1MissionPossible

When I took that first introductory glider flight with my daughter Miranda, vomiting into her loaned baseball cap back in 2016, I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into. Not only did I fall in love with soaring and felt the sky was where I belonged, I also made a lot of mistakes. I wanted to get through my solo glider flight in under forty flight hours, and I wanted to do this all while raising a family as a single mom working my way through Graduate school.

Although every veteran pilot who volunteered their time to the Albuquerque Soaring Club to enthusiastic and passionate new pilots such as myself, there were few available certified flight instructors or ground school. Albeit becoming a member of ASC (the least expensive route) in the long run, I ended up depleting my time and resources. I knew that if flying were something that I wanted to do, I would need to become a hundred percent devoted, and I also needed to extend that sense of belonging and gratitude toward flight school.

Additionally, that would also mean I may need to ask for help.

I raised three exceptional children on my own while working my way through college. I can remember one year I found a part-time job at a Dollar Store. It was Christmastime, and my kids came in the week before telling me that they had earned around 30 dollars cleaning yards and wanted to purchase a Christmas tree and decorations. I was so proud. We were even gifted a hundred dollars each that year and picked one person in the family to give gifts to. It wasn’t much, but we made it work. It was the most fun and memorable Christmas, and each year I put up that same Dollar Store tree with those same decorations, and each year we share our memories about that Christmas.

Currently, I teach English and writing to Jr. High kids. Writing is such a creative way to express themselves. I try to allow my students a safe and comfortable environment to essentially write anything they want. Writing empowers them to believe the same dialect as  “there are no limits,” I always say. 

Now my children are grown and on their own, and my daughter (who I took that first introductory flight) has two children of her own. 

It’s time for me to do something just for myself.

Picking up where I left off almost six years ago, I have signed up for flight training with Bode Aviation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I have approximately 3 flight hours (I just started last week) and two ground school hours through the Bode community. 

From previous flight experience, I’ve thirty-plus glider hours and an additional two single engine hours with friends. I am more than confident that regardless of how I get there, I will achieve and complete my private pilot license and move forward as a private pilot.

I am requesting a call to action, and by helping me through this authentic movement and personal growth, I truly believe that you will be helping me achieve a dream that I never imagined possible. A dream that eventually can affect the lives of future students. A vision that will cultivate belonging, community, integrity, and stability for the “my grandma is one amazing bad-ass woman” legacy that I will leave in my wake, as well as an example for my students and future students to dare to dream.

What are my plans after I earn my pilot license? I plan on adding an additional rating for commercial flight and fly small aircraft for a living. 

Some companies such as Amazon hire licensed pilots and often offer such additional training. This is what I plan to do. 

Additionally, I plan on teaching as a flight instructor to young women who have a passion for learning a skill outside of the traditional norm. 

Flying has become and will be a lifetime opportunity. 

In order to get started down this path, I need donations. No donation is too big or too small and even small gestures have big meaning. 

I have created a breakdown of where your money will be going as follows:

The total cost of funding needed to complete flight training is roughly $7,975.00

$338.00 goes toward student flight materials. (Already purchased)

$100.00 hour ($120 including tax) for Cessna 150 airplane rental @ 40-65 hours.

$50.00 hour flight instructor ($20 hour for pre-post flight) @ 40-65 hours.

$375.00 for a decent headset.

By connecting with me through your donation, GoFundMe, Facebook and Instagram @Pilot_yogi, I hope you can follow my success and progress.

With respect, I thank you.

From my heart to yours,

Namaste.