I was on my way to Vermont for the Spartan Beast when I had a bucket list worthy experience that I never imagined. I had to take a flight from Dulles to Boston to Rutland. My flight from Dulles to Boston was on a standard size commercial plane. I knew my connecting flight from Boston to Rutland would be on a smaller plane, but I had nooooo idea that a Cessna Prop was only a nine-passenger plane! Before boarding the plane the attendant weighed our bags and recorded our personal weight to ensure proper distribution. While we were standing outside on the tarmac I was taking pictures (until I was nicely yelled at to stop) and I didn’t realize I had volunteered to be the “co-pilot”! Boarding the plane wasn’t the typical leisurely stroll on inside, we had to duck and enter as if we were getting into a mini van. There were only six of us on the flight. I figured I would be sitting behind the pilot like on a commercial flight. Nope! I was sitting right next to the pilot with the steering wheel and controls all directly in front of me. I had a genuine oh sh** moment! The pilot made his speech, but I was still in shock about where I was sitting and didn’t hear a word he said. As the plane took off the wheel and pedals in front of me started to move automatically and I immediately froze up. I didn’t want to accidentally touch anything!!!!! When we reached cruising altitude it seemed like we were suspended in air hanging by strings. I didn’t breath for what seemed like a long time. When I finally started to relax, I distracted myself with the amazing aerial view — a perspective I never had before, not even when I rode in a hot air balloon. I embraced the situation and tried to soak up the experience. Having 360 degree views of the deep green beautiful mountain ranges of Vermont contrasting with the powder blue sky and cotton-like clouds while coming in and landing is something I will never forget. My nerving situation turned out to be peaceful and majestic. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have an opportunity to be a co-pilot, put your fears aside and go for it!