Dennis L. Hopkins (right) with designated pilot examiner Dennis Doren.
Name: Dennis L. Hopkins
Age: 60
Event: Private pilot checkride
Where: Delta County Airport (DSC), Escanaba, Michigan
Airplane: Cessna 172B
Just completed my private pilot checkride today, May 31. I took my first training flight on January 12, 2015. My goals were to solo by my sixtieth birthday (April 12—beat that on March 10) and certificate by end of June (beat that goal too!). Just shows that dreams can still come true, with some effort—even after 45 years of waiting. I have wanted to do this since I was 15 years old and joined Civil Air Patrol. But college, 26 years in the Navy driving ships, 10 years teaching high school, kids, saving for college, et al left me with not enough time and not enough money to reach my dream—until now!
Love of aviation handed down
Solo dedicated to her dad
After two years, my dad’s sudden passing away, unexpected life happenings, and Mother Nature, I finally got to solo today. I dedicated this flight to my dad, Paul Westenkirchner Sr. His career was avionics, and as a result I was surrounded by airplanes all of my life. His love of aviation rubbed off on me and it has always been a dream of mine to get up in the air and learn to fly.
Name: Sue Westenkirchner Trussell
Age: 46
Event: Solo
Where: Lynchburg Regional/Preston Glenn Field Airport, Lynchburg, Virginia (LYH)
Airplane: Cessna 172
Sue Westenkirchner Trussell (right) with CFI Melanie Evans.
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