Mid-air is impossible

by Sam Aurilio
(Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

I had (have) a problem unlearning my private pilot skills. Controlling meant looking out the window, not at some foam thing way over there!!
With my 100% foamy crash rate, I got a used gas NexStar. My first instructor was great; got me up high and had me fly patterns. Next instructor was a drill sergeant and told me don't look at the other planes, a mid-air is impossible...
Second flight he's climbing downwind in the pattern. The plane he hit was a small foam WW1 biplane with a wire undercarriage. The wire impacted and separated the wing and the rest plowed in at full throttle. I figured he felt pretty bad so I pat his shoulder and said something like "that's OK", or whatever. The guy never said a word and just handed back the transmitter.
When everyone went out to see the wreckage, he just walked off. And now, I have an air-boat and lots and lots of foam and balsa parts...