By Gary Brossett, EAA Lifetime 375866
Lily Busenbark, EAA 1293705, achieved a Ray scholar milestone on November 22, 2019, when she soloed in a PA-28-140 Cherokee at Columbus Airport (KCSG) in Georgia. Her parents and several members of the chapter were on hand to witness three perfect landings, including one go-around to avoid wake turbulence from a landing commercial air carrier jet. Several in attendance commented to her instructor, Dorinda Morpeth, EAA 637600, about Lily’s calm situational awareness and control of the aircraft.
Lily is a member of the Chattahoochee Valley EAA Chapter 677, where she serves as a regular Young Eagles ground volunteer. When she’s not flying or volunteering with the chapter, she fills her appetite for aviation with duties as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol. In the days after her solo, she tested and was promoted to the rank of Cadet Senior Master Sergeant (C/SMSgt) and was awarded the General Jimmy Doolittle Achievement Award on December 10. Her promotion came after the successful completion of a leadership exam, aerospace exam, and physical fitness test.
Lily has entered phase two of her flight training and will soon be sitting for the private pilot written exam.
Have you reached a milestone recently? Passed a checkride, given your first or hundredth Young Eagles flight, flown your homebuilt for the first time? Tell us about it at eaa.org/submissions.
