Pilot, Flight Instructor, Aircraft Owner
I've been flying for more than 35 years! Every flight is as exciting as my first
one. I'm retired from banking and now am able to devote time to flying
children, mentoring student pilots, educating kids about aviation careers, and
volunteering at an aviation museum. I fly my Piper Cherokee at least once a
week.
When I was a teenager I became interested in flying but decided it was too
outlandish and too expensive for me! Then 15 years later my boyfriend
invited me to go flying with him and encouraged me to get my license using
his airplane. I did and wow, what a change my life took! I've met some
fabulous people, discovered talents I never knew I had and have been able to
travel to many places because I'm a pilot and own my own airplane.
Encouragement from my boyfriend (at the time) and friends at work who
were pilots gave me the courage to pursue my license. After I got my
license, the 99s (International Organization of Women Pilots) showed me
what additional steps I could take as a pilot, offering many role models and
mentoring. I obtained my instrument rating, commercial license and flight
instructor certificate. The 99s awarded me with the Amelia Earhart
Scholarship, which I used for my instructor training.
I met my husband at the airport and he supported me completely. I learned
that I could do whatever I wanted in aviation. I belong to the EAA
(Experimental Aircraft Assn.) and fly children in their Young Eagle program.
I also belong to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and volunteer in their
aviation museum. Most other members are men, but they have always been
supportive of my flying and often show how proud they are of my
accomplishments. I've never felt put down because I was a woman pilot. I've
been a mentor for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn. (AOPA) Project Pilot
program and have mentored 5 students who eventually got their pilots
licenses.
I learned to fly at Whiteman Airport in the Los Angeles area. I've flown
mainly small aircraft (e.g. Cessna 150 & 172, Cherokee 140 & 180, Grumman
Tiger), but have had the luck to fly some old military airplanes (e.g., C-46, T-
6, B-25) because I'm a member of the CAF. I've flown my airplane all over
the western U.S., to Alaska, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, and Oshkosh, WI.
Every summer I take several trips in my airplane to visit friends and relatives
in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and Colorado.
Flying has mainly been a hobby and I use it for personal pleasure and
business, as well as to do volunteer work. My work in banking for 20 years
enabled me to fly every weekend. Now that I'm retired, I fly whenever I want
and have lots more flexibility. Most of my free time is spent in aviation-
related activities. I'm especially interested in encouraging kids to consider
aviation as a career or hobby. Besides flying Young Eagles, I go to career
days, help with Girl Scout aviation badge programs, fly disabled kids with
Challenge Air, and am an advisor for Aviation Explorers. I mentor student
pilots & pilots who want to expand their aviation careers and I have helped
several kids and adults get aviation scholarships to help them towards their
goals.
I also met my current husband at the airport. He's a mechanic, not a pilot,
but people usually go up to him and ask him about our airplane, assuming
he's the pilot. They're amazed that I'm the pilot! He calls me his “personal
pilot.” How great can it get!
There are lots of activities for young children and young adults to prepare
them for a career or hobby in aviation. Children and young adults should
make a point to go up in a small airplane -- take a Young Eagles flight. Ask
your local airport about these flights sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft
Assn. (EAA). Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts should get their aviation and
aerospace badges. Get involved with model airplanes and clubs, attend an
aviation camp at a local airport or go to the EAA Air Academy at Oshkosh,
WI or Flabob Airport (near Riverside, CA). Surf the web for information
about flying and airplanes. NASA, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn (AOPA),
EAA, FAA, and other websites have many activities for kids.
I've been flying for more than 35 years! Every flight is as exciting as my first
one. I'm retired from banking and now am able to devote time to flying
children, mentoring student pilots, educating kids about aviation careers, and
volunteering at an aviation museum. I fly my Piper Cherokee at least once a
week.
When I was a teenager I became interested in flying but decided it was too
outlandish and too expensive for me! Then 15 years later my boyfriend
invited me to go flying with him and encouraged me to get my license using
his airplane. I did and wow, what a change my life took! I've met some
fabulous people, discovered talents I never knew I had and have been able to
travel to many places because I'm a pilot and own my own airplane.
Encouragement from my boyfriend (at the time) and friends at work who
were pilots gave me the courage to pursue my license. After I got my
license, the 99s (International Organization of Women Pilots) showed me
what additional steps I could take as a pilot, offering many role models and
mentoring. I obtained my instrument rating, commercial license and flight
instructor certificate. The 99s awarded me with the Amelia Earhart
Scholarship, which I used for my instructor training.
I met my husband at the airport and he supported me completely. I learned
that I could do whatever I wanted in aviation. I belong to the EAA
(Experimental Aircraft Assn.) and fly children in their Young Eagle program.
I also belong to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) and volunteer in their
aviation museum. Most other members are men, but they have always been
supportive of my flying and often show how proud they are of my
accomplishments. I've never felt put down because I was a woman pilot. I've
been a mentor for the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn. (AOPA) Project Pilot
program and have mentored 5 students who eventually got their pilots
licenses.
I learned to fly at Whiteman Airport in the Los Angeles area. I've flown
mainly small aircraft (e.g. Cessna 150 & 172, Cherokee 140 & 180, Grumman
Tiger), but have had the luck to fly some old military airplanes (e.g., C-46, T-
6, B-25) because I'm a member of the CAF. I've flown my airplane all over
the western U.S., to Alaska, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, and Oshkosh, WI.
Every summer I take several trips in my airplane to visit friends and relatives
in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and Colorado.
Flying has mainly been a hobby and I use it for personal pleasure and
business, as well as to do volunteer work. My work in banking for 20 years
enabled me to fly every weekend. Now that I'm retired, I fly whenever I want
and have lots more flexibility. Most of my free time is spent in aviation-
related activities. I'm especially interested in encouraging kids to consider
aviation as a career or hobby. Besides flying Young Eagles, I go to career
days, help with Girl Scout aviation badge programs, fly disabled kids with
Challenge Air, and am an advisor for Aviation Explorers. I mentor student
pilots & pilots who want to expand their aviation careers and I have helped
several kids and adults get aviation scholarships to help them towards their
goals.
I also met my current husband at the airport. He's a mechanic, not a pilot,
but people usually go up to him and ask him about our airplane, assuming
he's the pilot. They're amazed that I'm the pilot! He calls me his “personal
pilot.” How great can it get!
There are lots of activities for young children and young adults to prepare
them for a career or hobby in aviation. Children and young adults should
make a point to go up in a small airplane -- take a Young Eagles flight. Ask
your local airport about these flights sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft
Assn. (EAA). Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts should get their aviation and
aerospace badges. Get involved with model airplanes and clubs, attend an
aviation camp at a local airport or go to the EAA Air Academy at Oshkosh,
WI or Flabob Airport (near Riverside, CA). Surf the web for information
about flying and airplanes. NASA, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Assn (AOPA),
EAA, FAA, and other websites have many activities for kids.
| Ceci flying the C46 |
 |
| Ceci at Cherokee with Girl Scouts |
| Ceci with Young Eagles |
| 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
