Public Alex Album
Costa Rica
Visit to Germany

Late in March of 2003, Alex made his first real flight. He'd previously traveled with us to Costa Rica, but that was in a sardine-can called an airliner. It counts as flying in the same way that having a glass of water spilled over one's head counts as swimming.

But on this fine Sunday, Alex took his first flight. It was from Caldwell, New Jersey (CDW) to Cape May, New Jersey (WWD). It was made under IFR (for my practice, and to avoid difficulties with the ill-considered restrictions on flight in the Newark area) but with wonderfully clear weather.

From the perspective of the flight, this was a shake down. Would the stroller fit into a Cessna 172's cargo area? Would the belts in the back seat properly secure Alex's "car" seat? Would he find any discomfort in the air? This quick trip seemed a perfect test.

Happily, all worked perfectly. I'm not completely comfortable with how we protected Alex's hearing: cotton under a tight cap. It really didn't seem like much protection to me, and he also appeared too easy to shift the cotton under the hat. It's something on which I need to work. But there were no real difficulties, and Alex appeared to enjoy the small amount of the flight for which he wasn't sleeping.