By Sharon Puschmann, EAA 1382843
It was a beautiful day in October 2016 when 10-year-old Dakota Wagner took her first Young Eagles ride. The Greene County Airport host chapter, EAA Chapter 382, assigned her to Wayne Moyer, Young Eagles coordinator, where she flew in a yellow-and-blue RV-12 airplane nicknamed Yellow Bird II. It didn’t take long before Dakota realized she wanted to spend more time with her feet off the ground. In her own words, “I could never forget that feeling of takeoff.” The experience was one that she couldn’t describe or compare to anything else. From early on, she told everyone that she wanted a career in aviation.
Over the next several years, Dakota participated in the Young Eagles program another eight times. She attended Air Camp USA in July 2017, receiving the “Top Flight Award.” In July 2018, she attended Air Camp USA Overnight Camp on full scholarship and received the “Spirit of Wright Award.” She then attended the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force “Become a Pilot” course.
As a frequent and enthusiastic aviator, EAA Chapter 382 members quickly recognized her fascination, drive, and dedication. The EAA 382 interview committee unanimously selected her for a $10,000 Ray Aviation Scholarship in 2022. She studied hard, trained hard, and flew her first solo in November 2022 — a few days before her 17th birthday. Her instructor said she was one of his best students — she was always prepared for each flight and had very good situational awareness in the airplane. Her father commented that studying to pass her FAA written exam was so important to her that he always saw her with a book in her hands. Despite an unrelenting Ohio thunderstorm season and Canadian wildfire visibility impact, she persevered despite having to cancel eight of her solo cross-country flights. She received her private pilot certificate in October 2023 at the age of 17.
Dakota volunteered at as many Young Eagles rallies as she could. Her enthusiasm and outgoing personality helped her quickly connect with the youths and their parents. In addition, she volunteered to help with the “Become a Pilot” course at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, expertly instructing teen students as they flew simulators. While representing EAA 382 at the Girls in Aviation Day at the NMUSAF, she shared her passion and knowledge with hundreds of young ladies. She has excelled at the Dayton Regional STEM high school and will graduate in May 2024. In addition, she is the starting catcher on her softball team, an active beekeeper, weightlifter, and outdoor enthusiast. Recently, she signed to play softball at Fairmont State University and will use an athletic scholarship to cover a portion of her tuition. She, of course, is pursuing a degree in aviation technology and flight training in hopes of flying commercial aircraft in the future. In her words, “I have been in love with the idea of flight since I was young and to be able to continue this through my life would mean the world to me.”
After Wayne Moyer’s passing, Yellow Bird II stayed with EAA 382. Its current owner, Mike Doyle, offered to take her on another Young Eagles flight before her 18th birthday. We are calling this a “bookend” flight — she began her path to flying in Yellow Bird II, and she flew her last Young Eagles flight in that same airplane.
As is probably obvious, EAA 382 is very proud of Dakota Wagner. This is why our chapter flies as many Young Eagles as we can — flying one Young Eagle per flight so they can actually take the controls and know what it feels like to fly the airplane. Sometimes, we find one with a “flying gene.” Dakota certainly has it!