A recent article I came across in General Aviation News, titled “Living in an Era of Technological Breakthroughs,” prompted me to reflect on how technology has reshaped the art of flying over the years.
This comes at a time when we support Rosie and her daughters as they have all been diligently working on their respective credentials. Rosie in maintenance and encouraging her daughters to spread their wings in flight.
Last year, Phoenix, Rosie’s eldest daughter, obtained her private pilot license. This year, it’s her sister, the blonde bomber, who attained hers almost a year to the day from Phoenix.
It’s heartwarming to see them follow in the footsteps of those that have stepped up before them, and I couldn’t be prouder.
The Changing Landscape of Flight Training
The landscape of flight training and aviation has seen significant changes over the decades.
When my parents were learning how to fly in the 1960s, initial flight training aircraft – Piper Cubs and Aeronca Champs – were the same as what the Greatest Generation had learned on.
Tailwheel airplanes were then the norm, but the tide was slowly turning. Tricycle gear airplanes were gaining popularity in flight training and other areas of aviation.
By the late 1970s, when the restorer got his pilot’s license, he was flying a tricycle gear Cessna 150 and a tailwheel Citabria, a descendant of the Champ. He feels comfortable flying both types of aircraft.
Fast forward to the 1990s, when I received my initial flight training and private pilot’s license, tailwheel airplanes had become more of an exception than the rule. My first flights were in Cessna 152’s and later 172’s, with steam gauges dominating the flight deck and GPS technology yet to make its entry into the flight training environment.
The Shift to Digital
Today, the shift to digital has been significant. Analog gauges and paper charts have given way to electronic tablets and digital navigation systems.
Last year, Phoenix completed almost all her training in a modern Cirrus, while the blonde bomber finished her private in a sleek Diamond.
Both girls have learned how to use paper charts as well as electronic ones, but are certainly more proficient with tablets.
The Future of Flight
As we step into the summer, my hope for Phoenix and the blonde bomber is that they find time to explore – to get explore in the air on their own and hopefully, with each other. I hope they see the world through different airports in the area as they gain invaluable flight experience.
In this rapidly changing world of aviation, some things remain constant – the time, tenacity, and passion it takes to become a pilot; the exhilaration of soaring through the skies; the challenge of mastering different aircraft; and the responsibility of maintaining proficiency and situational awareness.
Life will undoubtedly march on, but finding the adventure in each moment is a choice we make. Here’s to embracing that adventure, in the air and on the ground, each time we take flight.