When talent meets opportunity
On February 18, Land launched his birthday party in an Extra 300, a competition-level aerobatic airplane. Following his first three landings (with time out for some aerobatics), he switched to a Skybolt, an aerobatic biplane. Before the weather lowered past VFR minimums that afternoon, he had also led a three-ship formation of Nanchang CJ-6s, a Chinese-built single-engine piston military trainer, with his primary flight instructor-his father, Jay-taking photos from the number-three airplane. The next day, the weather lifted enough to allow Land to solo a Beech Queen Air (a cabin-class piston twin) and a Piper Archer. The L-39 Albatross, a Czechoslovakian jet that Land also flies regularly, will have to wait until he's obtained his aircraft authorization in the jet (what used to be an LOA or letter of authorization, a special approval similar to a type rating that is required in certain high-performance aircraft, often military types)-no student solos allowed.
Name: Alex Land |
Land, of Cumming, Georgia, began flying before he could see over the panel of the family's Queen Air. As his son's passion for flying grew apparent, Jay Land obtained his flight instructor certificates to allow Alex to log the time-and put an official stamp on another great aviation example of parental involvement in a young adult's development. A well-rounded young man with a shy smile, Alex tends to save his expression for deeds, not words. He is also a classical pianist and avid aircraft modeler. His family spent a year in Costa Rica so that the children could understand how life in the rest of the world can differ from that in the United States.
In fact, Land's first memories of flying are in the Piper Aerostar that the family flew down to Central America. "My first memory of flying is of sitting in the right [front] seat of the Aerostar we used to have and flying past a bunch of puffy clouds."
Land loves acro, or aerobatics, and he quickly outgrew the Skybolt that father and son used to learn basic aerobatic maneuvers. "I was always interested in air combat and flew on air combat simulators. Air combat involves acro, and so I always thought that acro might be fun. When my dad got the Skybolt, and we flew a few loops and rolls and things, I realized that it was a lot of fun and wanted to fly more. I think one of the main reasons I like acro is that you are getting the plane to do exactly what you want it to do and that gives you better control over it," says Land.
He recently flew with aerobatic champion Patty Wagstaff; her comment: "I was just ballast in the front seat." Land is studying with aerobatic coach Sergei Boriak-who also works with many airshow performers, including Wagstaff-in preparation for advanced competition, as soon as he gets another year in his flight suit and qualifies for a private pilot-airplane certificate.
As for those intervening months, Land says, "I'm hoping I'll get my glider license this year. My immediate goals are to fly as much as possible in the coming year and then get my license and instrument rating when I'm 17."
But really, his love of flying is based on something rather simple: "I just love being up where I can see things; I'd rather live on a mountain than in a valley." He's off to a great start.
Julie K. Boatman is a contributing editor to AOPA Flight Training and technical editor of AOPA Pilot magazine. Boatman holds airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates.
Related Articles
