I CAN FLY! written by freelance writer Tom Rent
On Saturday November 18th Ingrid Freeman of Northfield realized something she never thought she could ever do. Ingrid flew an airplane alone. Ingrid has been learning to fly at Stanton Airfield under the new Sport Pilot training program.
"It is really really fun. Once I took off on my own I said to myself - I can really do this," said Ingrid. Ingrid began taking flight lessons in August at Stanton Airfield and quickly reached the point where Chief Flight Instructor Kent Johnson approved her to fly solo. "This is when students really experience what it is to truly like be a pilot, and Ingrid is ready" said Kent.
Her first flight was a thrill but she soon realized that without an instructor on board you really have to take every moment seriously. "You have to focus, and be prepared for any issues that might crop up," she says.
Ingrid's first solo landing was a bit bouncy which she was not very happy with. Rather than be spooked by this, Ingrid taxied back and took off again on another flight as she said "I wasn't going to end my first flight with bouncy landing - I know I can do a lot better." Her second landing was perfect.
Ingrid is a speech pathologist and an autism consultant, and has lived in Northfield for 6 years. She and her husband Rick have been learning to fly at Stanton and they can't say enough about the quality of the instruction and the generally supportive atmosphere there. Ingrid and Rick plan to buy an airplane soon that they both will be able to fly, "perhaps a vintage tailwheel aircraft" Ingrid says.
Stanton Airfield is the most active airport in Minnesota for instruction under the FAA's new Sport Pilot program. The Sport Pilot rating takes less time and money to obtain, and has only a few restrictions relative to a traditional Private Pilot rating. One of the most attractive aspects is that you only need to have a valid driver's license rather than an aviation medical certificate to fly under the Sport Pilot rules.
Ingrid has been flying in a modern composite aircraft called a Flight Design CT. This airplane is easy to fly, is a great training aircraft, and meets the requirements for Sport Pilots to fly. Stanton Airfield has several CT aircraft that can be used for instruction and for pilots to rent on an hourly basis.
When Ingrid was asked what advice she would give to aspiring pilots she said "Just don't give up! At times you don't feel you are improving, but you really are. Your instructor will coach you through the rough spots and keep you motivated, but the key is to stick with it."
