We All Start Somewhere

Many of us begin our flight training with a sense of optimism that we will surely move quickly and painlessly through the process. Others start with a sense of wonder - how will we ever master the information and skills we need to become pilots? Either way, we are right. We all have days when everything comes together and flying seems as natural as walking. Other days we climb into the cockpit, and it is as if we had never seen an airplane before.

Student pilots at any stage of training may hit some plateau or temporary obstacle. When it happens to you, remember that you are not alone. Even the best and most famous pilots - airshow performers like Julie Clark, Patty Wagstaff, and Jimmy Franklin - have had their frustrations. Now they share some of their experiences and advice with those of us who are still working to get through that next stage of training.

Although it is nearly impossible to imagine today as one watches National Aerobatic Champion Wagstaff fly her routines, she claims that at one point she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to land an airplane properly. But landing wasn't her biggest struggle. As with many pilots, her greatest challenge was a lack of confidence. Wagstaff knew that she wanted to go on to compete in aerobatics, but she'd never been to a competition, had never even been to an airshow, and wasn't certain she would have what it took. "I really didn't have any confidence in my abilities at all. It was in my own head - that was the biggest struggle I had to deal with. I knew I could physically fly the airplane. I always felt that if someone else could do it, I could do it. That always helped me through the rough periods. I'd look at some of these flight instructors and I thought, 'Well, they're no smarter than me, they're no better than I am in the big picture, so there's no reason why I can't do it too.' That helped me a lot. Having self-confidence was a big part of it."

Wagstaff offers advice to those in flight training who are wondering if they should continue. "If something brought them to aviation in the first place and they love it, then [they shouldn't] worry where it's going to take them in the long term. It will take them there [and they should just] continue on." She continues, "I'd also say the thing that helped me the most was to look at the people around you, say, airline pilots, or wherever you envision yourself - an aerobatic champion, an airshow pilot - and look at them as people, not just as 'the airshow pilot.' They're not superhuman - you're just as good as they are physically, mentally, and if you have the same intelligence level, then there is no reason you can't do the same thing if you are drawn to it. Not everyone has to be an airshow pilot, but look at it realistically, and think 'If they can do it, I can do it.'"

Wagstaff emphasizes the importance of the private pilot certificate as the first step in a long process and adds the reminder that famous people like Julie Clark and Bob Hoover all started as student pilots too. "I'm impressed with anyone who sticks with it enough to get the private license. And the other thing I think about getting a license and not giving up is that it gives you this amazing feeling of self-satisfaction and accomplishment that I think very few things give you. What it did for me, I was very unself-confident and kind of shy and kind of drifting around. And when I got my private license I was just infused with this sense of self-confidence that I'd never had before, ever. It forced this focus and discipline on me that I'd never had to have or cared about having, really."

Whether or not you continue on to more advanced certifications or ratings, Wagstaff points out the personal power of finishing the private pilot certification. "Even if you stay a private pilot for the rest of your life, that's still a big accomplishment. There aren't too many people who can walk around and say, 'I'm a pilot.' It's a big deal."

Wagstaff scolds people who tell her they are "only" private pilots and makes sure they walk away knowing that it is a huge accomplishment and something to be proud of.