Ryan Sundsmo — Solo Milestone

Ryan Sundsmo — Solo Milestone

Ryan Sundsmo, EAA 1111698, was destined to solo. Ryan’s first flight happened before he was even born, while his mother was pregnant with him.

“When my mother was pregnant with me, my grandfather would take us for plane rides,” Ryan said. “After I was born I continued going for plane rides with my grandfather and eventually I started learning how to control the aircraft with him.”

Ryan was also first introduced to EAA by his grandfather, who was part of EAA Chapter 931.

“I decided to go to a meeting one night and I was hooked from there,” Ryan said.

Fittingly enough, Ryan’s first solo flight happened in his grandfather’s 1956 Cessna 172 Skyhawk.

“The winds had died down to just about nothing, it was a high overcast ceiling, a cool fall day, warm enough to wear shorts but cold enough to wear a jacket,” Ryan said. “I really enjoyed my solo flight, I instantly got butterflies in my stomach when my instructor got out of the plane then told me to do three takeoffs and landings. I was a little bit nervous but I was also very, very happy and proud of myself to where I had gotten.”

Ryan has big aspirations for the future. He is currently working toward being able to do a volunteer airport manager internship at Alexander Field South Wood County Airport (KISW). Beyond that, Ryan said he doesn’t foresee himself wanting to have a primary career in aviation, but he wants to one day become a manager on the side at the airport he says he basically grew up at, Adams County Legion Field (63C).

Until then, Ryan still has more aviation milestones he wants to check off his list.

“I plan on hopefully finishing my private pilot’s license this year, then in the future getting different ratings like: IFR, tailwheel, high performance, twin, complex aircraft, CFI, CFII, commercial, and possibly helicopter,” Ryan said. “Those are the ones I can name off the top of my head but I absolutely want to continue instruction and ratings after private pilot.”

Have you reached a milestone recently? Passed a checkride, given your first or hundredth Young Eagle flight, flown your homebuilt for the first time? Tell us about it at editorial@eaa.org.

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Christina, EAA 1299943, is EAA’s multimedia journalist. She is a passionate aviation enthusiast, bookworm, and photography-obsessed nature nut. Email Christina at cbasken@eaa.org.