Since my last post, I have accomplished my first ever cross-country flight to Waycross and back, reaching new altitudes of 5,500ft! In that lesson, I became more comfortable with working the trim, getting a bit of experience in changing radio frequencies, and being way more aggressive with the throttle.

In my most recent lesson, we worked on take-offs and landings at BQK and, thanks to a hectic morning and turbulence from the building storm off the coast (holy every day, late-afternoon storms!), I was a bit more nervous than some of my other lessons. Since this is something I want to accomplish for myself so badly, I definitely allow myself to overthink almost everything but I’m learning myself in these situations of inexperience and simultaneously getting more comfortable with the idea of flying a Cessna. Flying is teaching me much more about aviation, it’s teaching me about myself and I’m forced to remember to embrace every lesson with grace, tenderness, and to never to forget that I’m exactly where I need to be. I may have been extremely clumsy in my first attempts at take-offs and landings, but I’ve also proven to myself by now that I will eventually get there. In fact, there are sometimes already when I’m looking out of the plane and think to myself, “I can’t believe I’m flying this plane right now. Just a month ago, I didn’t feel like this.” It’s all coming together right under my nose and currently, everything just feels really big, but the improvement and progress is there, it’s happening!

I also finally treated myself to my very first aviation headset and cracked open the Cessna 172 manual, which has amazing information (so make sure that’s one of the first things you do, read the manual!).

All I can say is: everything still needs so, so much work, haha! But I’m super content with where I am and maintaining focus on the pride I have for myself for getting out there and doing what I love. There are so many reasons and excuses to postpone our passions, but not this season. The time is NOW!

If you’re currently in aviation or interested in aviation, some other tips I can share are:

1.) Make sure you are a good match with your flight instructor/school! I can confidently say I give my instructor a run for his money, but Alex has done an amazing job picking up on my strengths and weaknesses and pushing me harder or modifying our lessons, as needed. He’s learned I don’t take hints or “nudges” very well and I respond best to sternness and assertion. I’m also way too ginger on the throttle (STILL) and compare my flying style to that of an overly cautious 80-something-year-old grandma behind the wheel of a car so, now that I have some of the basics of flying down, I can work on my aggression in order to “fly the plane, not let the plane fly me.”

2.) Set goals for yourself. If you’re not ready for something or feel you need a bit more time on a maneuver, say so! I know I’m quickly creeping up on not being able to delay power-off stalls any longer; it’s just something I’m going to have to force myself to do and putting it off longer will only hold me back at this point. (But, hello, butterflies?!)

3.) Keep learning in your spare time! Don’t just wait until your lessons because you. will. forget.

4.) Fly as MUCH as possible! I always assumed that this was a marketing ploy, however, it’s true in almost any practice, whether it’s painting, yoga, riding a bike, or anything else! The more you do something, the better you will get at it faster. In aviation, the only reason that matters is the longer it takes you to learn it, the more money you will spend on it.

So to celebrate 15 official flight hours (!!!) use promo code “15!” for $50 off your next private session with me!

As always, thanks for following along and enjoy some photos from our ride near the Sapelo Island Lighthouse!