Name: Madeline Norcross
Age: 16
Event: First solo
Where: Rosecrans Memorial Airport (STJ), St. Joseph, Missouri
Airplane: Cessna 172
My real love for flying started when I watched Kyle and Amanda Franklin do their Pirated Skies act at our local airshow. I knew after watching them that I wanted to fly. I have since then met Kyle Franklin and many other great pilots, such as Kevin Coleman, Sean D. Tucker, John Owens, Rob Holland, and Kirby Chambliss. They all are an inspiration to me. I love watching them perform at airshows. On June 3, 2013, I did a couple of touch and goes with my CFI Larry Koch and he said he was ready to solo me if I was ready. I felt confident, but nervous. The initial idea of him not being in the airplane made me uneasy, but after I took off I felt very comfortable. I had always talked out loud to Larry as we were in the pattern, so I just talked to myself like he was there with me. It was a great feeling. Larry is a great CFI and has been a good teacher and coach. My dad and I have been each other’s support teams as well as cheerleaders during those challenging days. I am determined to get my certificate by 17 and hopefully perform in airshows someday.
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