Name: Kate Haymes
Age: 25
Event: First solo
Where: Bolivar Municipal Airport (M17), Missouri
Airplane: Cessna 150
“Pitch controls airspeed; power controls altitude. The horizontal component of lift is what turns an airplane.” I find myself reciting these mantras on the way home from another flight lesson per my instructor’s direction. After having taken my introductory flight last fall and loving it, a few months into ground school, I decided to start lessons. I have come to learn that my initial hope of completing my private pilot certificate in a few short months may be delayed with the changing spring weather, the variableness of mine and my instructor’s schedules, and the availability of the airplane for rent.
“On top of securing a time and plane for flight instruction, all the information and steps needed to complete one’s private pilot certificate can be overwhelming for a one who is starting out in aviation. The acronyms alone can be daunting. Add in suddenly having to become a meteorologist, learning a new alphabet and the classes of airspace, understanding FARs and chart reading—one can quickly become wide-eyed.
“After taking a breath and realizing I won’t comprehend it all in one night, the almost intimidating amount of information I need to acquire and apply pales in comparison when I see planes fly around and into Bolivar, Missouri’s M17 airport where ground school and my flight lessons have been taking place. With the help of my ground school and flight instructors, along with the camaraderie between myself and my peer students, I have gained confidence that my love of flying will end (and begin) with a certificate!
“Along with finding like-minded pilots at M17, I have been introduced to many pilots and aviators pursuing several endeavors related to their passion for flying. It seems when one is passionate about something, it attracts conversation and encouragement from like-minded passionate people. Not to mention, in our digital age, innumerable videos, articles, apps, and other media are available for free to help—in this case, the aviator meet his or her goals.
“For those of you just starting out, don’t dismay! The seemingly endless large and small bits of information you need to assimilate starts making a lot more sense once you get airborne and have a few hours under your belt. Keep your goal in the forefront.”
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