My job as the founder/editor/publisher of “06880” has opened many doors.
Including the one on a Piper Cherokee 3-seater prop plane.
Last Saturday marked one of my most memorable mornings ever. I flew over Westport just after sunrise, enjoying a view of the beach, downtown and my home that is usually reserved for birds.
My pilot was Aiden Schachter — a rising senior at Staples High School.
He’s 17 years old. But Aiden is no ordinary kid.
After starting on a flight simulator in 7th grade, he advanced to lessons. On his 16th birthday in March 2022, he soloed.
He flew a plane before he drove a car.
Last month — after studying hard for the oral, written and check ride tests, and 5 hours in the air performing landings, takeoffs, maneuvers, emergency prep for landing at unplanned locations and more — he earned his pilot’s license.
Aiden Schachter, the day he got his pilot’s license.
That’s not Aiden’s only accomplishment. He’s built a thriving national business building and selling LED lightclouds. And he’s a varsity wrestler.
Keep your eye on Aiden. He’s going places.
One of those places was Sikorsky Airport. When I met him early Saturday morning, he was in his element. He bantered easily with men and women who have worked at the Bridgeport facility for decades, then went to work filling out paperwork for the flight.
He strode confidently to the small plane.
He performed his pre-flight checklist with utter seriousness. He explained everything about the plane to me in the manner of any experienced pilot (without the fake drawl).
He communicated with the air traffic controller. He revved the engine.
And off we flew!
We cruised at 3,500 feet, around 115 miles an hour.
The world looks different from that height.
Bridgeport’s Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater and Total Mortgage Arena are at the lower left.
Two things stand out: the amount of water. It’s everywhere: the Sound, rivers, tidal ponds, backyard pools.
Sherwood Mill Pond, with tiny Hummock Island (left center). At the bottom is Old Mill; the footbridge leads to Compo Cove (right). Above it: Sherwood Island State Park.
Compo Beach packs a lot into a (relatively) small space. Above it: Gray’s Creek, and the Longshore golf course.
Cockenoe Island. Saugatuck Shores is at left; Compo Beach is at the top, just below Owenoke and Gray’s Creek.
And the amount of greenery. It’s no wonder the power goes out so often. Trees are everywhere; at least a few of them are bound to fall.
The Longshore pools, marina and golf course are on the left; Gray’s Creek and Owenoke next to it, on the right.
It’s actually possible, from 3,500 feet, to see the border between Bridgeport and Fairfield, then Fairfield and Westport. The size of residential lots changes that dramatically.
Aiden gave me a full tour of our town.
There were fresh perspectives everywhere. One example: Downtown — which occupies such an outsized part of our mental picture of Westport, along with plenty of debate and economic power — takes up a tiny area of real estate.
The Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge leads to downtown. The Giegerich office on Riverside Avenue is the large white building; the Levitt Pavilion is across the Saugatuck River, to the right.
Parker Harding Plaza (bottom); above it, Main Street, Bedford Square and Church Lane. The Post Road is on the right.
Winslow Park. That’s the Westport Country Playhouse and Playhouse Square (left); at the top left is the Gorham Island office building.
Saugatuck is another part of town that punches far above its weight, relative to its actual geographic size.
Saugatuck, looking west. The railroad station and I-95 are at left; the Cribari Bridge and then Saugatuck Rowing Club are to the right. In the distance are Norwalk’s Avalon apartments (formerly Norden).
Aiden says that Staples High School is the biggest building in town.
Staples High School is bordered by Paul Lane Field, Loeffler Field, Jinny Parker Field — and plenty of trees.
The Aquarion water tanks on North Avenue stand out in what seems from the air to be a forest. They’re a lot more conspicuous at ground level. (All photos/Dan Woog)
There are 17-year-old drivers I’d never get in a car with.
But flying with Aiden Schachter? My heart soars like an eagle.
Taking off …
… mid-flight …
… and landing. (In-flight photos/GoPro)
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