CFI, ASEL, private Glider Pilot and A&P mechanic
Civil Air Patrol--- mission pilot and squadron commander
I am an Engineer for a living, fly and build airplanes for fun. No children,
although I am currently a squadron commander for a Civil Air Patrol cadet
and senior squadron. Own two schipperkee dogs!
My first ride as a child was through the EAA chapter in Rockford Illinois.
During my college years I was skydiving and decided that flying would last a
little longer (maybe a little safer also!) The university offered the private
pilot ground school and several of my friends started the University flying
club! There have been several people in my life that have helped me with my
flying, ratings and fun in aviation!
I became a CFI because many of the people I would take flying said I would
be great as an instructor. They all forgot to tell me how rewarding the
instructing would be. The A&P license came after a friend of mine (Gary
Rice) helped me rebuild an Aeronca Champ to fly.
Started my flying at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville Texas
(finished out of Laporte Texas during the summer between school years!) I
own an Aeronca Champ (taildragger) and a Cessna 150 as well as a
"project" 1939 Aeronca Chief. I also fly with the Civil Air Patrol for search
and rescue (in my spare time).
Flying is a fun time. My fulltime job is as a Control Systems Engineer
working with Water and Wastewater control systems. My original choice of
education was Music Education and taught Junior High Band. School
teaching was not going to work, found a job at a local Petrochemical refinery
where I became an instrument mechanic. Returned to school to complete a
Master of Science in Computer Engineering with a process controls
emphasis! I enjoy flying the "little" planes and never thought about flying
the big birds and my eyesight is not good enough for the military!
The best part of your job is that I have hosted the Women Builder forum at
Airventure several years.
I am not the only woman that has had the next reaction to getting out of a
plane! During a conversation a few weeks ago another woman pilot told a
similar story. I have flown into airports in my Champ (hand prop, no
electrical system) and start getting questions about me being a pilot. The
stares when I was younger have only changed a slight bit as I have grown
older!
The glider in the picture was a project our squadron worked on this last
year and it flew for the first time (in many years) in August. The cadets in
the squadron helped strip the paint off of the tubes, paint the tube frame
and helped me start the covering job. The cadets designed the stripe on
the side, taped and painted the stripe. One of our sqadron cadets got flew
it during an encampment!
Another woman pilot and very good friend helped me build the hanger.
Angie drove the forklift and I did the welding. YES------- with some help
from a few GOOD friends (mainly pilots) and alot of help from Angie--------
I welded better than 90% of the structure (including the trusses).
What role do skills in math, science, engineering and technology play
in supporting your job? What training did you undergo getting to
where you are? All of the above, as I am an Engineer by trade, and an A&P
and CFI for fun! Much training and education----------- but do not
forget-------- men did not know how to use a wrench when they were
born---------they had to learn also. I would also like to remind women and
girls that NOT all men can fly nor can all men use a tool! If you think you
want to try-------- go ahead, WOMEN fly and WOMEN are mechanics!
Civil Air Patrol--- mission pilot and squadron commander
I am an Engineer for a living, fly and build airplanes for fun. No children,
although I am currently a squadron commander for a Civil Air Patrol cadet
and senior squadron. Own two schipperkee dogs!
My first ride as a child was through the EAA chapter in Rockford Illinois.
During my college years I was skydiving and decided that flying would last a
little longer (maybe a little safer also!) The university offered the private
pilot ground school and several of my friends started the University flying
club! There have been several people in my life that have helped me with my
flying, ratings and fun in aviation!
I became a CFI because many of the people I would take flying said I would
be great as an instructor. They all forgot to tell me how rewarding the
instructing would be. The A&P license came after a friend of mine (Gary
Rice) helped me rebuild an Aeronca Champ to fly.
Started my flying at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville Texas
(finished out of Laporte Texas during the summer between school years!) I
own an Aeronca Champ (taildragger) and a Cessna 150 as well as a
"project" 1939 Aeronca Chief. I also fly with the Civil Air Patrol for search
and rescue (in my spare time).
Flying is a fun time. My fulltime job is as a Control Systems Engineer
working with Water and Wastewater control systems. My original choice of
education was Music Education and taught Junior High Band. School
teaching was not going to work, found a job at a local Petrochemical refinery
where I became an instrument mechanic. Returned to school to complete a
Master of Science in Computer Engineering with a process controls
emphasis! I enjoy flying the "little" planes and never thought about flying
the big birds and my eyesight is not good enough for the military!
The best part of your job is that I have hosted the Women Builder forum at
Airventure several years.
I am not the only woman that has had the next reaction to getting out of a
plane! During a conversation a few weeks ago another woman pilot told a
similar story. I have flown into airports in my Champ (hand prop, no
electrical system) and start getting questions about me being a pilot. The
stares when I was younger have only changed a slight bit as I have grown
older!
The glider in the picture was a project our squadron worked on this last
year and it flew for the first time (in many years) in August. The cadets in
the squadron helped strip the paint off of the tubes, paint the tube frame
and helped me start the covering job. The cadets designed the stripe on
the side, taped and painted the stripe. One of our sqadron cadets got flew
it during an encampment!
Another woman pilot and very good friend helped me build the hanger.
Angie drove the forklift and I did the welding. YES------- with some help
from a few GOOD friends (mainly pilots) and alot of help from Angie--------
I welded better than 90% of the structure (including the trusses).
What role do skills in math, science, engineering and technology play
in supporting your job? What training did you undergo getting to
where you are? All of the above, as I am an Engineer by trade, and an A&P
and CFI for fun! Much training and education----------- but do not
forget-------- men did not know how to use a wrench when they were
born---------they had to learn also. I would also like to remind women and
girls that NOT all men can fly nor can all men use a tool! If you think you
want to try-------- go ahead, WOMEN fly and WOMEN are mechanics!
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| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
| Using aviation to entertain and educate girls about their limitless opportunities... |
TM