As a child, my fasonation with aviation began in a small but well known town called Aurora, MO. My parents, uncle, cousin and I all loaded up for this small town to go to the small airport. I was possibly around 7 years old and had no clue what this experience would do for my life. My uncle had rented an old Cessna 172 for about 30 minutes or so. It would be my first time actually flying. I was extremely nervas.
In order to take off we had to go all the way to the end of the runway and turn around. As we did, my uncle asked me if I wanted to help him takeoff. I said no because all I could see was the plane crashing and it being all my fault. So we started to roll down the runway and the nose wheel got airborne first. I tensed up, trying to brace for the entire plane to take flight. To me it was like an out of body experience. We climbed out to around 3000 feet and then leveled out. I was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat so I had an amazing view.
My first flight was going well until we came up upon a farm. It had this enormous pond. My uncle leaned over me so he could see. He said something that I will never forget. “Want to see the fish in that pond?” I had no time to answer before he turned the plane on its side and the pond was right out my window. That moment was extremely scary for me. I didn’t know what was going on. Quickly after that I mentioned that I was ready to land. I just couldn’t comprehend my own emotions after that.
Once we landed, I was able to stand up right and understand everything that had happened. I then told him I was ready to go up again. He replied telling me “Next time”. This entire experience in this tiny town has literally changed my life and my future career choice. Soon after I strived to learn as much as possible about aviation that I possibly could. The hook had been set. I was caught by the bug.
I enjoy every aspect of aviation. It excites me because it’s just so graceful. For a job shadow project at school once, I job shadowed an air traffic controller. It was an amazing experience. I later found a new hobby. Going to the airport and sitting at the end of the runway and just watching the planes. It sounds boring but to me it is so much fun. A Christmas later, my parents bought me a video camera and a radio that could pick up air traffic. I began to go to the airport even more, always bringing along my video camera and my radio.
Now every time I get to go fly with my uncle, he lets me actually fly the plane. I don’t think that he knows how much he has affected my life. Every time that I go to the airport or go flying, I can only remember the excitement that I first had the first time I went up. When I use that camera, I’m only reminded even more that I’ve been bitten by the bug.










