AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2012 - 30

PROFICIENTPILOT

BY BARRY SCHIFF

And the winner is...

ast October I announced an essay contest for young men and women between the ages of 16 and 21 (“Proficient Pilot: It’s Payback Time,” October 2011

Virginia, plans to attend college, pursue a degree in aeronautics—and, of course, learn to fly. It gives me great pride and pleasure to share her essay with you: “The Dream of Becoming an Aviator” By Victoria R. Hodges “When asked, Why do you love flying? my response is uncomplicated and unfeigned—I simply love to fly! All too frequently I find pilots and aviation enthusiasts at a loss for words with which to respond to this question. Thus I have reached the conclusion that verbal expression of one’s love for AOPA Pilot). The writer who best described in 500 words why he or she wanted to learn to fly would flying pales in comparison to the thrill derived Barry Schiff was receive a solo scholarship that would enable him from the activity itself. Mere words are ineffective inducted as a or her to get a jump-start in aviation by winning mediums through which to communicate the Living Legend of enough dual instruction to at least make the first splendor of flight. Aviation in January solo flight. This also would provide me an opporI was fortunate enough to experience the mag2012. tunity to pay back something to aviation, to share nificence of flying during a Young Eagles flight some of what the world of flight has done to richen sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association. my life with wonderful friends and indescribable experiences. I was immediately captivated. The moment I climbed out of the I cannot imagine how any other vocation or avocation could airplane, I knew that I simply must learn to fly. My sentiments have provided me as much gratification and joy. Along the way are expressed through the eloquent words of Leonardo da Vinci: and especially during my early years, there were many who When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth inspired, encouraged, and assisted my aeronautical growth. with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there Passing along the baton to another would be in their honor. you will always long to return. I tasted flight, and the taste only After decades of learning and earning, it was time to begin served to whet my appetite. Not only did my Young Eagles flight returning. introduce me to the exceptional world of flying, it opened my I had no idea how many would enter the contest, but when eyes to the responsibility veteran pilots bear in passing on the the deadline arrived in December, I had received 157 essays. legacy of flight to fledgling pilots. This memorable flight ignited Selecting the winner was challenging because of the excel- my hope of being able, after earning my own wings, to hand lence represented by so many of the entrants. Reading their down the artistry of flight to budding pilots. The following quote essays and learning a bit about the young men and women who made by aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright expresses how man’s wrote them was particularly rewarding because it helped to bol- fascination with flight is an inextinguishable interest that has ster my faith in the future of America. Choosing the winner was been passed from generation to generation. The desire to fly not easy, but Victoria R. Hodges emerged victorious (no pun is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors, who, in their intended). Ms. Hodges, a high school senior from Chesapeake, grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air. When one possesses a genuine love for something, it becomes virtually impossible to refrain from sharing one’s fervor for it with others; therefore, my love of aviation is not something that I would relish solitarily. Conversely, I would like to think that my love of aviation has an infectious effect upon others, an influence that invites them to explore the limitless possibilities afforded by flight. Moreover, I am aware that enthusiasm is not the sole ingredient needed to accomplish my Victoria R. Hodges, aviation goals. Securing quality pilot training is an indispensa high school senior able part of bringing my aviation dreams to fruition. Learning from Chesapeake, to fly would provide me with the opportunity to turn a dream Virginia, is the into reality and influence the lives of others in a positive manfirst-place winner of author Barry ner. The inception of aviation was made possible through the Schiff’s flight steadfast dream of two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright.
training scholarship.
Continued on page 32

AOPA PILOT •

30 • APRIL 2012

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2012

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