Gray skies and white snowflakes have made the past few weeks quiet ones for those of us in aviation. It makes pilots appreciate sunny days, for as soon as the sun pokes through the overcast clouds, pilots flock to the airport as to not miss an opportunity to spread their wings.

Many determined students have high spirits and are not letting the weather discourage them. Even when they cannot be in the air, they are thinking and dreaming about flying while being on the ground. They are studying and preparing for the next sunny day.

These determined students include Jacob Bushnell, Wade Winkelseth, Jennifer Dougherty, Chris Ralph, Jason Garten, and Don James.

Wade Winkelseth (right) and Jacob Bushnell both recently went on their first solo flights.

Wade has excellent piloting skills, and flying seems to come naturally to him. He cannot possibly understand how fortunate he is to have such an innate ability to fly.

He is always thinking two steps ahead of the aircraft and makes quick, intelligent decisions in a demanding environment. Wade described his first solo flight as a “once in a lifetime experience.”

He is nearing the completion of his training, and with a little cooperation from the weather, he will soon earn his wings. Wade’s future goals include attending college and flying for an airline.

Jacob Bushnell (left) has been an enthusiastic student ever since his first flight. Jacob was inspired to fly by his grandfather who got his license at the age of 19, the same age that Jacob started his flight training. Jacob and his grandfather spent many hours talking about aviation. Flying with Jacob, I have learned that he rarely gets discouraged, and he sees each obstacle as an opportunity to grow and learn. He continually strives to do better on every lesson; his work ethic and enthusiasm are admirable. He frequently reads about aviation when he cannot be in the air. He is always striving to acquire more knowledge, and this trait will make him a conscientious pilot. Jacob said he was nervous on his first solo flight, but confident in his abilities.

The fall/winter ground school has come to an end. Students included Gene Andrews, Jacob Bushnell, Devin Caliri, Dan Cipri, Andrew Esselbach, Pat Galloway, Don James, Kevin Lamp, Chris Ralph, Tim Romas, Tim Silva, Nate Waldman, and Jennifer Dougherty. The class consisted of students whose aviation knowledge varied from novice to proven pilots. They worked hard and learned a vast amount about aviation. Their hard work paid off, for all the students that took their Private Pilot written test passed with high marks.

The spring ground school will soon be underway. It will begin February 23^rd at the Boundary County Airport. If you are interested in learning to fly, or in just learning about the amazing world of aviation, call Tammy at 267-4359.