“Wahoooo! This is so cool," Marin whooped gleefully as we ascended over the green countryside just north of the airfield. Marin, my one and only kiddo, was my first passenger after my private pilot checkride just 3 short months ago. She loved it! Her favorite part of the 30-minute flight in our local area was power-on stalls because it made her stomach fly up. Though she has been a frequent flyer since infancy, this was her first ever flight in a little single engine airplane, a Piper Cherokee 180 to be exact. She was always so excited for me as I made my way through my flight training, anxious to hear about my experiences each time I came home from a training flight. Marin, right alongside my husband Jeff, was cheering for me all the way. She and our neighbor friends surprised me with an ice cream cake which she decorated on the day I passed my checkride. We had a great evening out with our friends to celebrate.
It was my husband of 15 years who first learned of the opportunity to learn to fly when we were stationed in Japan. (We’re Army.) Unfortunately, the air base was just a bit too far away from where we lived in Japan for flight training to really work out at the time, but our next duty station in Kansas happened to have flight training right on post! My husband practically had to drag me to the airfield before I really got the picture, though. (Before that, I knew nothing of aviation other than commercial airlines and Air Force aviation, neither of which were ever even a thought to me, though I have loved being an airplane passenger since I was a kid.)
When I saw the Cessna 150 and 172 in the hangar, I knew for sure learning to fly them would feed the hunger I’ve had for so long to be at the controls of a machine built for transportation. I love mechanics and machines in general, especially cars, and for years I’d been itching to drive a race car, or do something wild and crazy of the sort. But seeing these airplanes excited me even more. I knew I had found true love, aviation!! I soon began flight training in a Cessna 172, and later finished my training in a Piper Cherokee 180.
As a brand new private pilot, I have much to learn about the world of aviation and the possibilities and opportunities out there. I do know that I want to be a CFI. Aerobatic training interests me as well. I think I’d love to have an aviation career, perhaps doing aerial photography or being a cargo pilot. However, since the Army just moved us to Korea, further flight training will have to wait, as it will most likely not be available here. For now, I hope to fly at the local aero club. As we get settled in, I’ll find out more about flying opportunities here. I've heard they have Cessna 172s to rent and it’s beautiful flying along Korea’s coast. Adventures to come, for sure.
My name is Emily and I am an Army wife, mother and pilot.
Pilot Qualifications: Private Pilot
Goals: Instrument, CFI, Aerobatics, Aerial Photographer or Cargo Pilot