By Gary Brossett, EAA Lifetime 375866, EAA Chapter 677 President
Lola Waldrep, EAA 1399617, soloed a Cessna 172N on November 24, 2024, at Lanett Regional Airport in Alabama. When she opened the airplane door, her instructor asked how it was flying alone for the first time; she said, “It was lots of fun!”
Lola first came to the Chattahoochee Valley EAA Chapter 677 as a Young Eagle in January 2021, when she took her first flight with Chapter 677 Secretary Ernie Kelly, EAA 1021470. Since then, she has become a dedicated member of the chapter. She’s volunteered numerous hours in the past 18 months, first as an administrative volunteer at monthly Young Eagles rallies and now as Young Eagles coordinator.
After completing the Sporty’s Learn to Fly course, she flew a few lessons with chapter members, logging training in airplanes, gliders, and hot air balloons. She received a chapter scholarship to attend the EAA Advanced Air Academy this past July and was awarded the Ray Aviation Scholarship just prior to attending.
Though still in high school, she’s dual enrolled at Southern Union Community College and has completed the Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) general certificate and works part time as an A&P apprentice at Blue Skies Above flight school.
