I always wanted to fly. I never thought in all my years growing up, that someone of my place in life could do it. In 2005, when things weren’t optimal, I bought a kit to build a plane. I finished it within a few months. And there it sat for 11 years.
I was taking care of a ranch at the time. Little did I know, but the owners of that ranch were aviation enthusiasts. They found out about my kit plane and encouraged me to fly it. I was in, let’s do this, but then they asked if I knew how to fly. No, but I’d figure it out, was my response.
2015 New Year’s party, they offered as a year end bonus to pay for half my flight training! Training was not going well, driving 3.5 hours each way for each lesson. They suggested I come fly their 172 with one of their guys. 3 weeks later I was in possession of a pilot certificate!
I got a tail wheel endorsement in august after my ppl in June. New Year’s Eve of 2016, with 97 hours total time 2.3 hours tailwheel, I test flew the kit plane.
Fast forward to today, it’s 11 days before I start my flying career. Flying for the same family that helped me get started. I start out in their Grand Caravan EX, flight Safety February 2. Then it’s pc12 training. After I get my multi, it’s a type in the dc3. With time in the Waco, Beaver, and Husky amphib in the mean time.
I never thought I’d fly, never thought I’d make a career of it. 11 days from now, I’m a professional pilot!

Great story. Congratulations on your achievement.

Good job. Working with animals also helps prepare teachers. Lots of similarities. We learn from our mounts about wild eyed leaders and the slow movers that irritate the pony. We learn about the cow that is trying to get around you...and the one that wants you, not around.

That is really exciting news! Good for you for having the persistence to get it done. Good for your employers for having the foresight to realize they had a winner already in their employ, who just needed a bit of help to achieve a dream, and become the employee that companies dream of!

Keep the faith, and enjoy the ride!

MTV

Congratulations on achieving your dream! It's amazing what can be accomplished if we just keep plodding ahead. Sounds like you're going to be flying some awesome equipment.

Congratulations! The first time you get paid to fly is a great feeling!

-asa

Oh what a fantastic story! Congratulations!

Kurt

Excellent!! Congratulations!!

Wonderful when dream and opportunity come together in such a way! Congrats! - and thanks for posting!!

Awesome great job. I also got my CPL this spring and flew for wages this summer. Like Asa says, that’s first paid flight is retry awesome. I got t spend all summer pinching myself as I flew an air tractor around for wages. Not only did I get to spend 300hrs flying low Level, my type was f flying, but I got paid for it! Great feeling for sure.

Congratulations David.

Congratulations, great story.

Rod
UpNorth