Name: Cathy Rickers
Age: 52
Event: First solo
Where: Newtown Municipal Airport (TNU), Iowa
Airplane: Piper Warrior
My dad is an EAA member and warbird enthusiast who infected me early in life with his passion for World War II aircraft. My brother and I knew the names of all the planes, what they looked like, and what they were for. I have a good friend who flies a gorgeous red Stearman and has given me rides and been patient about “talking planes.” But what finally clinched it was when I was the leader for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop about a decade ago. One scout’s dad manages our airport and gave the girls a lesson on how airplanes fly, followed by a ride over our city. At one point, he let me have the controls. I was hooked. I have wanted to fly ever since.
My CFI is terrific and easily the most patient person I have ever met. He is always happy to go back over something technical I just couldn’t wrap my head around. Sometimes, I think he has more faith that I will finally learn what he is teaching me than I do.
I can say that passing the FAA knowledge test and finally soloing has made me feel like I can (almost) accomplish anything! But, the best part is I get to be “up there” where the world is peaceful and beautiful, and I am free for a while from whatever earthbound concerns I might have. When I finally get my license, I would like to spend some time in a taildragger, so that someday I might get to try an old bird. Why not?
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