Project Pilot Update

AOPA Project Pilot gives experienced pilots a way to share their love of flight by mentoring student pilots. Backed by the resources of AOPA, mentors help guarantee the best possible introduction to flying, from first flight to checkride.

Success story

I want to thank AOPA for selecting me as the winner of a free introductory flight. I went flying one recent Saturday. It was an absolutely beautiful morning in Florida. The sky was crystal blue. It was fabulous. The instructor, Jeff, was wonderful. He showed me how to do the preflight checkout of the airplane (oil, gas, tires, prop, and the like). I was really surprised when he told me that I was to sit in the captain's seat. He then talked to me about the different instruments and their functions as we continued our preflight checkout of the aircraft, a Cessna 172. He started the engine and my adrenaline rushed. I was so excited. As we started to climb he asked me if I wanted to fly. Of course my answer was a huge affirmative. Then he said, "OK, captain, you've got the plane." We flew at 1,500 feet. We flew north, south, east, and west. We went up and down the beautiful coast of Florida. We flew over the cruise ships at Port Canaveral. Jeff permitted me to fly the entire time with the exception of takeoff and landing, of course. When my hour was up I didn't want to land. I was having too much fun.

Ever since I was a young girl I have wanted to learn to fly. It wasn't until I met my mentor, Cmdr. Carl Logan, that my lifelong dream became a reality. Logan flew jets in the U.S. Navy. When I shared my dream with him he took me under his wing and up on my very first flight. He too allowed me to pilot the plane.

After this flight from AOPA I am more determined than ever to get my private pilot certificate. Logan and I have checked out Voyager Aviation in Merritt Island, Florida. I am now pulling together the resources necessary to attend this flight school.

There is nothing that has given me more pleasure than soaring through the air in the cockpit of an airplane. Thank you, AOPA, for your mentoring program.

Jenkins attended the AOPA Fly-In and Open House, where she won her free introductory flight in June.

Are you a pilot who was a Project Pilot student? We want to know what mentored student pilots have gone on to do since their introduction to flight. E-mail us at [email protected] with your success story and we may print it here.

Become an AOPA Project Pilot mentor!

If you're ready to encourage someone who wants to become a student pilot, then you're ready to become an AOPA Project Pilot mentor. Visit the Web site ( www.aopa.org/info/pp/) to enroll yourself and a student pilot nominee who has the time, the resources, and the desire to learn to fly.

An expanded version of "Project Pilot Update" is available online. Visit www.aopa.org/info/pp/ and click on the link Project Pilot Update.

Congratulations!

These mentors who helped a student earn a private pilot certificate receive a Sporty's Pilot Shop Preferred Rewards Gift Certificate.

Gift available to mentors who provide AOPA with a copy of their Project Pilot student's private pilot certificate.

These student pilots are winners of a King Schools video course:

June: Joseph Vu, AOPA 5426211, Dallas, Texas
July: Niall Bavaro, AOPA 5371657, Murphys, California

Project Pilot students are eligible for this random drawing in the 12 months after their names are received by AOPA.

We welcome your photos. While we can't guarantee publication, we encourage following the photo guidelines available online ( www.aopa.org/info/pp/) or by calling 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672). For more information or to nominate someone for AOPA Project Pilot, please go to the Web site ( www.aopa.org/info/pp/).