By Robbie Culver
Part of the allure of aviation is getting out of your comfort zone, embracing the adventure of every flight, and expanding your knowledge — the operative phrase is “a good pilot is always learning.” Gina Bosco flew her 1978 Cessna 152 from Caldwell, Idaho, across Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, and on to Portage, Wisconsin.
“Once I left the area where I commonly fly, it was all an adventure — and that was like two hours in,” she said.
Gina enjoyed flying into places she had not been before (“which was all of them”), finding people who were friendly and helpful and “seeing how the route planning actually did play out. When it’s on paper, it’s one thing, but really flying it is not the same” as it is when you’re drawing it on a sectional chart, she said.
She stopped in Sheridan, Wyoming, for fuel and could see weather to the south of her planned route while looking at the radar. A convective SIGMET had popped up, which suggested heading north to put some space between her and the front. As with all cross-country flights, adjusting the plan to meet reality is part of the process, and much of the adventure.
An overnight stop in Spearfish, South Dakota, turned out to be especially memorable due to the fantastic service offered at the FBO. Gina had not been able to arrange a motel reservation ahead of time, so she called while en route from Sheridan to Spearfish, and the FBO booked a motel for her. The FBO staff also arranged to preposition the airport crew car at the motel so she could make an early departure without worrying about how to get to the airport. Another example of the new friends we all find in aviation.
Portage, Wisconsin (C47) was “fantastic,” and the local EAA chapter “was great,” she said. Another early morning departure on Friday allowed Gina to fly in when the traffic on the FISK arrival was light. This was her first time flying in to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. She earned her private pilot certificate in 2019, and while she had attended twice before, flying in as pilot in command was a new experience. She is camping with her airplane in the North 40.
Gina purchased the airplane in 2020 and said, “I have been treating it as well as it has been treating me. I’ve done a lot to that plane — a lot of projects have been done. A lot of mechanical work, a lot of cosmetic work. It’s an act of love.”
Aerial adventures are full of great memories — flying over the Continental Divide following Interstate 80 at about 7,500 feet was a special one for Gina. She also mentioned crossing the Mississippi River for the first time, as well as seeing Minnesota from the air — she added that “agriculture is art.”
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh offers all kinds of aviation experiences. Gina was looking forward to getting some seminars in to expand her knowledge. Oshkosh is unique. “It’s just a good vibe. All of it,” she said.
It’s all an adventure!