I’m actually a relative late comer to aviation. As a kid, I was always looking up and watching planes,
imagining how great it would be to fly someday. When I was 16 and could drive, I would often find
myself at the local airport sitting at a picnic table watching the planes come and go. I was very
misinformed about what it would take to become a pilot. If only I would have known that I could have
gone to that same little airport and learned to fly, things would most likely have turned out a LOT
different for me.
About 3 years after high school, I went to work for the railroad in St. Louis where I spent most of my
working career, except for a few years in the 80’s where many of us were laid off. When I was getting
close to 50 years old, I bought Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. That really reignited my interest in
flying. On my 50th birthday, I finally gave myself permission to learn to fly. I was hooked
immediately.
My flight instructor was also my ground instructor. He and I became good friends and still are to this
day. Just after my Private Pilot Checkride, he asked me to teach ground school with him, so I took the
written tests and got my AGI. We taught together for about 3 years when he decided he was ready to
give it up, so I continued on my own. At the same time, another of his students and I decided to buy a
beautiful Cessna 172 which I owned with her for 11 years. I took my CFI Checkride in February of
2017 but was still working until my retirement in January of 2018. I did teach there for a short time,
but life got busy with family and my impending move here to Cody.
I moved here in September that year and found Choice Aviation right away. I knew immediately that I
wanted to stay involved in Aviation here. I met with the Chief Instructor and expressed an interest in
teaching ground school. I taught my first class for them in the fall semester of 2019 and have been
teaching Private Pilot and now also Instrument Pilot ever since. I didn’t fly much for a few years, but
all that changed when a really beautiful 182 became available. I recently upgraded the panel and also
moved the plane to one of the new T-hangars here in Cody.
I’m finally getting back to flying regularly, and I absolutely love teaching the ground classes for
Choice Aviation. I’m also so thankful that I found this awesome EAA Chapter. Such a great group of
people, and the support of our students through the Scholarships is wonderful!!!
