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Kristine
Pilot
Hi girls! My name is Kristine and my hometown is Elk Grove, California,
which is just a little south of the capital of Sacramento. I'm 21 years old and
I'm in my junior year of college. I don't have any pets right now, but I used
to have a yellow lab named Jake and a few goldfish that lived for about ten
years! I love animals and hope to get another dog soon. I just moved to
Arizona.
I grew up around airplanes, and they always seemed to be a normal part of
my childhood. I have lots of memories flying with my dad and mom when I
was little. We took lots of trips to the Nut Tree in Vacaville, California, which
used to be a local attraction and is still an airport. One of the funniest
memories I have is when I took a picture of my dad's plane, a 1947
Bonanza, to class for show and tell in the second grade. All of the other
kids were shocked that we owned a plane, and one kid asked me, "What do
you DO, keep it in the BACKYARD?!?" I told them that I wanted to be a
pilot when I grew up, and fly 747s and C-130s. Nobody probably knew what
I was talking about. My parents have always encouraged me to follow my
dreams though, and even in the second grade they believed me when I said I
wanted to fly airplanes.
Right now I am a full time college student and a private pilot. I love the
challenge (and it definitely is challenging!) and the feeling of being in the air.
It's so cool to fly over your house from 3500 feet and see what everything
looks like from this perspective. I have been telling people I've wanted to be
a pilot for years, and there have always been people who act like it's an
impossible dream or tell you that you'll find you would like another job
better. But you have to believe in your own dreams and stand up for them.
I like to use it as a motivation. I want to prove everyone wrong that said I
couldn't fly!
I learned to fly at Sacramento Executive Airport, at a flight school called
SkyWalk. I learned in a Cessna 152. At Embry Riddle, I fly Cessna 172s,
which are a little bigger than a 152. I worked really hard and studied my
ground lessons, and I got my private license in just 4 months. My parents
were really proud, and they were my first passengers! My dad no longer
owns an airplane, but I know that he really wants to build something that will
be fun to fly. I look forward to flying with him when he does.
As a pilot, I can see how important skills in math, science and engineering
are when it comes to flying. Pilots need to be able to do math calculations in
their head for everything from fuel efficiency to runway numbers. Science
and engineering are also important because pilots need to understand how
an airplane flies and how the weather works. I have taken several college
classes in physics and meteorology, and they have helped me a lot in
learning to fly. You need to be dedicated and study hard!
Anyone who wants to get involved in aviation should let herself be
exposed to it as much as possible. Go to local air shows and fly-ins, and
read magazines about airplanes. Don't be embarrassed to look up at the
sky every time a plane flies overhead, and try to guess what kind it is. Play
flight simulator to get a feel for what the controls are like in the airplane.
Also, get involved in websites such as Girls With Wings, Women in Aviation,
and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. There are lots of people that
you can ask questions, and articles for advice. They're a great resource.
I've learned so much doing these things. It also helps if you know someone
who has a career in aviation that you can turn to for advice and knowledge.
AOPA has a program called Project Pilot, and they can find a mentor for you
to help you through your journey. We can help you on this website too.
Also apply for scholarships! They can be a huge help in realizing your goals
and this website has lots of places to look for them.
Most importantly, follow your heart. Just do what your heart is telling you,
and everything else will fall into place.
You can contact me at my email address k_anthony@comcast.net if you
have questions or I can help you with anything.
Pilot
Hi girls! My name is Kristine and my hometown is Elk Grove, California,
which is just a little south of the capital of Sacramento. I'm 21 years old and
I'm in my junior year of college. I don't have any pets right now, but I used
to have a yellow lab named Jake and a few goldfish that lived for about ten
years! I love animals and hope to get another dog soon. I just moved to
Arizona.
I grew up around airplanes, and they always seemed to be a normal part of
my childhood. I have lots of memories flying with my dad and mom when I
was little. We took lots of trips to the Nut Tree in Vacaville, California, which
used to be a local attraction and is still an airport. One of the funniest
memories I have is when I took a picture of my dad's plane, a 1947
Bonanza, to class for show and tell in the second grade. All of the other
kids were shocked that we owned a plane, and one kid asked me, "What do
you DO, keep it in the BACKYARD?!?" I told them that I wanted to be a
pilot when I grew up, and fly 747s and C-130s. Nobody probably knew what
I was talking about. My parents have always encouraged me to follow my
dreams though, and even in the second grade they believed me when I said I
wanted to fly airplanes.
Right now I am a full time college student and a private pilot. I love the
challenge (and it definitely is challenging!) and the feeling of being in the air.
It's so cool to fly over your house from 3500 feet and see what everything
looks like from this perspective. I have been telling people I've wanted to be
a pilot for years, and there have always been people who act like it's an
impossible dream or tell you that you'll find you would like another job
better. But you have to believe in your own dreams and stand up for them.
I like to use it as a motivation. I want to prove everyone wrong that said I
couldn't fly!
I learned to fly at Sacramento Executive Airport, at a flight school called
SkyWalk. I learned in a Cessna 152. At Embry Riddle, I fly Cessna 172s,
which are a little bigger than a 152. I worked really hard and studied my
ground lessons, and I got my private license in just 4 months. My parents
were really proud, and they were my first passengers! My dad no longer
owns an airplane, but I know that he really wants to build something that will
be fun to fly. I look forward to flying with him when he does.
As a pilot, I can see how important skills in math, science and engineering
are when it comes to flying. Pilots need to be able to do math calculations in
their head for everything from fuel efficiency to runway numbers. Science
and engineering are also important because pilots need to understand how
an airplane flies and how the weather works. I have taken several college
classes in physics and meteorology, and they have helped me a lot in
learning to fly. You need to be dedicated and study hard!
Anyone who wants to get involved in aviation should let herself be
exposed to it as much as possible. Go to local air shows and fly-ins, and
read magazines about airplanes. Don't be embarrassed to look up at the
sky every time a plane flies overhead, and try to guess what kind it is. Play
flight simulator to get a feel for what the controls are like in the airplane.
Also, get involved in websites such as Girls With Wings, Women in Aviation,
and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. There are lots of people that
you can ask questions, and articles for advice. They're a great resource.
I've learned so much doing these things. It also helps if you know someone
who has a career in aviation that you can turn to for advice and knowledge.
AOPA has a program called Project Pilot, and they can find a mentor for you
to help you through your journey. We can help you on this website too.
Also apply for scholarships! They can be a huge help in realizing your goals
and this website has lots of places to look for them.
Most importantly, follow your heart. Just do what your heart is telling you,
and everything else will fall into place.
You can contact me at my email address k_anthony@comcast.net if you
have questions or I can help you with anything.
 |
November 7th: Kristine was on her own, flying an airplane around the
airport traffic pattern (a rectangular route from the departure end of the
runway around to the approach end - takeoffs and landings are the two
most important skills, after all). This is a huge leap for student pilots -
can you imagine? - the courage it takes for a person to get into the
airplane that they have only flown with an instructor, but this time -
ALONE. There is still a lot of training to be after this point, but the
instructor has trained for this day, and won't release a student until
they're ready, but nerves being what they are, a lot of times it's the
student who needs to know she's ready to go out on her own...
The picture to the left (Kristine wearing a shirt with writing on it) shows
the tradition of cutting out the back of the tshirt to show how sweaty
the solo student pilot has gotten. She is shown holding the cutout with
her instructor pilot in the picture to the right.
Here are also videos of her flight, takeoff and landing phases...
airport traffic pattern (a rectangular route from the departure end of the
runway around to the approach end - takeoffs and landings are the two
most important skills, after all). This is a huge leap for student pilots -
can you imagine? - the courage it takes for a person to get into the
airplane that they have only flown with an instructor, but this time -
ALONE. There is still a lot of training to be after this point, but the
instructor has trained for this day, and won't release a student until
they're ready, but nerves being what they are, a lot of times it's the
student who needs to know she's ready to go out on her own...
The picture to the left (Kristine wearing a shirt with writing on it) shows
the tradition of cutting out the back of the tshirt to show how sweaty
the solo student pilot has gotten. She is shown holding the cutout with
her instructor pilot in the picture to the right.
Here are also videos of her flight, takeoff and landing phases...
TM
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Scroll down to see info about Kristine's Solo! |
| Kristine before an early morning flight at ERAU |
| Brand New Instrument Rated Pilot! |
| See Kristine's Flying Video |