How I Got Off the Ground

So, for pretty much my entire childhood, I dreamed of becoming a pilot. I would  go to airshows,

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, NY (I beleive this picture is from 2001)

build models,

Cole Palen, Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's founder, signing the landing gear of my Sopwith Camel built from a Sterling kit. This was in September 1993, and I was 11. Dad took the picture.

  go for rides at places that offered them, 

Old Rhinebeck again, this time in 2005. I've grown a bit.

and the most influential part of all, flying with my dad in his Cessna 150 Aerobat.

My dad's 1974 Cessna 150 Aerobat.

I learned the controls of the airplane at around age 8, but other than that, I didn't pursue any formal flight training. I went on through elementary, middle, and high school with just the occasional flight with Dad. I went to college to become an elementary teacher, planning on starting flight training for myself after having been a teacher for a few years and having the chance to save up a bit. Well, I graduated college, and got a job as a part-time high school music teacher. Fun  job, but not much in the way of money. plus, in my third year, the community downsized our school's budget, so I was out of a job, and no closer to flying. I found another teaching job that unfortunately paid much less, so still no opportunity to save up. Finally, I got tired of waiting and checked out Horizon Aviation based out of T.F. Green airport in Rhode Island, and after taking out a Career Loan (basically another college loan), I was well on my way! I trained in Cessna 152s, which are nearly identical to the 150, and that gave me a huge advantage by already being familiar with the airplane's systems and handling characteristics.

Me and 4900H, one of Horizon's two Cessna 152s.

I began my flight training in December of 2008, and despite battling through disgusting weather canceling lessons, still managed to obtain my Private Pilot License by October 27, 2009, 2 days before my birthday! It took me a total of 53 flight hours and $7,400 to get there. Sure, now there's more debt to pay off. But I think it was worth it. I've completed a small part of my dream, and now I have a skill that i can possibly turn into a rewarding career. That, however, is another story.