know, flying is really a much more reasonable travel option than most people realize. There’s no better way to get around the islands,” he said. 

Consider the amount of money spent on fuel, routine vehicle maintenance and ferry tickets each year. It likely adds up to a number well over $5,000. Speed of learning varies with natural ability and dedication, but most people spend about $3,500 to $5,000 on three to six months and a couple of flying hours each week to earn their pilot license at the Navy Flying Club.

When considering the expensive “toys”, like ATV’s, ski boats and motorcycles that some people splurge on, the possibility of spending a few paychecks on a skill and experience that will last a lifetime is really quite a bargain.

For those adventurers looking to break free from traditional forms of transportation, the Navy Flying Club is offering an excellent opportunity to explore that possibility during their annual membership drive. Throughout the months of February and March, take extra advantage of joining the Club with your first hour of flight time free, as well as a complimentary 18-hole round at the Gallery Golf Course. 

Active duty, reserve and retired members of the armed forces and their family members, as well as federal government employees, members of armed forces of foreign countries, family members of foreign armed forces members (when on orders with U.S. military), civilians through the Civil Air Patrol, and base contractors are all eligible to participate in all the activities and privileges that come with being a member of the Navy Flying Club.

A $25 monthly membership fee makes the club’s planes available for members to rent 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Skilled flight instructors, who range from pilots just out of college whose training is fresh, to military veterans who have built lives and careers on flying, are standing by with a wealth of knowledge.

Check out the Navy Flying Club, and after a few hours of flying, you too may decide that you would not want to travel any other way.