Flying Free
My aunt is my “roll model”

By Elizabeth Triplett, 12 years old My Aunt Diana pulled the plane up and looked back from the pilot’s seat at me. “Do you want to do it again?” she asked me. “You bet!” I said excitedly. She climbed higher and higher into the air and slightly dropped the plane. “It’s time to go back down to the farm now. Your brother probably wants a turn too.” Already? I thought. It seemed as if I had gotten into the plane just seconds ago. We landed the plane and my brother jumped into the back seat where I had been sitting just a few minutes before. My Aunt Diana had always been someone I looked up to. She is a strong, courageous person, and we are very much alike. She does many riveting things in her airplane on their farm. She does exciting tricks in the air called aerobatics. If you don’t already know, aerobatics are flips, turns, and dives in the air. I think of it as gymnastics in the air, but it takes a lot more skill and nerve. I have been flying with my Aunt Diana since I was 4 years old. I love the tingling in my stomach, and the sensation of the drops. We always point out the ground below and the lakes and landforms that we see. The ground below me always looks like a super-sized quilt. The winding fields each create a patch on my flying quilt. Although I’m not old enough to do aerobatics, we still do fun, exhilarating things. Last time we went to the farm the gravity meter hit zero! My Aunt Diana calls it “zero g.” I loved the light, floating feeling of that flight! She also does a few small, but breathtaking drops with me. I laugh and an excited feeling rushes over me. Any other kid might be scared, but I sure wasn’t! She also goes through safety drills with us. She reviews things such as how to get out of the plane in an emergency and how to use our parachute. My aunt says that I have the courage and determination to do the things that she does someday. I sure hope she’s right! I can’t wait until I am old enough to do aerobatics and more awesome activities with her. My aunt is my “roll model” and inspiration. She has always taken me flying every Father’s Day (it’s a Triplett family tradition), and we haven’t missed a flight yet.

Elizabeth is on top of the world when flying with her Aunt Diana.

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