There are many ways that people get into aviation. Some of these ways could be a member in the family is a pilot, a friend gets into aviation, or even one day someone could just say, “I want to learn how to fly a plane.” My story is a little different
It all started when I was four. My family and I were living in California and we were on our way to Oregon to visit family. We were at the Los Angeles International Airport getting settled into our seats. Before the plane was ready for takeoff, I was on another adventure. My goal was to get into the cockpit of the plane and it was harder than I thought. I kept getting stopped and escorted back to my seat by the stewardess. After several tries, I finally I made it past the stewardess and into the cockpit of this huge jet.
“Wow,” I said, looking at all the controls. Then, I was startled by a figure I hadn’t noticed when I entered. It was the co-pilot and he turned in his seat and looked at me. I thought I would be sent right back to my seat, but the co-pilot was extremely kind. He invited me in, helped me into the captain’s chair and let me wear his pilot hat. I got to ask him what the name of almost every instrument, button, lever, and knob was and what it did.
My little brother, Ty, got his chance to be in the captain’s chair as well. My mom, who was taking pictures this whole time, was enjoying the experience almost as much as we were. When the captain came back, the co-pilot told him the whole story and the captain chuckled. Before we headed back to our seats, the co-pilot and even the captain, who was retiring soon, each gave me one of their flight medals. The design on the medals made them look like a pair of wings. The captain even said that because he was retiring soon, he was looking for someone special to give his medal to. So, why not the one kid who was able to sneak into the cockpit? The last thing the co-pilot asked me was “Are you going to be a pilot when you grow up?” I said, “Yes.”
Although I can’t remember this experience myself, it is the story that has been told to me by my parents. I didn’t even believe this story until I saw the pictures my mom took of my brother and I in the captain’s chair and the flight medals that they gave us.
Almost seven years later, I started taking flight lessons at the Creswell Airport. Now, I’m fifteen years old with enough hours of flight time to get my pilots’ license. But, sadly, I can’t get it until I’m 16.
