I read an article in Outdoor magazine a few years back about a river rafting trip in Alaska. The trip stretched over several hundred miles starting near the river’s headwaters. Getting there meant 20 or so hours by auto, or a few hours in a C-172.

 

The reporter who wrote the story was terrified of small planes, but lacked the time for the 20-hour auto trip. Before leaving the lower 48, he contacted the company guiding the rafting trip and asked them to recommend “the most experienced bush pilot” available to fly him to the top of the river.

 

When he arrived at the designated airport, he was greeted by his pilot – a 72-year-old man who had been flying the Alaska bush for most of his adult life. Although taken aback by the man’s age, a short discussion of his pilot’s experience allowed the reporter to set aside his fear and board the plane.

 

Take off was smooth, the weather was great, and the reporter slowly calmed as the flight progressed. About 45 minutes after departure the reporter noted the pilot’s right hand had not moved from atop the glare shield where he’d placed it shortly after leveling off. His curiosity getting the better of him, he asked the pilot why he flew with one hand on the ‘dash.’

 

The pilot replied he often fell asleep; his hand falling off the glare shield and striking his thigh “usually woke him up.”

 

The reporter had no trouble staying awake for the entire flight…

 

 

 

Are you sure the noise wasn't from dosing off and nodding forward, hitting the top of your headset on the ceiling -- and hearing a "thump" in your headset before waking up again?