By Faith Rhoads, EAA 1368846
I fell in love with flying at an early age. I loved being in the air when my parents and I flew across the country for family vacations. I started dreaming of becoming a pilot on these trips, and after an introductory flight, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in aviation. My first flight lesson was in August 2019. My instructor encouraged me to apply for the Ray Aviation Scholarship through our local chapter and during the lockdown in March, I got a call from our chapter’s scholarship coordinator letting me know that I had won!
My first solo was on June 5, 2020. It was a beautiful day with calm winds. My instructor was on the ground cheering for me as I completed four takeoffs and landings. I flew as much as I could the next few months and by the end of summer, I was ready for my checkride.
On September 5, after successfully completing the oral and checkride, I received my private pilot certificate! All of my hard work had paid off and my dream of being a pilot came true. When I returned to my home airport, my instructor and parents were waiting to congratulate me.
Since I got my certificate, I have added some tailwheel hours to my logbook, flown to different airports across Wisconsin, and started working on my instrument rating. It has been a busy couple of months and I look forward to continuing my training.
Earning my pilot certificate would not have been possible without the Ray Aviation scholarship and the support of friends and family who cheered me on. A big thank you to everyone from Chapter 1577 and my two awesome instructors. I look forward to pursuing a career as a professional pilot and traveling around the world.
Thank you EAA Chapter 1577!