Q: You have spoken about learning to fly at the age of 25. What airplanes did you fly?
Cessna 150
A: I learned to fly at a small airport in Caldwell, NJ. Flying is expensive and since I didn’t have much money, I sought a job at Liberty Aviation, the local flight school, in exchange for flying lessons. For every three hours I worked, I earned a flying lesson. At the time it cost $25/hour to rent a plane, plus $10/hour for an instructor, and I was fortunate to find an excellent flight instructor who offered to teach me for free.
After I completed ground school at Clifton High School, I took my first flying lesson. It was on April 1, 1978 in a (two-seat) Cessna 150. During the following months I flew every chance I could, in Cessna 150s and newer Cessna 152s, and also occasionally in Piper Cherokees. On September 24, 1978 I received my private pilot’s license.
Then I got checked-out in a larger (four-seat) Cessna 172. For my instrument training I flew Cessna 150s and 172s. I received my instrument rating in April 1979.
Next I trained for a commercial pilot’s license and a multi-engine rating. I flew Cessna 172s and a twin-engine Piper Seminole and obtained my license and rating in May 1980.
In December 1980 I began Boeing 727 flight engineer training at Flight International in Atlanta, GA. Most of this was in Boeing-727 flight simulators with Delta airline pilots as instructors. My check-ride was in a Boeing-727 owned by FedEx. I received my flight engineer’s certificate in February 1981. At the time I was the only woman in the entire school!
Comments are welcome!
Posted on March 29, 2014, in An Artist's Life, Photography and tagged airline pilots, airplanes, airport, Atlanta GA, Boeing-727, Caldwell NJ, Cessna 150, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, check ride, checked out, Clifton High School, commercial pilot, completed, Delta, earned, excellent, exchange, expensive, FedEx, first, flew, flight, flight engineer, Flight international, flight school, flight simulators, fly, following, fortunate, free, ground school, instructor, learning, lesssons, Liberty Aviation, license, money, months, multi-engine, obtained, offered, Piper Cherokee, Piper Seminole, private pilot, rating, school, spoken, teach, training, twin-engine, two-seat, woman, worked, written. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
barbararachkoscoloreddust.com 
Hi Barbara: I provided instruction to private and commercial students land, sea and ski. I flew in: Aeronca; C-150, 170, 172, 185; Citabria; AA5; and PA 140, 180, etc.
All good performing aircraft yet the C172 brings back fond memories.
Currently an armchair pilot who enjoys spinning the prop with my son-in-law who is an Airbus captain. As well I paint the odd AC on commission basis.
Great topic and thanks,
Bruce
Wow Flight and a Artist to boot how cool is that all so inspiring .
Peter, you must not know about my eBook, From Pilot to Painter. Please check it out on Amazon.