For in the plane, just remember that your seat will act as a floatation device.:cowboy:
Things to do in Texas. As Adjam5 suggested if you have time and equipment, you could probably pick you up a quick exotic hunt in the hill country pretty easy.
In Austin, if you like the night life, hit 6th Street. You aren't far from San Antonio and the Alamo and the River Walk. In between the two you have the Natural Bridge Caverns and there is also a Cabela's along the way there.
As you are heading back up north, when you pass through Waco, the Texas Ranger (think old west, not baseball) Hall of Fame is right beside IH 35. When you get to Dallas/Fort Worth area you need to take a trip by Jerry's World and see the home of The Dallas Cowboys!!!!
While you are in the area, you might as well get you a taste of some real Barbeque and some Tex-Mex.
Probably more to see and do than what you have time for, but those are a few things that I thought of off the top of my head. And don't worry about those noices you hear while taking off, it will probably be alright.:no: