Another update from Susana, GWW Private Pilot Scholarship Winner!

This is the third journal entry provided to us by Susana Mai, who was selected for a Private Pilot Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Private Pilot Scholarship, to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of a private pilot certificate. This scholarship targets those individuals who have soloed but have not completed the Private Pilot Course.  The Private Pilot Scholarship is in the amount of $1000.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Susana's application essay is published here, her first essay here and her second essay here.

Final Journal Entry 
By Susana Medeiros 

The other day a fellow pilot brought his young daughter to the airport. She had been begging her parents for weeks to take her, because she wanted to “see the skydive plane.” I walked her over to the hangar where our airport’s skydive operation is based, and watched her as she watched one of the jump planes take off, loaded with jumpers, over the trees and up-up-up. Her eyes grew wide, and then squinted to catch the plane as it climbed out on that bright sunny day. 

 Later I walked over to her dad’s hanger, because he was working on a Kit Fox and I wanted to check in on his progress. I only recently joined the EAA, more for the camaraderie since it will likely be many years before I can invest in a homebuild, and so I was asking questions about his project as his daughter sat in the cockpit, fiddling with the yoke, and occasionally asking her dad about this or that gage.

“Careful,” I said. “Your dad put a gust guard on the rudder, so you can play with the yoke all you want, but don’t touch the pedals.” 

“How do you know?” she asked.

“I had to learn all about planes when I was training to become a pilot.” 

“You’re a pilot?” 

“Yes! I got my license 2 months ago.” 

“I’ve never met a girl pilot before.” 

 This young kid, who was far more exposed to the world of aviation than most kids her age through her dad, had still never had a female role model in aviation. She was curious, bright, and interested, but her parents thought she was too young to fly in a plane with her dad, and no one ever placed the idea in her head—although I’m sure her father would have gotten around to it—that she could be a pilot too! I think that this is how we lose girls every day. Exposure to aviation usually gets people excited about flying, but exposure isn’t enough to convince someone that their ideas are realistic, or that they are capable. Once I decided to start taking lessons, I had an amazing and loving community take me under its wing. Still, it wasn’t until a family friend took me up at the age of 21—until a friend I knew my entire life without ever knowing he was a pilot—told me more about himself, and then invited me into that community, that I was actually able to realize that flying was a goal of mine. It wasn’t until he encouraged me to have my first flight lesson that I realized that flying was something I wanted to do, forever, no matter the difficulties. 

We need people to support us, and it’s awesome how much the men in my life have supported my endeavors! They’ve taught me the ropes of Foreflight, forwarded me the details on FAA seminars, let me jump into the right seat of their baby, their plane, and practice approaches—really, pilots are the best kind of people. But it also really really helps for women, young and old, to see women pilots in particular ….the more women pilots out in the field, the more it helps a woman surmount the cultural obstacles that constantly tell her that aviation is for airmen, and that tell her with her own two eyes that there is no one who looks like her, and so maybe no one who looks like her can do that sort of thing. 

Recently, Girls With Wings announced that their project as a formal organization was coming to an end. After years of teaching girls that they can rule the skies, and giving so many of us the opportunity to do so, GWW felt that the time had come where we group of girls released out into the world could continue to spread the word: “we hope that we have built enough momentum so that this community can promote the GWW mission individually and collectively.” I wasn’t sure how much I believed in that statement—but I’ve only just started, how could I possibly do anything to advance this great mission?! But after talking to the daughter of an aviator who had never entertained the idea that a woman could be a pilot, I realized that already, my license only a few months old, I could be the kind of role model that GWW envisioned when they chose me and granted me the amazing gift of flight. Already I’m in the position to encourage, educate, and inspire women—it is such an amazing responsibility, and one that I happily carry.

An update from Brittany, GWW Dreams Take Flight Scholarship Winner!

This is the second journal entry provided to us by Brittany Danko, who was selected for a Dreams Take Flight Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Dreams Take Flight Scholarship was designed to introduce the world of aviation to someone who would benefit from experiencing the joy of flight. This scholarship is intended to fund introductory flight training to encourage achievement of a stated goal, whether in aviation or in another field of study.  There is no prerequisite flight training required for this scholarship, just enthusiasm and the desire to learn.  The Dreams Take Flight Scholarship is in the amount of $500.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Brittany's application essay is published here and her first update here. 

Hello, my name is Brittany Danko and I am a proud winner of one of the Girls With Wings, Dreams Take Flight, scholarships! Here is an update for you!

 As I stated in my original essay, ‘I can proudly say that I have always wanted to be a pilot. As a young girl, I frequently traveled by plane to visit with my Dad in Boston and honestly, I fell in love with flying after a young Delta co-pilot allowed me to tour the cockpit and explore his world, mid-flight!’ Thanks to the Girls With Wings scholarship, this goal is really starting to take shape!

 Since the time that I completed my original essay, I have successfully completed the Prosser Aviation Program and I was chosen by Prosser as the ‘Outstanding Senior’ in the Aviation program. I was honored with a certificate and permanent plaque that will be placed in the hallway outside the door of the Aviation classroom. Winning this award was truly one of my proudest life moments and knowing that I beat out 52 other male classmates made the award all that more important! Additionally, I was also privileged to receive another award and small scholarship from the KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS Chapter of the Ninety Nines as I was chosen as their 2013-2014 Outstanding Female Student enrolled in the Prosser Aviation Program Award! As I stated in my original essay, it is my goal to be a role model to other young women out there who wish to pursue a career in Aviation. I believe that by receiving these great awards, I’ve been able to take a solid step in that direction by modeling what a female in Aviation can accomplish!

 In addition and perhaps even more exciting, since I submitted my original essay, I have also been able to start FLYING!!! I began my Flight Lessons with Ron Frames at the Greater Clark County airport. It was the airport and instructor that I was assigned via Prosser.

For the past year, I had taken my ground school coursework as well as other aviation related classes. I learned everything there is to know about planes, inside and out! Additionally, I had learned about the history of aviation and about the famous first pilots. I truly felt like I had learned it all - absolutely everything! However, there was one thing I had not done. That was to fly!

So when the big day came, (of course this was accomplished with the generous scholarship I received from Girls With Wings), I was more than ready! I met up my wonderful instructor, Ron, and was a tad overwhelmed getting into the Cessna. Ron was very patient and he worked with me and slowly went through everything I needed to know to begin my first flight. When we were ready to go, Ron let me taxi the plane, something that you cannot actually ‘practice’ ahead of time. It was hard! There were a lot of other people at the airport that day and any onlooker might have believed that I was intoxicated as I was taxing the Cessna down the runway because I was all over the place! I swerved left, then I swerved right and no matter what I tried, it seemed I could not taxi in a straight line! It was such a different concept steering with your feet rather than with your hands!

At the end of the runway, Ron and I went through all the checklists and it was finally time to take off. The moment we were off the ground, it was unbelievable. During this time, my first flight, I had many mixed emotions, the biggest of which was excitement! Yes, we went over the basics of flying, but to me even the basics were thrilling. If I had any kind of nerves beforehand, they were gone. It was finally my time in the air.

Now, I will admit, I am a bit of a control freak, so much so that I don't care for other people to drive me anywhere. During that first flight, I remember thinking to myself that from now on, I want the control of the airplane (with the help of my instructors) and I certainly don't want anyone else flying me! I just felt so powerful at that moment! The hour ended too quickly and soon enough, we had a smooth landing and then some more "drunken" taxing on my part. I was one of the most memorable and spectacular hours of my entire life! Afterward, the one strange thing I noticed was that my ‘face’ actually hurt. It took a few minutes, but I finally figured out that it was my checks that hurt, from smiling so much!!!

Since that day, I have been flying at every opportunity. It’s all been thrilling and exciting and awe inspiring. It seems that when I am in the sky, I am at my happiest. I am free and in control. Looking down at the earth brings me genuine peace. It is now so easy to understand why so many people love aviation. I have too many other stories about my experiences to list here, but each and every take off and landing has been a wonderful experience.

I will say that my most exciting moment, so far, was probably my first stall. Before the stall, I remember thinking that the plane was going to crash to the ground and burst into flames. That would be my luck, just as I was getting really good at flying. In the end, I was excited to find out that it was not bad at all, except perhaps hearing the stall horn. That really scared me at first! Now, when I am practicing stalls, I get a good ‘rush’ knowing I can successfully recover!

Most recently, I have been practicing on perfecting my take offs and landings. My instructor says he is confident I will be able to solo when I have 10 perfect take offs and 10 perfect landings in a row. No, I am not kidding! His logic is that once I am in that rhythm, I will be good to go! So, I am now getting ready for my first solo flight and I can't explain the excitement that I'm feeling for it!

Getting ready to solo means that at every opportunity I have, I head out to the airport. Interestingly enough, every time I arrive at the airport, I find I still have a smile on my face. Yes, I am lucky; I am doing what I love! Yes, some days I do get frustrated if I can't get a maneuver just right. However, with a bit of practice, I always end up getting it, so I know I can conquer just about any challenge in front of me! I know I will be hitting my solo any day now!

I know I am blessed to be able fly and I every spare minute I have, if I am not flying, I am working to earn money to fly. You see, flying is a not only a blessing to me, it's a way of life. It is something I hope to continue doing for the rest of my life. It is my passion, my excitement, and it is truly where my heart is.

As a woman in the aviation industry, I feel empowered, but most of all, I feel proud. I am out there, not only flying, but excelling while doing it and doing it better than most of the others around me! Flying has made a beautiful, positive impact of my life and I can honestly say that I want nothing more than to stay healthy and fly each and every day I can! In the future, I know I will one day have a full time career as a pilot but just as importantly, I know that I will also work diligently to serve as a role model for those around me, especially aspiring, young female pilots. I want to encourage young women to chase after their flying dreams like I was encouraged to chase mine!

P.S. As I finalized the essay on July 1, I didn't include information about my first solo.  However, I wanted you to know that the only reason I was able to accomplish this was that I had the money I needed to pay for these hours, thanks specifically to GWW.  I am so humbled and honor to have been chosen for this award.  I cannot express my gratitude in words, but I intend to do my best to pay it forward and be a role model and help inspire and encourage those around me in this amazing profession!

Another awesome update from Natalia, A Private Pilot / Rick Dahl Scholarship Winner!

This is the third journal entry provided to us by Natalia Dzyndra, who was selected for a Private Pilot Scholarship from Girls With Wings / Rick Dahl. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Private Pilot Scholarship, to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of a private pilot certificate. This scholarship targets those individuals who have soloed but have not completed the Private Pilot Course.  This special Private Pilot Scholarship, established to remember Rick Dahl, is in the amount of $2500.00, funded by the generous donation of Jennifer Jordan, a huge supporter of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Natalia's application essay is published here, her first update here and her second here.

July has been quite the adventure for me. I had been studying for hours on hours for the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Exam. Although I was receiving pretty good scores on my practice exams, I wanted to keep studying until I knew every question in the book. In the meantime, I was still trying to master radio communications in Class C airspace. Although I was getting pretty good at it, every time I flew in, there was always something new thrown at me. For example, “line up and wait”. I had never heard that so you could imagine the perplexed look I gave my instructor, especially knowing there was a Southwest Boeing on final approach. (For those who don’t know, “line up and wait” simply means....line up and wait. This is said when you’re ready to take off and the tower wants you line up on the runway and wait for the clearance from tower to take off. Normally, you just wait on the taxiway before the runway and then you get your clearance to take off). Although there is still much to learn, I am feeling much more confident in entering Class C airspace, but I still prefer non-towered airports. 

One thing that was very exciting was finally convincing my mom to come ride along. She was a bit apprehensive about it, but I assured her everything would be fine. I even gave her a crash course on how to fly an airplane, just in case something happened. I think knowing how the controls work, what the main instruments are used for, and teaching her how to talk on a radio gave her a little more confidence in the airplane and the pilots (my instructor and I). The take off was smooth and she was loving the view from the sky. We took this chance to practice some more hoodwork since I didn’t want to do stalls or anything that might scare my mom. It was all going well until we tried to get some better angles for the pictures my mom was taking and that made her a bit dizzy so we headed back to the airport. I promised her that next time, we’ll keep her head up when we do any turning. 

The next day was even bigger for me. I finally took my exam! Although I knew every question in the book, there were a few thrown at me that I had never seen before or worded differently that I just didn’t know the answer to. So I missed three questions, but I passed with a 95%. That was a big relief to finally get that over with, but it made me mad that I didn’t get the 100% I was aiming for. Oh well...life goes on. Then the day after I did my Stage 2 checkride with another instructor. I passed that as well. And that meant I was finally able to go on my cross country solo! Last month I wasn’t all too thrilled about going alone, but now, it was no biggie. I had no issues whatsoever. My flight planning was great, and I saw every checkpoint and airport I was looking for. The timing was off about 1-2 minutes because the winds ended up being stronger than forecasted, but I was quite satisfied with the entire trip. I actually wanted to keep flying just because I was doing so great, but I remembered that money was running out and this was probably going to be my last flight for a while. And I was right as I haven’t flown since. I’ve been trying to work and save up since my next cross country is going to need to be longer. But being grounded isn’t all that bad (actually it is). I’ve been about to catch up on my Flight Training magazines that I haven’t had time to read since I had been studying for the exam. 
 
Well, my next big step is prepping for the checkride, once I have enough money. As my instructor Jen says, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” But I know for sure I definitely wouldn’t have ever gotten this far if it wasn’t for Girls With Wings. The scholarship has helped me in more ways than just being able to fly. I feel more confident and determined to continue following my dreams and not give up. One thing I want to do after I get my license is to take children up, especially girls, on a discovery flight so they can see how enjoyable flying can be and that it doesn’t take a genius to fly a airplane. By doing this I hope it’ll inspire them to dream big and to pursue those dreams. I think it’s more important for girls because they tend to get put down more than boys do and they usually don’t see their full potential. Thank you to Lynda Meeks for her time and dedication to Girls With Wings, and to Jennifer Jordan for the contribution she made to the scholarship that made my flight training possible! I do hope I can help spread the Girls With Wings mission and message. Please let me know how I can be of help. Thanks again!

Another update from Rachel, An Advanced Rating Scholarship Winner!

This is the third journal entry provided to us by Rachel Borsa, who was selected for an Advanced Training Scholarship within The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of an Advanced Rating or Certificate such as instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, flight instructor certificate, instrument flight instructor certificate, multi-engine rating or multi-engine flight instructor certificate. This new scholarship award is in the amount of $1000, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Rachel's application essay is published here, her first update here and her second update here.

Girls With Wings Final Essay
07/30/2014
Hi everyone!
This last month has been crazy busy. Earlier, in June, I participated in the Women’s Air Race Classic. It was absolutely amazing and some of the most stressful flying I have ever done. I was the captain this year, and another girl in my year was the co-pilot. As it was my second year, I kind of knew what I was doing, but you never really know what to expect when racing across the country against 50 other all female teams!

Being back together with the racers was such a joy. It’s amazing how everyone in the Air Race has an instant connection because we all love aviation. The women who fly them are incredible and such an inspiration. The best part of the Race is reuniting with all of them for a week of fun competition.

The weather, however, had other ideas. We ended up going iced in in Elko, Nevada. When I say iced in, I mean we couldn’t open the doors to the airplane! And it was June! It snowed a little bit in Pinedale, Wyoming. We got in right before some thunderstorms in Iowa City and ended up getting stuck in Athens, Ohio waiting for more thunderstorms to pass. Unfortunately, we didn’t finish the race on time, but we made it in that night. All of our friends came and met us on the ramp when we landed, which made the whole trip worth it. We might not have won, but we sure did make some friends that will last a lifetime.

Girls with Wings is like the Air Race Classic. We are all trying to do the same thing, encourage women to keep flying. We have been doing it for a long time, even though sometimes, we aren’t recognized for it. If flying is your passion, then never stop. If you think flying could be your passion, then take a lesson! There is nothing better than being able to take off and land, wherever you want.

While I was landing at Athens, Ohio I thought about how natural it is for me to land an airplane. I don’t even think about it anymore, it’s just what I do, like driving a car. And I thought to myself, HOW COOL IS THIS? How many people can land an airplane? How many people would rather fly themselves than drive themselves? When we find those people, we embrace them, because they are a kindred spirit.

I hope to continue to be a role model through Girls With Wings. Even though it will no longer be a formal organization in the future, I will always be here to talk about flying, college, and life in the future. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about flying (I am a CFI/CFII), about majoring in flight, or post-grad employment. I am a woman aviator and am here to stay. Look for me on the flight deck in years to come.

Another update from Lisa, GWW Private Pilot Scholarship Winner!

This is the third journal entry provided to us by Lisa Kienholz, who was selected for a  Private Pilot Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Private Pilot Scholarship, to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of a private pilot certificate. This scholarship targets those individuals who have soloed but have not completed the Private Pilot Course.  The Private Pilot Scholarship is in the amount of $1000.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Lisa's application essay is published here and her first essay here. The second is here.

Girls with Wings 2014 Scholarship Winner – Final Journal Entry – Lisa Kienholz 

I am so pleased to announce that I passed my checkride on July 13th! It is super exciting to now be able to say that I’m a Private Pilot, no longer a Student Pilot. Thanks to the help and encouragement of Girls with Wings, my flight instructors, the 99s and my pilot friends I did it! I am so grateful for the assistance that I have received from others over these past 10 months. The Girls with Wings scholarship went a long way in helping me reach my goal. 

Now I can concentrate on learning the fine art of the taildragger in my own Luscombe. I so look forward to discovering all the little airports in the area and then beyond. I’ll start with Southern California, then head for Northern California before aiming for the rest of the West Coast and South West. I can’t wait to be able to take family, friends and others interested in flight up for a flight in my beautiful little airplane. 

The examiner said that I did so well explaining the systems and such that I should be an instructor. So who knows, maybe after I get my tailwheel endorsement I’ll continue my education by studying to be a ground instructor. I would enjoy sharing my knowledge and using it to help others pursue their dreams of flight. Studying to be a ground instructor would certainly strengthen my understanding of all aspects of flight. Provided that I can afford to do so, I want to continue my flight education. I believe the more I learn, and the more I fly, the better pilot I will be. As I mentioned in my last entry, I have learned so much on this journey to obtaining my PPL. So much that goes well beyond learning to fly. I have learned a lot about myself and about how I learn. I have learned how to graciously except assistance from others. I have truly learned the value of great community. I learned perseverance. And on top of it all, I learned to fly. Something that very few people, and even fewer woman, have the opportunity to do. I look forward to being a role model for others, sharing the joy of flight, encouraging others to reach for their dreams and finding an appropriate way to spread the message of Girls with Wings.

An update from Amy, GWW Dreams Take Flight Scholarship Winner!

This is the second journal entry provided to us by Amy Dahlheimer, who was selected for a Dreams Take Flight Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Dreams Take Flight Scholarship was designed to introduce the world of aviation to someone who would benefit from experiencing the joy of flight. This scholarship is intended to fund introductory flight training to encourage achievement of a stated goal, whether in aviation or in another field of study.  There is no prerequisite flight training required for this scholarship, just enthusiasm and the desire to learn.  The Dreams Take Flight Scholarship is in the amount of $500.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Amy's application essay is published here and her first here.

This scholarship has helped me more than just financially. This scholarship encouraged me in many ways and it has been great knowing that there is a community of people out there encouraging and motivating girls to follow their dreams. So along with the financial help, I would like to say thank you to Girls With Wings for all the encouragement. Thanks for believing in me! 

 Learning how to fly these past few months has been really great. I would not take back the time I've spent flying for anything! Even though it has been fun, it has been challenging at the same time. I’ve learned that it’s not always easy, but the moment that something finally makes sense or the moment you land the plane on your own makes all the challenges and the hard work worth it. Flying has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I just finished my night cross country, which was one of my favorite flights because of the sunset and the lights. I am getting ready for my solo cross country and hoping to get my license within the next month!

I think that any girl dreaming of becoming a pilot should go for it! It is an amazing experience. I would love to stay involved with Girls With Wings to encourage girls to go follow their dreams. Becoming a part of this community has been a great experience for me, and my intent is to stay involved and encourage other girls become involved. Thank you again to Girls With Wings for encouraging not only me, but girls everywhere. It’s great to see the difference this organization has made and will continue to make!

An update from Lauren, GWW Dreams Take Flight Scholarship Winner!

This is the second journal entry provided to us by Lauren Prox, who was selected for a Dreams Take Flight Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Dreams Take Flight Scholarship was designed to introduce the world of aviation to someone who would benefit from experiencing the joy of flight. This scholarship is intended to fund introductory flight training to encourage achievement of a stated goal, whether in aviation or in another field of study.  There is no prerequisite flight training required for this scholarship, just enthusiasm and the desire to learn.  The Dreams Take Flight Scholarship is in the amount of $500.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Lauren's application essay is published here and her first entry here.

So far, this 'Dreams Take Flight' scholarship has been much more rewarding than I ever thought. Not only has the money helped me get my foot into the door of the world of aviation, but it has been a great conversation starter as well. Most recently, I met a private pilot from South Carolina who was extremely proud of me for venturing into aviation. I told him about Girls With Wings Scholarship, and he was blown away. He told me about several other opportunities for me to find funding as well. This is why I love the field of aviation; those involved in it are always so quick to involve new people and help them move forward. 

This Summer, I have been on two flights with my scholarship. My most recent flight was alot more hands on than the first, and it was instructed by my Air Traffic Control teacher. Although I shied away from the option of talking to the tower, I didn't shy away from taking control of the aircraft. We flew in a practice area that I was familiar with, so that made me feel more at ease. My instructor was quick to point out various landmarks and even his in-law's house, all in good attempts to keep my eyes outside the aircraft. 

During my flight I also learned how to navigate through the air without using the instruments in the cockpit. I was a little anxious at first, but I did what my instructor told me to, and it worked. I also learned a methodical method to doing my pre-flight check. I was told to start from the floor board fuel tanks and work my way up. It was a quick system and a great redundancy method to use. 
 
My flight time is not yet over, as I have a flight simulator ride and a discovery flight coming up. I plan on taking my younger brothers along to expose them to the world of aviation as well. I am excited to continue using my scholarship monies, and hope that this success will keep providing more opportunities for me.

Another update from Ema, An Advanced Rating Scholarship Winner!

This is the first journal entry provided to us by Ema Marter, who was selected for an Advanced Training Scholarship within The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of an Advanced Rating or Certificate such as instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, flight instructor certificate, instrument flight instructor certificate, multi-engine rating or multi-engine flight instructor certificate. This new scholarship award is in the amount of $1000, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Ema's application essay is published here and her first essay here.

I am officially signed up for my college courses in the fall! Picking classes always excites me, since I am in the Aviation Science program at Dutchess Community College. I chose aviation law, commercial flight, physics, calculus, and intro to engineering. Engineering is something I would have never considered if not for my experience in aviation, which has really expanded my interests in science, math, and history. 

I know it’s only July, but I am already looking forward to the upcoming semester. I was elected to be president (first female to do so!) of the Hudson Valley Aviation Club at the school. It will be a great experience welcoming new students into the pilot community. I have been brainstorming ideas to keep things lively: events, trips, fundraising, community service, video projects, etc. My goal is to connect the students and have a lot of fun this year. 

I have not been flying much lately, as I have been battling a bad sinus infection. It is frustrating that my own health is holding me back from getting up in the air, but it’s really important to follow the I’M SAFE checklist (i.e. illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, and eating). I do not see myself entering holds and performing maneuvers if my head feels like it is going to explode. 

Hopefully it clears up by the end of the week. I am scheduled to go flying over the Hudson River on the 4th of July! I will be able to watch fireworks from a Piper Cherokee :)

Essays about flight training from the other awardees will be published here as they are received.

Another update from Susana, GWW Private Pilot Scholarship Winner!

This is the first journal entry provided to us by Susana Mai, who was selected for a Private Pilot Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Private Pilot Scholarship, to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of a private pilot certificate. This scholarship targets those individuals who have soloed but have not completed the Private Pilot Course.  The Private Pilot Scholarship is in the amount of $1000.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Susana's application essay is published here and her first essay here.

The last few times I’ve written I’ve talked mostly about how much fun flying is, why I’m so grateful, and how confident it makes me feel. But I think I’m going to change things up a bit and start giving advice to all women who might be pursuing their private pilot license. 

First off, take advantage of all the possible connections you can have within the aviation community. The more people you know, the safer, more educated, and happier you will be as a student pilot and beyond. 

For example, I attended meetings hosted by the Tehachapi Society of Pilots (TSP) for a few months while living in California, and I learned so much from my fellow local pilots. These guys told me about free FAA seminars to attend, and often hosted meetings regarding local safety matters. Tehachapi Municipal is a mile north of Mountain Valley, where the famous gliderport is based (people come from all over the country just to soar over the Sierra Nevadas), and over at TSP they taught us all about how to fly more safely in the same airspace as gliders, which have NO radio equipment! Depending on winds and the current traffic pattern, an aircraft taking off from Tehachapi could interfere with a glider coming in to land at Mountain Valley. After that meeting I learned to take collision avoidance maneuvers and scans more seriously, because not every plane—not gliders or your average Piper Cub—will necessarily be making radio calls. Being a part of a local pilot’s organization or flying club is a great way to keep abreast of this sort of local information and to be in touch with pilots who have a lot of experience and are able to provide anecdotes of their experiences. I became way more conscientious about those stalls you can experience during a steep bank on base-to-final when I saw a video of a local pilot’s (unfatal) crash. Anecdotes are powerful, and so my advice is that you attend FAA seminars, google local airport associations and flying clubs near you, and talk to as many pilots as you can about their experiences and take their words to heart. 

Secondly, if there’s one thing I’ve learned through Girls With Wings, it’s how amazing and friendly the pilot and women pilot network is. Even joining Facebook groups like Girls With Wings has given me exposure to the private and commercial aviatrixes ruling our skies. Seeing their posts filled with advice, inspirational videos, and flight plans helped motivate me while I was studying for my FAA Written, made me feel not so alone in my crazy desire to fly all the time, and constantly encourages me to become a better pilot. I also just moved back to the East Coast for school, which means that after months of getting familiar with Southern California and piloting the Piper Cherokee, I suddenly have to learn to fly in a completely new landscape, and consider the fact that I may have to start renting other planes. While I’m sure that flying a Cessna 150 or 172 will have a fairly easing learning curve, there’s still always something to be said about having hours in your current type aircraft. My training is being put to the test, and, worst of all, at a time where I don’t necessarily have a network of pilots supporting me like I did in Tehachapi. But every little bit of support helps. Through the Girls With Wings Facebook page I discovered the East Coast Private Pilots group, where people are planning meet and greets all along the East Coast, from Virginia to Massachusetts, and my hope is to meet up with some of these wonderful people this summer if I’m able. Still, just being able have a safe forum to ask questions online is a huge gift. 

Thirdly, don’t be shy about wanting to fly. Because the aviation community is so small, it is also an incredibly loving community. Time and time again I have seen people completely fresh to the idea of flying treated very warmly at their local airport. While most pilots won’t really take your commitment seriously until you’ve soloed, without a doubt pilots love encouraging anyone and everyone to sign up for lessons. At the local FBO my good friend Ken, an A&P and IA who rented me my Cherokee, lets young kids in town work with him in his shop for reduced rental rates. The kids love it because they learn about aircraft maintenance, get to fly planes, and have a cooler after school activity than all their high school friends. Ken doesn’t make money off of it, but it makes him happy to see young people in aviation. These opportunities are around, but sometimes you have to go out, look for them, and ask for help. I used to be very shy about accepting rides when I was a student, or flying new planes when I got my license. But if I didn’t end up saying yes once in a while, I would have 1) never known what it felt like to ride in a Piper Cub, a Bonanza, a Grumman Yankee, an RV-4 or a Zenith, or to fly a Cessna 150. 2) I would have never been able to see how other pilots fly. It’s only by watching others that you realize how much you have learned, and how much more there still is to learn. 
 
So, basically, keep learning, keep active within the aviation community, and don’t be shy about pursuing your dreams! This is what helped me get my private pilot license, and I’m sure it’ll help me for many more ratings to come. 

Essays about flight training from the other awardees will be published here as they are received.

Another update from Willow, GWW Private Pilot Scholarship Winner!

This is the second journal entry provided to us by Willow Seward, who was selected for a Private Pilot Scholarship from Girls With Wings. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Private Pilot Scholarship, to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of a private pilot certificate. This scholarship targets those individuals who have soloed but have not completed the Private Pilot Course.  The Private Pilot Scholarship is in the amount of $1000.00, funded by the generous donations from supporters of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Willow's application essay is published here and first essay here.

Sometimes it is hard to believe, that I am a pilot. It has been 40 days since I flew my check ride that earned me the private pilot title. The trill and excitement has not stopped, but the anticipation grows as I patiently wait for the certificate to arrive. The mailman is now to the point that he just puts his hands up in the air with a look of disappointment every time he sees me run towards him. But any day that gesture is about to change. 

Aside from waiting patiently for the certificate to arrive, I have been very busy planning my next steps. Where am I going to go? I often catch myself day dreaming of the endless possibilities that lie ahead. The excitement is overwhelming and my feelings are difficult to explain as they are like nothing I have ever felt before. My life is completely changing. As I start the next chapter, flight is the focus. I start school at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ the last week of August. In the past few weeks I have been planning and registering for classes. Instrument is the next hurdle, and I am ready for it! 
 
I am excited for the future. I am excited to make a difference. I am excited to share my dream with so many people.

Essays about flight training from the other awardees will be published here as they are received.

Another awesome update from Natalia, A Private Pilot / Rick Dahl Scholarship Winner!

This is the second journal entry provided to us by Natalia Dzyndra, who was selected for a Private Pilot Scholarship from Girls With Wings / Rick Dahl. The Girls With Wings 2014 Scholarship Program includes the Private Pilot Scholarship, to help defray the cost of flight training lessons in pursuit of a private pilot certificate. This scholarship targets those individuals who have soloed but have not completed the Private Pilot Course.  This special Private Pilot Scholarship, established to remember Rick Dahl, is in the amount of $2500.00, funded by the generous donation of Jennifer Jordan, a huge supporter of Girls With Wings, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Natalia's application essay is published here and her first update here.

“It’s over there, you see it?” 
“Uhhhh...” 
“Right there, 11 o’clock.” 
“Um...” 
“There’s the green flash, and there’s the white flash.” 
(Intensely scanning the horizon) 
“There’s the green again...” 
(Still scanning) 
“And the white...” 
“Uhh...” 
“Green...white...green...white...green...” 
“Oh I see it!” 
“Ok, now fly towards it.” 
(Turning to the new heading and realizing the light I saw wasn’t the airport beacon.) 
“Now find your last VOR checkpoint.” 
(Do I tell her I still don’t see the airport beacon? Or do I just keep flying until I see it? There’s so many lights! How are you supposed to find it?) 
*Archer 12345, do you have the airport in sight?* 
(What do I say?!) 
“Yes, tell him we have it in sight.” 
“NorCal Approach, yes, we have the airport in sight. Archer 12345.” 
“Do you see the runway yet?” 
(Oh boy, I’m supposed to be seeing the runway, and I can’t even see the beacon yet!) 

That right there, is what happens every time I go to a new airport at night. What you just read took about a minute of me trying to find the airport. But luckily, after my instructor Jen asked me if I saw the runway, I did find the right flashing light and saw the airport. It’s quite frustrating not being able to instantly see what you’re looking for, especially at night when flashing lights are so easily seen, but I think the more I fly, the more I’m able to calculate my distance away from the airport and know which area on the horizon to look at. It also helps that I’ve been flying the Archer which has two VORs and a fancy little thing that tells me the distance from a specific airport and the heading I need to fly to get there (the 150 I normally fly had been in the shop for repairs and only has 1 VOR, no GPS or anything extra). And since I’ve been flying it so much, I was able to get checked out in it so now I can solo in the Archer as well. Now I feel cool because the plane has four seats instead of only two! Aside from the extra seats, the second radio and VOR is so great to have. 

That night cross country could have been fairly simple and easy, but my instructor prefers to challenge me (which I do appreciate, by the way), and I was under the hood for half of the flight to the airport. I’ve done hoodwork before, so that wasn’t the problem. But I’ve never had to look down at my flight log and fly with the foggles at the same time. Every time I’d look down to calculate my groundspeed or find the next VOR, I had to tilt my head all the way up to be able to see the instruments. I couldn’t just glance up with my eyes because of the foggles. So then every time I looked down, I had to find my place again. That was probably the most frustrating thing I’ve ever had to do, even more frustrating than a crosswind landing. I survived, but I don’t want to have to do it again. One thing I’m quite pleased in is my flight log planning. It’s gotten more efficient ,and I don’t have stop at every box, think about what it is, then find my notes to figure out what to do. My first one took about about 3-4 hours. Now I can do them in 30-60 minutes. 

After the night cross country, we just reviewed some basic maneuvers and procedures since it had been a while since we’ve done those. So now I need to do my solo cross countries, but I haven’t taken my knowledge test yet. I could pass it if I took it right now, but I feel like I’d rather learn the information and know it than just memorize it. So lately, I’ve been studying, studying, and studying. For a while, I was stuck at weight and balance. But one day, as I was reading the same paragraph over and over again, it finally clicked and I got it. Now I’m stuck on weather theory. I’ll get it and understand it, but once I go outside and try to analyze the clouds, I forget what I just read. I’m hoping this is the result of what happens after you graduate from a university - your mind realizes it’s done and shuts off. So now I’m just catching up on sleep and studying (and of course washing planes during my study sessions). I’m about to schedule my Stage 2 check with another instructor, but still have to practice my lost and diversion procedures. Then I take the exam, and I head off on my solo cross countries! Normally I’d say, “I can’t wait.” But right now, I’d much rather have my instructor with me, “just in case.” I guess that’s what flight following is for. 

Essays about flight training from the other awardees will be published here as they are received.