AviNation Magazine Fall 2021

2021 FALL

AT TR ACT, EDUCATE & EMPOWER YOUTH IN AVIATION

INSIDE One Hurdle at a Time My Aviation Journey How to Turn an Idea into an Airplane

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Fall 2021

Supporter Index:

TABLE OF CONTENTS Coffee in Vegas........................................................................................................... 4 Thank You Kern County California...................................................................... 4 One Hurdle at a Time.......................................................................................... 6-10 Why I Pushed Myself......................................................................................... 12-13 5 Months Later..................................................................................................... 14-15 Go With the Flow: Lift Academy and Cape Air Partnership Benefits Pilots....................................................................... 16-17 My Aviation Journey.......................................................................................... 18-19 300 Schools to Use You Can Fly Aviation STEM Curriculum..........20-22 When Dreams Take Flight.............................................................................. 24-25 Life Inverted........................................................................................................ 28-29 How to Turn an Idea into an Airplane.......................................................30-33 Trailblazer: Lt Colonel Brandi “BB” King..................................................36-38 Pathway: Abby Donofrio................................................................................ 40-41

How to Turn an Idea into

an Airplane pg 30-33

Please support these fine organizations AB Flight, LLC........................................................... 27 Academy of Aviation..............................................48 Air Zoo.........................................................................44 Aviation Insurance Resources (AIR).................46 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.................. 35 ByDanJohnson.com................................................46 California Aeronautical University.....................34 Central Florida Aircraft Services........................ 39 Chevron......................................................................... 31 Culver Props...............................................................46 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase..................... 26 Experimental Aircraft Channel............................ 42 Flight Attendant Prep Academy........................ 35 Flying Legend............................................................. 13 General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)........................................... 39 General Aviation News...........................................46 LIFT Academy..............................................................5 Lockwood Aviation................................................. 42 MATCO mfg................................................................ 41 Open Air Flight Club............................................... 23 Schweiss Doors.........................................................46 Sebring Flight Academy.......................................46 Sensenich Propeller................................................. 26 Saint Francis University............................................2 STEM Pilot......................................................................3 Stewart Systems....................................................... 47 USA Science & Engineering Festival................43 U.S. Air Force.............................................................45 Van’s Aircraft............................................................... 11 Zenith Aircraft Company...................................... 42

Coffee in Vegas

About AviNation AviNation exists to attract, educate and empower youth in aviation.

AviNation magazine strives to give readers insight into the future of aviation by focusing on aviation students, programs, events and innovative approaches to the promotion and continued growth of the aviation industry.

Staff & Contributors Publisher: Jacob Peed Copy Editor: Vicky Rink Administrative Coordinator: Jessica Peed Design & Production: Barb Betts, Lime Valley Mankato, MN Business Development: Thomas W. Flavin Phone: (310) 709-0844 E-mail: Tom-flavin@roadrunner.com Correspondence Editorial submissions and other correspondence E-mail: jppeed@gmail.com Phone: (515) 408-3763 www.avinationusa.com Advertising Phone: (515) 408-3763 E-mail: jppeed@gmail.com www.avinationusa.com Contributing Writers Abby Donofrio Alyssa J. Cobb, AOPA Aubri Guerrero Brian Di Mascio Eric Zapien Kevin Lacey LIFT Academy Lucie & Cayenne Gutierrez Nick Poucher Stephen Trerotola and Holly O’Meara

Thank you to our Cornerstone Supporters

over 260,000 square feet of hangar and industrial manufacturing and repair space. The team can simultaneously support multiple large aircraft projects, encompassing a wide spectrum of capabilities, including engineering, fabrication, and installation.

AviNation is excited to host a Coffee Social for Industry Mentors and Mentees on October 12, 2021, at the NBAA-BACE show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

AviNation is extremely grateful to Citadel Completions for generously participating as a sponsor.

“Citadel Completions attracts and develops leading professionals for their team and delivers a World Class commitment to its customers. That is why AviNation plans to feature stories for our audience about Citadel Completions in future articles.”, said AviNation Publisher Jacob Peed.

“Lake Charles, Louisiana based Citadel Completions with its foremost commitment to revolutionize completion process standards and deliver luxury-outfitted VIP/VVIP aircraft with the industry’s most aggressive delivery schedules, is an example of leadership for our readers”, said AviNation Publisher Jacob Peed.

www.citadelcompletions.com

Located at Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with

CITADEL C O M P L E T I O N S

Thank You Kern County California

support the story about young Mr. Jerry Lopez, an Electronics Technician at Virgin Galactic, was featured in AviNation’s Summer issue.

A cold call to Mr. Ron Pierce of Minter Field’s Air Museum started a friendly conversation. Truly a great historian and conversationalist, Mr. Pierce suggested that AviNation contact a couple of sisters in Bakersfield who were building an airplane.

All of this would not have been possible without the Edwards Air Force Test Flight Museum’s Ms. Lisa Brown.

Ms. Brown took our phone call and understood our mission. We made more friends at Edwards Air Force Base, Edwards Air Force Test Flight Museum, University of California Bakersfield, and of course Chevron.

Mr. Pierce introduced AviNation to Mr. Charlie Gutierrez, father of Lucie and Cayenne the teenage sisters. Their story about building an airplane is featured on the cover of this magazine.

Mr. Gutierrez, an inventor, built an airplane in his early 20s. Through many friendly follow-up calls with Mr. Gutierrez, AviNation reached out to many other businesses and organizations within Kern County’s Aviation and Aerospace industries.

Thank you all.

There are many great people, mentors and teachers in Kern County. Many who are involved in STEM, STEAM and Aviation/Aerospace programs.

AviNation became friends with many.

It all started with a cold call to Minter Field’s Air Museum. Go see Mr. Ron Pierce and tell him that AviNation sent you to say thank you! Also, plan to go to the Wings and Wheels airshow on November 13th in Shafter, California.

Mr. Richard Chapman, President & CEO of Kern County Economic Development Corporation was an early supporter of AviNation. Thank you. Because of this

www.minterfieldairmuseum.com

m 4 www.avinationusa.co 4 www.avinationusa.com

@AviNationUSA

By Thomas W. Flavin

www.kernedc.com

@AviNationUSA

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YOU ARE CLEARED

The flight path is mapped and the connections are made. You're ready to takeoff toward the career of your dreams. Our trailblazing flight school offers workforce development opportunities that allow you to go from zero flight hours to training with industry leaders and cutting-edge technologies.

LIFT Academy has a tailored, airline-ready curriculum that will get you in the cockpit of a commercial jet ASAP. After you graduate from LIFT Academy, our pathway leads you directly to become a commercial airline pilot with Cape Air to build time and gain industry exposure, before taking off as a Republic Airways First Officer.

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ONE HURDLE AT A TIME The Tango Thirty One Aero Clube made its debut in the AviNation magazine in April 2019. At that time the Clube was only 2 years old and the teenage Clube members were installing an avionics package and partially stripping the paint off Three Five Ugly (their 1976 Cessna 150).

That effort saw a crew of Clube members focused on the avionics installation, while other Clube members focused on stripping as much of the paint from the airframe as they could with the idea that at some point in the future, 35Ugly would be getting a full paint job.

The Avionics installation included a PS Engineering PAR200A Com/Audio Panel that was donated by Mark Scheuer of PS Engineering, a MX-300 Nav/Com, a Garmin GPS150XL, and a GTX327 Transponder. The MX and the Garmins were donated to the Clube by other aircraft owners who had removed them from their aircraft for avionics upgrades.

Tragedy struck the Clube when Freckles was seriously injured in a non-Clube related airplane crash in May 2019. She had just returned home from her first year at Oklahoma University with a private pilot certificate and was looking forward to a summer full of activity with

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By Kevin Lacey

the Clube, including traveling to AirVenture 2019. She was a passenger in a non-Clube related Piper Cherokee that had a landing mishap. Freckles spent the rest of the summer recovering from her injuries.

That accident slowed the progress on 35Ugly considerably, but the winter project was finally completed in June of 2019. Even though 35Ugly was the ugliest airplane on the ramp, all the radios worked as they are supposed to and the young Clube members were proud to fly her to Oshkosh for EAA’s AirVenture 2019 alongside Casper. Casper was a 1967 Cessna 150G and was the Clube’s first frame up restoration. They began that project in 2017 and completed in time for AirVenture 2018. Casper turned out really nice and offered inspiration for what they knew they could do to 35Ugly.

In spite of Freckles accident, Blue, Skinny, and the Professor were all proud to take their check rides in Casper and earn their Private Pilot Certificates during the summer of 2019.

In their spare time after AirVenture 2019, aside from taking flying lessons and logging flight time, the Clube Members began building up a Continental O-200

engine from parts that had been donated by Aircraft Engines and Accessories and Superior Air Parts. The engine on Three Five Ugly was getting pretty long in the tooth and it was evident that it would need an overhaul or be replaced sometime in the near future.

In August 2019, the professor headed down to College Station, Texas for his first year with a scholastic scholarship to Texas A&M for aerospace engineering.

Unfortunately, in September 2019 another tragedy struck the Clube when Skinny was involved in a fatal accident while flying Casper. This was a tough loss for the Clube as Skinny had become a well-loved enthusiastic leader and inspired others to excel. Had it not been for the faith, support, and encouragement from his parents for the Clube to continue on, the Clube directors may very well have pulled the plug on the entire operation and called it quits.

In December of 2019, Clube member Blue and Director Kevin traveled to Tulsa to inspect and purchase a replacement Cessna 150 for Casper. Although a fairly high airframe time 337 appeared to be in pretty good shape. It had a recent top overhaul and plenty of time remaining before an overhaul would be due, so a deal was made.

Unfortunately, Blue only made it half way home in 337 before engine trouble caused a forced landing in Ada Oklahoma. On site investigation revealed that the #4 cylinder stuck an exhaust valve. Leaving the aircraft in Ada, Blue and Kevin returned to Aero Country with a plan of returning in a few days with a spare cylinder and changing it there on the ramp.

By now, Clube directors were becoming shell shocked with the events of the past seven months, but the young Clube members were just beginning their aviation careers and would not be discouraged. In some ways, they even inspire the directors to remain steadfast in helping pave the way and open as many doors as possible for them.

The following Saturday, Sci-Fi and the Hammer changed the #4 cylinder and 337 was ferried home to Aero Country. After a more detailed inspection of the engine, Clube members decided that they would remove the engine and install the fresh engine that they had just built for 35Ugly.

With 337 finally on the line and flying, Clube members wasted no time in disassembling the engine and shipping the parts out for inspection and re-certification. With help from Eric at Aircraft

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ONE HURDLE AT A TIME Specialties and Services, Chuck at Divco, and Scott Hayes at Superior Air Parts the Clube members were soon building a new engine for 35Ugly.

Having earned his Powerplant Mechanic Certificate back in February 2018 based on experience, the Hammer had finally served enough time as an apprentice to go after his Airframe Certificate.

He became the first Clube member to be a fully certificated Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic in February 2020.

2020 was off to a good start, with his fresh A&P Certificate and 3 ½ years’ experience under his belt, the Hammer was hired at Bombardier, where he now takes care of some of the nicest corporate jets in the world.

Other Clube members were happy to put 2019 in the rearview mirror and move on as well. Unfortunately, in early 2020 along came that Chinese Wu-Flu and all but brought the entire country to a halt.

Under pressure from the politically correct crowd, Clube directors called for a cancellation of Clube gatherings until further notice. Members could still fly their airplanes, but work on all projects was cancelled.

Because Sci-Fi and Blue were working as apprentice aircraft mechanics and the Hammer working at Bombardier, they were all considered “essential” employees and were allowed to continue to work.

School was cancelled for Clube members that were still in high school. Clube members who moved away for college were coming back home as their classes were cancelled as well.

Within two weeks, Clube directors began getting calls from the young Clube members. They were wanting to come back to the hangar and resume normal activities.

They did their research and made their case. They are in a demographic that is least affected by the Wu-Flu and have the highest survivability rate. And besides, they had a lot of work to do. With their parents’ approval, the Clube house doors were re-opened and Clube members got back to work on their projects.

When it was announced that Sun n Fun was cancelled, Clube members began to speculate about the status of AirVenture. They were greatly disappointed with the cancellation of EAA’s AirVenture 2020, which is the highlight of the year for them. They decided it was time to get some serious work done. They decided that they were ok with having just one airplane to fly for a while and having previously installed all new windows and avionics in 35Ugly, they decided it was time for a paint job and a new engine.

They dissected little 35Ugly, removing all the flight control surfaces and the engine, and began stripping what was left of the paint. She got an acid wash and a bath in Alodine, followed by a coat of corrosion resistant primer and then a base coat of white Jet-Glo. In August of 2020, our little Ms. Ponytail moved to Daytona Beach Florida to set the world on fire at Embry Riddle. After graduating High School a year early with honors, she left the Aero Clube with her Private Pilot Certificate and has since earned an Instrument Rating and passed the Commercial Pilot written test. As if that wasn’t good enough, she earned a spot on the Eagles Flight Team and then made the Dean’s List for the spring of 2021.

The Fall of 2020 saw the Clube members busy retrieving several donated aircraft. The first was a disassembled Comp Air 6, followed by a 1973 Cessna 172, then an Acro Sport II, a SeaHawker, and a Monet Mini Motor Glider. The 172, now affectionately referred to as the SwampHawk is the only aircraft that fits the Clubes’ mission profile.

The Clube members performed a Condition Inspection on the Acro Sport II and sold it to help finance Clube Operations. The avionics and engine (Lycoming IO-540) were removed from the Comp Air and the airframe was given away. The engine (Lycoming O-320-E2D) was removed from the SeaHawker and that airframe was disposed of as well. The Clube is grateful for the donations and experience the Clube members gained throughout the process.

Between all the other distractions, work continued on 35Ugly with John at Tempest and Keith at Hartzell Engine Technologies providing new engine accessories to round out the engine build. The engine was installed and the cowling installed and the red and black trim colors were applied. By November 2020, 35Ugly was back in the air and looking better than it did coming out of the factory.

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ONE HURDLE AT A TIME

The winter of 2020/2021 brought on some new challenges to the Clube’s goal of breaking in the new engine with the sub-artic temperatures, electricity outages, and of course the Chinese flu. With 35Ugly back in service it was time to take a closer look at the radios in 337. The radios were slowly becoming unreliable.

We had a Garmin 430 NAV/COM/GPS and a GTX327 Transponder that came out of the Comp Air, so they were sent to Ferguson Avionics for bench test. With a clean bill of health, Clube members got busy building a wire harness and installing them in 337.

The avionics installation on 337 was completed just in time for the Clube’s annual migration to Oshkosh Wisconsin. 337, 35Ugly, and Director Kevin’s SloHawk (Cessna 172) all made the trip to AirVenture 2021 with Clube members taking turns doing the flying.

The Tango Thirty One Aero Clube members enjoyed meeting up with Mike Z and the Lakeland Aero Club Crew to exchange ideas and philosophies.

Clube members also attended several seminars and workshops, most importantly a Lycoming Engine build class.

Returning from AirVenture, the Clube members began to focus on the frame up restoration of the SwampHawk. They have the fuselage and tail feathers stripped, installed all new windows, removed, cleaned, inspected, re-sealed, painted and re-installed all the landing gear.

The engine has been disassembled, and once again, Eric at Aircraft Specialties and Services took care of the inspection and re-certification of the internal steel parts while Harold at CSI took care of the crankcase servicing and Scott at Superior Air Parts is helping out with other aspects of the engine build.

The goal with the SwampHawk is to install all new digital avionics with an auto-pilot and provide the Clube members with an Instrument and Commercial training platform that meets the new TAA requirements.

As of September 2021, following in the Hammer’s footsteps, both Blue and Sci-Fi have now crossed the threshold of required experience as an apprentice mechanics working under the supervision of a

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Certificated Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. Both have been signed off by the FAA to go take the tests for their Airframe and Powerplant Certificate. We expect by the time this is published they will both have their A&P Certificates.

The end of August 2021 saw Gator Bait wandering off to Stillwater, OK for his first year at OSU. Beer Money had completed his first year at OSU, but unfortunately could not afford to return for his second year. So, he made an agreement with the US Army. He enlisted with the ambition of becoming a Black Hawk mechanic.

He made the Army agree to let him travel to EAA’s AirVenture 2021 with the Clube before his official ship out date.

After several on again off again efforts, Lil Red finally soloed in September. She is looking forward to moving on to do some cross country flying now.

The Tango Thirty One Aero Clube is a 501(c)3 non profit organization specifically for young adults.

There are no paid employees, only volunteers and all donations go directly to covering Clube expenses.

Application for membership is limited to those between 15 to 19 years old with many members remaining in the Clube into their early 20’s.

Their sweat equity investment into the Clube Aircraft (all owned by the Clube) allows them to fly their aircraft for the price of fuel. To date, the average cost for a Clube member to earn a private pilot certificate is around $1400. The Hammer is earning a handsome paycheck at Bombardier with his only debt is to the Snap-On tool truck.

You can follow the Aero Clube on their website www.t31aeroclube.com or on their FaceBook page @t31aeroclube

Supporting Youth RV-12 Aircraft Build Projects and STEM Education Initiatives since 2011

vansaircraft.com

WHY I PUSHED MYSELF

By Eric Zapien Hello my name is Eric Zapien, I am currently in college to become an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic. I have been in aviation for almost four years now and have grown so much in that time. I have over 60 hours of flight time and strive further everyday to move forward to one day become a pilot.

I grew up in Salinas California, where I have faced many hardships and struggles. At my current age of 20 I feel I have surpassed the expectations I had for myself when I was younger. From the moment I first went up in the air I knew I had to fly.

From there I let go of my addictions as well as my associations with wrong crowds and devoted myself to school. I went to four different high schools before finding the Bob Hoover Academy. Graduating was

never something I believed I would be able to accomplish until I started flying. Every week at the Bob Hoover Academy our grades and assignments were looked over to see if we could be put on the flight schedule for the following week. Every week I pushed myself harder to get more time in the air.

I worked full time at my local FBO, was a full time high school student, took at least one community college class each semester and on top of all that I still managed to fit flying in my schedule.

That single hour out of such a demanding and repetitive schedule was amazing. For that hour in the air each week I felt as though I could breathe. The feeling of being weightless, in control, and free reminded me why I pushed myself.

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My flight path has not come without its own set of struggles either. Being taller and overall bigger than others in my class I did not fit in the school’s Cessna 152. A Cessna 172 had to be rented for me to fly and due to that it would be hard to keep up with others in the class that could fly once, twice, or even three times a week. My plane would go down for maintenance consistently restricting me from flying that week and sometimes the following as well.

That would create an inconsistency on my path of learning holding me back unlike others in my class. It

is also odd to most people that someone with over 60 hours of flight time has yet to solo. I have to explain that the Bob Hoover Academy has to be thorough with their students. It is already hard enough to explain how I got to fly for free through an amazing high school!

My goals are to obtain my private pilot’s license after my A&P certificate. Upon getting my private pilot’s license I would like to continue getting certificates and rating to become a charter pilot. I would like to thank Sean Tucker, Stacey, and my flight instructor Carol for believing in me. I would also like to thank my teacher Mr. Lamonea for teaching me how to believe in myself.

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5 MONTHS

By Nick Poucher

At the end of August, the Lakeland Aero Club took delivery of our new Recruit Cub that we assembled during Sun ‘n Fun. A team of our members went to Bessemer, Alabama for the summer to work with Patriot aircraft to learn about painting and covering our new airplane. Over the course of the summer our members gained valuable knowledge and experience learning about the intricate fabric covering process.

All the Aero Club’s aircraft and previous projects have all been worked on and assembled by our members and it was important that this aircraft was no different.

I had the privilege of flying the Recruit Cub around Alabama prior to bringing it back to Florida and compared to the hundred hours I have in vintage

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Cubs, this airplane was quite impressive. From the time you get into the airplane you can already feel how much more comfortable this airplane is with a wider fuselage and modern seats. Additionally, the takeoff performance is stunning. From the time the throttle is opened it feels like you are flying almost immediately and the landing capabilities are just as impressive with help from the Acme Aero suspension.

The Recruit Cub did not disappoint while flying cross country either, with the modern comfort and Dynon avionics this aircraft was quite enjoyable to fly over the seven hours it took to get home.

Now that the Recruit Cub is home at the Lakeland Aero Club, we are excited to begin utilizing the advanced avionics and new aircraft to offer a modern platform for our members to continue learning with.

LATER...

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GO WITH THE FLOW:

LIFT ACADEMY AND CAPE AIR PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS PILOTS

“I have been dreaming of the day I would step into a plane as an airline pilot, and now because of LIFT and Cape Air, I will be doing that much sooner than I ever expected,” said Abi Anderson, current LIFT Certified Flight Instructor (CFI).

Earlier this summer, LIFT Academy and Cape Air announced a strategic workforce development relationship, a flow program for LIFT graduates to fly as a Cape Air First Officer as they build their ATPrequired flight hours, before moving to the left seat

at Cape Air and then transitioning to a Republic pilot.

At Republic, the pilots will operate daily flights for the airline’s codeshares—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Abi, who is a former American Airlines flight attendant, is among the first LIFT students to receive a job offer from Cape Air to participate in the program once she reaches around 500 flight hours, which could be as soon as this fall.

Interested in learning more about LIFT’s flight program and the flow opportunity to Cape Air? Contact LIFT Admissions at (317) 471-2200 or by emailing explore@flywithlift.com.

“I was lucky to visit Cape Air to see their operations, fly in their Cessna 402 simulator, meet some of their training staff and leadership and be immersed into their incredible culture,” she shared. “I know LIFT’s airline-focused training and G1000 technology within our training aircraft is preparing me in the best way possible to fly with Cape Air, and I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity.”

LIFT Academy is a flight and aviation maintenance training school that operates from the Indianapolis International Airport, and its graduates have the opportunity to flow to Cape Air to provide the airline a talented pool of aviators to operate its daily passenger flights throughout their four regions in the Midwest, Montana, Caribbean and the Northeast.

This relationship enables LIFT Academy and Cape that are well prepared for where their career takes Air to promote workforce development in aviation them, which for this partnership, means Republic and provide greater opportunity for pathways to Airways in their next step,” Cape Air Director of commercial airline careers. With this new career Training Bill Guinee explained. pathway, LIFT and Cape Air are making a career as a commercial “LIFT students already have strong airline pilot more attainable— experience with the Garmin “I HAVE BEEN pilots have a defined career G1000 avionics which is also trajectory from the moment in our Tecnam fleet, along with DREAMING OF THE they begin their flight training. experience with callouts and DAY I WOULD STEP And, it’s a lot quicker to reach flows, so they’re able to quickly their goal of becoming an airline understand and adjust to our INTO A PLANE AS AN pilot—joining Cape Air as a first Cape Air standard operating officer at around 500 to 750 flight AIRLINE PILOT.” procedures and focus on other hours rather than the 1500 that areas of training,” Bill continued. is required by the FAA to fly for a larger regional airline.

There are a lot of synergies between LIFT and Cape Air, and one that Abi noticed right away during her visit Cape Air provides its pilots invaluable experience of to their Hyannis, Mass., headquarters—their cultures. learning how airlines operate, providing excellent customer service to its passengers, strengthening “I felt at ease from the moment I walked in and decision-making skills and honing technical skills of met their recruitment and training teams. It felt like flying the aircraft. home—just like LIFT,” Abi shared. “I learned about their mantra MOCHA HAGoTDI (Make our customers happy “From the first day of onboarding at Cape Air, our and have a good time doing it) and thought, ‘Who pilots are focused on safety of the aircraft and the can’t get behind that?’ and besides, that’s exactly why passengers. We have unique routes with the regions I started my flight training at LIFT in the first place—to we serve in the Northeast, Midwest, Montana and do what I love and inspire others along the way.”

Caribbean, so our pilots also become talented aviators

You can also visit www.flywithlift.com and www.capeairpilots.com for more information.

@flywithlift

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My Aviation Aviation has been at the center of my life as long as I can remember. I’m not really sure what started it. Maybe it was my father’s decision to surround my room with books about aviation legends, biographies of great aviators and pioneers, and diecast models of airplanes and LEGO sets of spacecraft.

Maybe it was my hometown—Lyndhurst, NJ, under the approach path of both Newark and Teterboro. A day without the constant whining sounds of turbines was an unusual one.

However, my path through flight has been one covered in doubt, struggle, and failure. Just like any other goal, at the beginning it feels as an impassable barrier. The whole concept of a checkride and oral exam seemed daunting. And don’t even get me started on the written test—that was a whole other world to me. Not to mention the enormous financial cost attributed to the whole endeavor. An average single engine land private pilot certificate may knock a student back 15,000 dollars!

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But that all changed when I actually got there. By the time I was scheduled to take my written exam, the ground school training kicked in—paid for by the EAA, Young Eagles, and Sporty’s. When I began my flight training, my instructor made it all connect. The communication, the legalese, and the airmanship began to all come together. It felt natural in a way I had never expected it to. And best of all—my years of dedication and service to the Civil Air Patrol gave back.

The use of a CAP airplane and instructor saved my family thousands and made my dream of flight possible as early as 17. Later on during my flight training, I was selected for the CAP Cadet Wings scholarship, which paid for my exam, any remaining instruction, and nearly two hours a month free until I turn 21.

Journey

By Brian Di Mascio

When I finally passed my checkride in April 2021, it was surreal. I knew I had always wanted to fly but always had an insecurity—one removed after hours of studying, training, learning, and passion. But that checkride only remains the start of my journey.

I had always admired the cowboys and desert pioneers: the Yeagers, Hoovers, Carpenters, Crossfields, Glenns, and Armstrongs of the world. Their commitment to service and willingness to push the envelope inspired me to set my end goal to be a United States Air Force Test Pilot.

Next semester, I begin the next chapter, as I enroll in AFROTC and begin my university education as an aerospace engineer. I plan on living one step at a time, but never losing track of where my path leads to.

I often doubt now whether I have the “right stuff” to get there, but often as I did years ago, I have an inner feeling that those doubts will be surpassed by hard work, dedication, passion for aviation, and a never-ending dream to (as read by one Magee Jr.) ‘put out my hand and touch the face of God’.

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S L O O H 300 SC The AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM Curriculum is quickly being adopted at schools across the country, with 300 educational institutions in 44 states scheduled to use the curriculum in the 2021-2022 school year.

That represents a 50-percent increase in the number of schools and a 22-percent increase in the number of states in which the curriculum will be taught compared to one year ago, when 200 schools in 36 states provided it for 8,000 students.

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TO USE

YOU CAN

“We are thrilled with the excitement surrounding aviation STEM programs and with the rapid expansion of the AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School Aviation STEM Curriculum,” said AOPA Foundation You Can Fly Executive Director Elizabeth Tennyson.

“Teachers love the curriculum, students love the curriculum, and they are learning valuable lessons to help them prepare for careers in the aviation industry.”

The science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum features two pathways, pilot and drone.

Once students have completed the curriculum, they have learned the principles necessary to pass FAA knowledge tests. The curriculum is funded by donations to the AOPA Foundation and is provided free to schools. Because of this, AOPA is reaching students from populations that are underrepresented in aviation. In the 2020-2021 school year, teachers

FLY AVIATI

M U L U C I R R U ON STEM C

By Alyssa J. Cobb

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LS TO USE RRICULUM 300 SCHOOLY AVIATION STEM CU YOU CAN F

and students from mid-high and high-poverty schools accounted for 45 percent and 55 percent of participants, respectively. In addition, 20 percent of the students were female, and 45 percent of the students were people of color.

“The program’s leadership in providing academic rigor and career preparation is evident in its impact at the state and national levels,” said Tennyson.

This summer, the curriculum earned the prestigious STEM.org Accredited Educational Program Trustmark.

STEM.org is a STEM education research and credentialing organization that has given trustmarks to companies including The Walt Disney Co. and The New York Times.

In addition to receiving national accreditation, the curriculum is also backed by state education departments, helping to fuel its growth. Oklahoma approved the curriculum statewide for its career technical education (CTE) aviation career pathways, while Kansas career and technical education developers worked with the You Can Fly team to create a statewide CTE pilot pathway. The curriculum also can count as college credit at Florida’s Polk State

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College and Oregon’s Portland Community College as well as many other colleges and universities across the country.

AOPA trains and mentors educators who enroll to teach the curriculum through professional development workshops, ongoing teacher support, and peer interactions. One of the upcoming valuable professional development opportunities is through the 2021 AOPA Foundation High School Aviation STEM Symposium presented by Boeing. The symposium takes place November 14 through 16 and is a perfect way to learn about the curriculum and delve deeper into aviation STEM education. Schools that might be interested in offering the curriculum in a future year should attend the symposium to network with educators who use the curriculum, learn about career opportunities from aviation industry experts, and gain valuable insight into how the program changes students’ lives.

Those who want to offer the program in the 2022-2023 school year can look forward to the availability of seven full-year high school courses in the two pathways.

FOR YOUTH • FOR PARENTS • FOR TEACHERS We are dedicated to providing resources, opportunities and education in the field of aviation. Did you know students can solo a glider at age 14? Aviation education needs to happen at younger ages than previously thought. With thousands of career opportunities, aviation is a viable future when making a career decision. Our programs also supplement S.T.E.A.M (A. for Aviation) curriculum.

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR: JEFF JORGENSON FOUNDER: OPEN AIR EDUCATION

Aviation touches nearly everyone, few understand how and why it works. Armed with experience as an aircraft owner and flight instructor, retired Navy Veteran and stay-at-home dad, Jeff Jorgenson, set out on a journey to inspire his kids and others with a holistic vision of how accessible aviation can be in our rapidly changing world.

WHEN DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT

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W

hen Katie Poertner was in middle school, she was invited to participate in a Women in Aviation event at nearby Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. The day left such a strong impression on her that she knew she wanted to attend Embry Riddle one day.

Her hometown of DeLand, Florida hosted its annual Sport Aviation Showcase when Katie was 14. Her family learned that Embry Riddle instructor, Virginie Rollin, would be at the event to present a forum called “Aviation Education - Getting Kids Involved in Aviation”. While her parents wanted to support Katie’s dreams, their family had no experience with aviation, so this seemed like a perfect place to start.

Shortly after, Katie started to take discovery flights through the 99’s and The Young Eagles program. As she and her parents attended these events, they had the opportunity to speak with many experienced pilots and volunteers who advised them that the best way for Katie to become a pilot was to begin with gliders. The first time Katie took off in a glider, she was hooked. “It was just so cool to be up in the air, hearing the wind and seeing birds flying beside me and below me,” said Katie. “We were all trying to catch the same thermals.”

Katie was a natural at gliding and approached it with a balance of confidence and caution. She loved the thrill of performing stalls while always being attentive to her environment and eagerly following her teacher’s instructions. She attended her lessons for several weeks until her glider school announced that they would be closing. After searching around, she was put in touch with a local glider club, Eagle Sport Aviation. There, she received lessons from several talented glider pilots, and it seemed like she would have her student solo certificate in no time.

It was then that the pandemic hit, and lessons were put on hiatus for over a year.

The uncertainty that came with Covid took its toll on the club, which eventually announced its temporary ending in the spring of 2021. Katie used this time to continue practicing with a glider simulator program and concentrated on her studies. When summer arrived, she would travel to Clermont, Florida to begin taking lessons again through Seminole-Lake Gliderport.

Although Katie had a long break in her training, she was back up to speed in no time and is preparing to begin her solo flights in the coming weeks. Once she acquires her glider pilot rating, she plans to move forward with learning to pilot powered planes.

“One of my biggest challenges so far is that each time I get a new instructor, they want to start from the very beginning. They all have different ways of teaching,” she explains. “They each have slightly different expectations from you, but I can also see how this helps me to become a better pilot. I keep picking up more tips and techniques every time I learn from someone new.”

Watching Katie learn to fly has been a rewarding endeavor, well worth any sacrifice for her parents. “I just want my kids to grow up knowing that there is no dream too big for them to accomplish when they work hard and set their minds to it,” says her mom, Cassandra.

Her father, Josh, is incredibly proud to have a daughter who is interested in a traditionally male-dominated industry. “It’s important to me that our children find careers that they truly enjoy, not just something that makes money. So, to watch her find a real interest at an early age means a lot to me.”

At 16, Katie is now dual-enrolled at DeLand High and Daytona State College, and she is on track to earn her AA degree when she graduates high school. Despite many roadblocks along the way, she continues to work towards her dream of attending Embry Riddle and finding a career in the aviation industry as a pilot.

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LIFE Inverted By: Aubri Guerrero Aubri was one of this year’s lucky recipients of a media ride with the Phillips 66 Aerostars airshow team, made possible by AviNation, generously donated by Phillips 66.

Aerobatic flight is something I never considered when first putting my foot through the aviation door.

I started my aviation journey roughly two years ago at California Baptist University. I showed up as an undeclared major but was easily swayed to try out aviation by department officials. Receiving the offer to partake in an aerobatic flight at the biggest air show in the world was unbelievable so, when presented with this unique opportunity, I immediately accepted. In addition, I knew this experience would expose me to another piece of aviation. Thus far, general aviation has been the only operation that I have gotten to see up close. Though no more than a fifteen-minute flight, the experience was truly unforgettable.

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Prior to the flight, the Phillips 66 Aerostars reached out to ensure that I had viewed their safety video.

While watching the safety video, my anticipation and excitement for this flight grew. I was able to grow familiar with the aircraft and the procedures specific to aerobatic flight. The precautionary parachute was a reminder that while an amazing experience, it requires every individual to be prepared in the event of unforeseen difficulties.

I rode along with Paul who has been training in aerobatic formation flight for over two decades.

We spoke beforehand and he assured me that this flight was a simple operation that he had completed hundreds of times. Prior to departure, I knew which maneuvers we were going to complete, but nothing can prepare you for the feeling you get while executing each portion. As friends and family have asked about my experience, I have used a roller coaster to describe the feeling. Growing up, I always loved the feeling of acceleration, twists, turns, and loops. While the two

concepts may not be exactly the same, it is the best comparison I can make.

During the flight Paul passed the controls to me, and as someone who hasn’t flown stick and rudder, I did not stay in formation too well. Despite the new control concept, Paul talked me through the process and helped me to stay in the proper formation. In flight, I could see the pilots motioning to each other in addition to the verbal communication that they maintained. They used hand signals to indicate formation changes, which I did not expect. The wrong interpretation of a signal could lead to major mistakes

but is a relied upon source of communication for these pilots.

In my career, I would love to make it into the airlines.

That being said, you cannot predict what opportunities will be sent your way. While I still plan on completing my flight training at California Baptist University, I’m not ruling out the aerobatic side of aviation. Not only does the appearance of an aerobatic formation flight look fascinating from the ground, it also allows pilots to test the theory behind the aerodynamics they are taught in the classroom. It truly allows the pilot to feel in control, yet free. I would highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who loves a thrilling experience.

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Who are we? Sisters. Lucie is sixteen and Cayenne is fourteen. We live in Bakersfield, California.

What gave us the idea of building an airplane?

HOW TO TURN AN IDEA INTO AN AIRPLANE

Woody Thompson, our Dad’s band director in high-school, built a Bowers Fly Baby. This is what made Dad believe he could do it too, and he passed the bug on to us. Our dad built a Sonerai-II plane by himself when he was twenty-six. We grew up seeing the photograph of that Sonerai and being surrounded by his projects. Helping two of his kids build their own airplane was just the sort of thing he’d do. We had conversations about it and we liked the idea. Thus far, Dad teaches us and we do most of the construction.

Our dad says building an airplane is easy. All you have to do is ten thousand tasks in the proper order, and poof----an airplane magically appears.

What made us think we could do it? Our dad

is always around to show us how to do things, and we have a lot of faith in his ability to build. Also, he remembers the important little things that we forget.

Like ailerons.

How long will it take? We don’t know. Building

an airplane is a turbulent operation. We had planned to finish by the end of 2021, but it seems we underestimated how much time a project like this can take. The wing ribs are done, at least. That was plenty of work.

eG

rrez utie

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and

enn Cay

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What type of airplane are we building? It

is a parasol monoplane designed in 1929 by Bernie Pietenpol. He called it a Pietenpol Air Camper. We chose this model because of the simplicity and beauty of its design. It is lightweight, reliable, and cheap to build. Bernie’s original choice of engine was a Ford Model-A which we hope to use as well.

HOW TO TURN AN IDEA INTO AN AIRPLANE At this point in the story we should introduce Pete Plumb. We heard of him from Ronald Pierce at an EAA meeting. When we visited Ronald at the Minter Field Air Museum he introduced us to his neighbor Pete of Wood Wing Specialty. Pete took us under his wing. He was not only gracious with his time and skills, but he played a significant role during the early months of our project, and he was a brilliant friend.

In our first lesson with him he showed us how to make a rib jig with his unique method.

We used a melamine board and drew the airfoil on it. Pete used trig and geometry to mark the exact placement of every UHMW plastic jig block.

He taught us the process of soaking and bending the wooden cap strips. Then we learned how to glue the truss pieces to the cap strips and strengthen the joints with thin plywood gussets. In short, he taught us a ton.

Pete gave us flying lessons too. He gave us our first night flights and self-controlled takeoffs in his little Cessna 150.

Is Pete still mentoring us? No. Sadly, Pete passed

away right before Thanksgiving of 2020, while on his morning walk around the three big runways at Minter Field. We’re incredibly grateful for everything he taught us. We learned constantly while we were around him, and he was an amazing person to have as a friend.

Saying goodbye was painful.

What are we going to do with the airplane when we’re finished? Fly it to Mars. We plan to beat Elon Musk.

Do we know how to fly yet? No, but we’re

learning. We hope to get scholarships through the EAA. Lessons are pretty expensive and we could use EAA’s help.

What are we doing to prepare? We go

to Young Eagles events.

EAA pilots give airplane

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rides to kids hoping to create future aviators. We take every opportunity to fly with our local pilots and sometimes pay them back by cleaning the club hangar or washing the bugs off their wings. We also watch Sporty’s Online Courses and read our aviation bible, The Private Pilot’s Handbook, by Rod Machado.

Cayenne recommends Stick And Rudder to anyone who still wonders about “angle of attack” and “stalls”.

How many hours of flight time do we have?

Only about ten or fifteen so far. It accumulates slowly.

How is this affecting our lives? Building

something changes you in many ways. For one, Lucie likes it because she feels the project is making her smarter. Cayenne says that after you start to build you notice what other people have built and begin to see the minutiae of things — the construction, the parts, how a different shape or size of rudder affects the airplane’s flight. After you understand the process of putting a rib together, you see the quality of ribs that other builders have made. Building something changes the way you see.

What else do we do besides plane making?

Any last words? Yes. If you want to make something

Cayenne is a writer who loves animals. Lucie is interested in space and science. And we both love music.

and have the drive to keep going, we’re fairly certain you can build it. Start simple if you must. Start with a paper airplane.

How are we learning to work wood? We’re

We’re just two kids from California who love to fly.

There’s something amazing about being in the air supported by nothing more than a wing and maybe a Model-A engine. You’re free, in a roller-coaster-withouttracks sort of way, and you get a bird’s eye view of the world. Our friend Todd Schultz recently gave us a ride in a PT-23 WW-II trainer. It was our first open-cockpit flight. It was amazing! It convinced us that building the open-cockpit Pietenpol was the best decision, because it feels more like pure flight with the wind on our faces. We’re learning how to turn an idea into an airplane.

slowly and carefully adding to our skills, though we’ve decided to build the steel-tube version of the Pietenpol fuselage. Steel absorbs force better than wood in case of an accident. So we are learning how to weld.

What tools and materials do we use? A

tablesaw, a scroll saw, a magnetic tack hammer for brass plated nails, plastic resin glue, our Dad’s TIG welding machine, sandpaper, a router table, Pete’s wood-bender, etc.

What is our source of wood? We bought some

Spruce and plywood from Pete and Aircraft Spruce, and a few select pieces of Fir from Home Depot.

Any word on conflicts and how to resolve them? This project devolved into a low grade

version of cage fighting so Dad decided to referee.

We are currently back on track.

Do you think you’ll ever build another airplane? We don’t know. Let’s finish this one

and recover our wits and then we’ll see.

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TRAILBLAZER:

Lt Colonel BRANDI “BB” KING

by Stephen Trerotola and Holly O’Meara

Dreams of earning a pilot’s wings are no longer off limits to young girls who have just the right stuff.

Trailblazers like Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Brandi B. “BB” King, a seasoned military C-5 pilot, have paved the way so that the young girls of today can reach for the stars. In doing so, she and her sister Airmen of the last generation have redefined the role of women in aviation.

“Flying is so cool…so fulfilling,” King says.

Charged with promoting diversity as part of her duties at Joint Base San Antonio Randolph in San Antonio, Texas, King believes that a major stumbling block for women is the fact that aviation is often not even considered an option.

“Many young people come from a culture where it’s just not done or even thought of,” King says. “If you can see it, you can be it.”

King, a U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer, is also a pilot for a major commercial carrier. She credits the 1986 film “Top Gun” with sparking her interest in flying as a young girl.

“The movie was a great recruiting tool,” King says.

“All my girlfriends wanted to be Charlie, Kelly McGillis’ character. I, on the other hand, wanted to be Maverick.”

She laughs, remembering the iconic role played by Tom Cruise.

Fortunately, shifts in perspectives within the last two decades have caused the Air Force to promote diversity, reaching out to women and other overlooked minorities to help fill aviation jobs in the 21st century.

She notes that currently, seven percent of pilots in the Air Force are female and many have families.

“The Air Force is expanding its traditional mindset and seeking diversity,” King explains. “It’s important for

today’s youth to see a female pilot like me. I’m married and have children.”

As part of its emphasis on inclusion for the diverse population of aviators, the Air Force identifies and mitigates unnecessary obstacles to help attract, recruit and retain a diverse workforce. King believes that pregnancy and childbirth are real issues encountered by female pilots. Carrying a breast pump and ice chest on overseas missions for weeks on end is not an easy feat.

“Flying across the pond takes hours and hours. These are legitimate hurdles facing women aviators,” King says. “However, more than ever before in my 19 years of service the Air Force is trying to remove unnecessary barriers. It can be difficult to find a female in our culture who has no desire to have a family or does not care if she is away from family.”

One solution may be in technology.

“The Air Force is currently exploring telecommuting in lieu of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, which would allow someone to do the nonflying portion of their job from home, wherever that may be,” King explains. “This also allows military-to-military couples flexibility, and it allows for quality of life. Job

satisfaction is not about the salary, but rather the quality of life.”

King adds that she has lived in San Antonio her whole life and that one does not have to move every three years as a condition of service.

“There are many ways to serve, not just one way,” King explains. “The Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard are fantastic options for those that desire to serve but are unable or unwilling to relocate. There are a lot of roadmaps

36 www.avinationusa.com

to the cockpit. Today I would tell a young person to explore the internet as a resource.”

King also recommends working with organizations such as STEM Flights (www.stemflights.org), AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association), EAA’s (Experimental Aircraft Association) Young Eagles program and Civil Air Patrol as possible routes to career success.

With pilot demand sharply increasing, numerous organizations offer scholarships, including the EAA and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), among others. Women in Aviation offers the 2022 WAI scholarship program for a variety of career choices including aerospace, engineering, aviation maintenance, flight training, helicopter ratings, dispatch and professional development. Additionally, the Air Force Recruiting Service’s Detachment 1 offers Aim High Flight Academy scholarships that provide flight training and solo flight opportunities in addition to familiarization flights on Air Force airplanes.

“Even FBOs can feed into ROTC and the military,” King says, referring to Fixed Base Operators or private businesses who offer aviation services at the airport.

These programs also provide great opportunities for those lacking the means or grade point average to qualify for college entrance or a four-year degree.

The Air Force offers Career Enlisted Aviator positions that do not require any college experience or credits, but still allows one to pursue flying. Additionally, the Air Force provides tuition assistance and the GI Bill that both help pay for college for those who desire to pursue a degree. There are also numerous means by which enlisted Airmen can gain a commission and become officers.

King also credits the Boys and Girls Scouts Flight Badges program and Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) as additional sources for launching an aviation career.

AFJROTC Flight Academy offers private pilot’s certification upon completion of an eight-week summer aviation training program. It also offers a scholarship program to address the national pilot shortage. King recommends calling the nearest high school JROTC unit to find out about possible scholarships. EAA’s Chapter 32 Aviation Resource Center also offers a free program aimed at fostering interest in aviation among today’s youth.

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TRAILBLAZER:

Lt Colonel BRANDI “BB” KING

“There are many pathways to a flight career,”

King says. “It’s really important for everybody in all components of the Air Force including the Reserve and Guard to think of the operation as a “Total Force.”

Additionally, becoming a military aviator sets one up for a follow-up career.

“Every airline wants military aviators,” King adds, citing the robust training the Air Force offers. “We are fortunate that many can have two careers and two retirements.” she says, saying that she has had a “fulfilling profitable life.”

King believes that face-to-face encounters with airline personnel can be key to landing an interview.

“For me, I applied at a major airline in September, and I was hired by January. I found out about a Veteran’s expo and was able to meet key airline personnel at the event.”

Since King’s family is of utmost importance to her, she only applied to one airline, knowing it would provide the best quality of life for her family.

Citing the roots of her own journey, Lt. Col. King explains that she didn’t seek out a career as a pilot right away. She started as a psychology major at Texas Tech University, where she minored in Italian. She later accepted a full scholarship to attend graduate school at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She credits her mom with helping her launch a career in aviation.

“I had been in college on a full scholarship. I gave up that scholarship for flying,” King says. “I went into flying because my mom knew I was interested in it and encouraged me to pursue my dream. She bought me a 30-minute discovery flight at a local flight school. I was scheduled to fly with a retired Air Force B-52 pilot who became like a grandfather to me. I taught school to pay the bills and purchase flying time. I didn’t join the Air Force until I was 27. So I was older.”

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Currently a Reservist on active-duty orders, King is on a leave of absence from her airline employer and is on a mission to improve diversity in the Air Force and empower young women everywhere. She hopes that her experience will serve to inspire young females to explore aviation careers.

“Flying is a very rewarding career and can definitely be conducive to raising a family,”

King says.

In order to connect students with flying careers at a younger age, King believes the school system needs to be updated and revamped to integrate industry with education.

“We have to inspire children to be ready for life’s opportunities,” King says, adding that books about aviators, pilots visiting schools and perks given to kids, such as pilot coins and patches, can be used to spark an interest in flight for the youngest student populations.

King believes our current model of education should integrate STEM-based aviation into the curriculum and include low-cost simulator training for those students interested in such opportunities.

“We need to do a better job now in grades K through 12,” King says. “Joint efforts between the military, commercial airlines and industry partners should invest in enhancing education with simulator technology and teacher training. There are ways to introduce the

industry to the young.”

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PATHWAY: Abby Donofrio Hello! My name is Abby Donofrio and I have the pleasure of getting to share my story with you. I am a 17 year old student pilot from Wadsworth, Ohio. I have just entered my senior year of high school while simultaneously attending flight school. My home airport is 3G3, where I am a student at Aerotrek Flight Academy.

Aviation is something that I have a passion for beyond what words could describe, and it has absolutely changed my life. There is pure excitement to fly from the time you pull the plane out of the hangar, to the moment you say clear prop, and the second that airspeed comes alive. I find joy in the feeling of

freedom you get the second you lift off the ground.

When I was first given the opportunity to fly a plane I couldn’t help but smile the second we took off. Flying is something you need to experience to understand what it is like. Aviation is an amazing thing that helps open your eyes to seeing the world in a different perspective. I didn’t always have an interest in aviation though. It wasn’t until this past year that I became more involved in the aviation community and developed a further interest in becoming a pilot. I grew up with friends who were regularly at the airport and active members of our local EAA Chapter (846).

Seeing other people getting their pilots license inspired me to begin my own journey.

Last year I went to Aerotrek Flight Academy to ask questions and consult with others about becoming a pilot. I met another woman who is now a Private Pilot (IFR) and I got to talk to her about aviation, and she truly inspired me to pursue it. I quickly scheduled a discovery flight and got to take control for the first time. I had been on plane rides with my friends before, but it wasn’t the same feeling as getting to sit in the left seat. After that first flight, I knew in that moment that I wanted to be a pilot.

Shortly after, I made the decision to join the EAA Chapter 846 and get involved in the Young Eagles Program. This was a beneficial way for me to begin my training. I started training in August of 2020 and I fly a Cessna 150 and Cessna 172. I flew about once every other week which eventually led me to my first solo flight, which I completed in just under 10 hours.

This was a major accomplishment and milestone.

Continuing my training through the winter, the opportunity to apply for the EAA’s Ray Scholarship became available through my Chapter. Through my active participation and strong passion for aviation, I was awarded the scholarship in April. I could not be more gratified and thankful for the support of other aviators and those who selected me as a recipient. Receiving the scholarship, I had the amazing

By: Abby Donofrio

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opportunity to speak on behalf of the Ray’s Program at the Lightspeed Press Conference in Wisconsin at the EAA’s Oshkosh Airventure. This is where I was offered to write an article for the AviNation Magazine in which you are currently reading.

My journey to become a pilot has not always been easy. It is easy to display that things are going well, even when they are not. For me, when it came to flying, I came prepared and ready to learn. Doing maneuvers came naturally once I initially learned how to perform them. But when I wasn’t in the air, I slacked off on ground school. My biggest hurdle was getting myself to do the online course work. I decided to go through the Pilot Institute Program, and I absolutely loved it. I just wish that I would have been more diligent on the completion of the course. It took me 4 months to complete it. Overcoming this was not something I was able to do on my own. If it wasn’t for the assistance of a fellow pilot, I would have struggled a lot more. This person made sure I worked over five hours a day until I got it done. Never be afraid to ask for help or to ask questions, it is how you learn. I have since then completed my ground school and passed my written exam.

Many things have motivated and inspired me to become a pilot. My biggest inspiration to fly is knowing that there are not as many females in contrast to how many men there are. Only about five percent of pilots in the world are women. This is a motivation for me knowing that I have the opportunity to inspire others. I am also inspired by the privilege of getting to fly. Not many people can say they are a pilot at such a young age and I am humbled that I have the ability to pursue what makes me happy. I hope to someday work for an airline or regional company. After high school I plan to attend a flight school that allows me to further my ratings. I am choosing to do flight training early so that I can start on instrument when I get to flight school.

This motivates me knowing what path I want to take and what I hope to become someday.

The most fascinating thing to me about aviation is the community of people.

If there was one thing I could tell to all pilots, student pilots, or aspiring pilots, is to make connections and get involved. The main reason I decided to become a pilot is because of the people I made connections with. It is also encouraging to talk to others with the same interests as you, or to hear their journey and what inspires them. New opportunities can present themselves in ways you never thought possible. A year ago I never would have imagined becoming a pilot, receiving a scholarship, speaking at a press conference, writing for a magazine, and so much more. It was all because I talked to people, made connections, and got involved. I encourage others to reach out to those who inspire them, to those who have the same goals, to those you can share experiences with, and those you can relate to.

Become involved, meet new people, and inspire others.

I can’t wait to hear your story and see you pass your checkride!

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Border:

Building an airplane is the ultimate project for groups, individuals and clubs. Zenith Aircraft Company supplies great designs, shipped as complete kits (with advanced final hole size match drilled parts) that are easy, simple and fun to build. zenithair.com

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SCIFEST ALL ACCESS // OCTOBER 18 - 24, 2021

INSPIRE YOUR STUDENTS TO FLY AT SCIFEST ALL ACCESS! A FREE STEM EXPO FOR K-12 STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, & FAMILIES

The mission of the USA Science & Engineering Festival is to stimulate and sustain the interest of our nation’s youth

JOIN US ONLINE

in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by

OCTOBER 18-24, 2021

producing and presenting compelling, exciting, and educational STEM events and programs!

SciFest All Access, a virtual STEM expo, is a visually engaging and educational online experience for our audience. Attendees enter SciFest through a virtual Lobby and will be greeted by Tamara Robertson and Justin Shaifer in the Welcome Video walking them through the main features of the platform.

The Exhibit Portal serves as the passage into the following STEM Exhibit Zones: • Chemistry - sponsored by the American Chemical Society • Energy • Engineering & Tech - Building Future Innovators Zone sponsored by CACI • Biomedical Innovation - sponsored by AstraZenca • Food Science - sponsored by Campbells & Cargill • Intelligence & Security - sponsored by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence • Natural Sciences • Girls in Aviation - sponsored by FAA • Aerospace - sponsored by U.S. Air Force, also featuring the newest branch of the U.S. armed services: Space Force

New this year: • The AstraZeneca Educator Resource Hub • Girls Invent Lab sponsored by Intel • Student Projects Gallery Each Zone features multiple virtual exhibit booths full of inspiring STEM activities. Attendees have the option to chat with exhibitors within each booth.

SciFest also features the DiscoveryChannel STEM Stage featuring performances from a variety of STEM superstars.

Each attendee is given a “virtual backpack” pre-filled with FREE downloadable content provided by our exhibitors and STEM stage performers.

SciFest’s Scavenger Hunt is a fun way for attendees to make their way through SciFest. By following clues to find hidden icons throughout the event, attendees will earn points for a chance to earn incredible prizes donated by STEMfinity.

#SCIFEST SciFest All Access is a program of the USA Science & Engineering Festival. Visit usasciencefestival.org to register for FREE today!

43

AviNation Museum Directory Showcase

805.238.9317

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ewarbirds.org

www.chennaultmuseum.org

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Do you know about flight test?

Learn how test pilots and engineers apply STEM principles in developing new aircraft, experiments, and advances in aerospace at Edwards AFB, home of the Air Force’s Test Center.

FREE resources, classes, lessons, and materials for all learners.

Scan the QR code or go to: www.afftcmuseum.org/ education

7 The Flight Test Museum Foundation is a private organization. The FTMF is not a part of the DOD or any of its components.

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NavalAviationMuseum.org

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Museum Locations:

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6

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10 2 4

44 www.avinationusa.com

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11 5

©2021 Paid for by the U.S. Air Force. All rights reserved.

Next time someone asks the question, you’ll have your answer. Discover an exciting future in aviation by exploring rated careers like Pilot, Combat Systems Officer, Air Battle Manager or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

Learn more at airforce.com.

www.avinationusa.com

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Why read General Aviation News?

Because flying is cool! $2.95 • AUGUST 8, 2019 71ST YEAR • NO. 15

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Landing on a road Is your plane ready to fly?

Conquer fear in an emergency The one and only Paris Air Show

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Hanging up her wings The evolutionary Demon The new Flight Design family Buying aircraft insurance after 80

Flying the backcountry Debunking left seat myths Mountain flying made easier Top 10 states for general aviation

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