Name: Caitlin Lyons
Age: 24
Event: Private pilot checkride
Where: Republic Airport (FRG), Farmingdale, New York
Airplane: Cessna 152
I was extremely nervous before my checkride. The last time I had any form of a test in my flight training it went terribly wrong. I was close to throwing in the towel.
Luckily, I found a great and understanding instructor, John Cronley at Long Island Aviators, and he helped me overcome my fears. He soloed me after a few lessons. Together we worked toward my checkride and I gained confidence with my flying.
Once I had made it through the oral exam, the hard part was over. I was beyond excited to go show off my flying ability. Each maneuver I took in turn. I stayed in the moment; I wasn’t thinking about what I had just done or what I still had to do to pass. It was the best I ever did most of my maneuvers. It felt absolutely amazing.
After I had completed my best soft-field landing and shut the airplane down, my DPE told me he had one last question for me: “How does it feel to be a private pilot?” My smile still hasn’t gone away!
The best part of the day was him filling out my logbook with his signature calligraphy. He wrote in black and orange and drew pumpkins in celebration of Halloween the next day. Now my logbook isn’t only pink, but has calligraphy in it.
By far this is the hardest and greatest thing I’ve accomplished in my life, and I’m glad I overcame my fears instead of quitting.
Adrenaline rush
Name: Kobey Durham
Age: 16
Event: Solo
Where: Fairbanks International Airport (PAFA), Fairbanks, Alaska
Airplane: 1978 Cessna 152 Sparrow Hawk II (modified with a 125-hp engine)
On my first solo, I felt very ready. It all went by so fast. We did a few laps in the pattern and my flight instructor had me taxi back. He was a bit iffy on soloing me that day because it was so busy. He asked me if I felt comfortable, I confirmed, and he got out of the airplane and said something like, “Do one touch and go, and one full stop. Bring it back in one piece, and have fun!”
I taxied out; I was nervous but so happy in the moment. After my runup and a long wait for traffic, I was finally cleared for takeoff. It was an adrenaline rush hearing my call sign and the words “Cleared for takeoff.”
As soon as I pushed the power in, I already knew the airplane would fly light. I did a normal right closed traffic pattern; the first landing was a greaser.
I wasn’t happy with my second one as I was a foot off the centerline and I flew a bit too fast. I noticed my instructor and a few others from the flight school, just off of the runway, waving me by to go again, as the traffic had died down. So, I brought the flaps up, turned off the carb heat, and pushed the throttle forward. I did my next lap. My third landing was a greaser. Right on the centerline. I will always remember that day.
Related Articles
