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Daytona Beach, Fla. – March 23, 2006 – Dylan Sawchuk, age 16, made his first solo flight on December 31, 2005, at Spruce Creek Airport in Daytona Beach.
While a former Young Eagle flying solo is always special event, this one is a story of determination and support. Although confined to a wheelchair, Dylan was determined to fly and once he encountered a group of fellow flyers, his dream soon began to soar.
Beginning with his EAA Young Eagles flight on February 21, 2004, Dylan knew aviation was for him. With the help of EAA Chapter 288, he began flying lessons on January 8, 2005.
Many people from EAA Chapter 288 were instrumental in Dylan’s flight lessons, including Geoff and Glen Davis who volunteered Glen’s Ercoupe airplane, Mike Kelly, Dylan’s instructor with John Taylor as his back up, and Keith Phillips who arranged for minor aircraft maintenance.
Dylan writes:
”When I was growing up I always had this great fascination with airplanes. I remember the highlight of my youth was going to an air show to see the jets. Looking up in the sky I would think to myself ‘Man that’s really, really cool. I need to do that.’ I always had this vision of flying around shooting down Nazis or Aliens or those sinister black jets from Top Gun.
As I grew older, I grew even more interested in aviation and I began a quest to experience as much of it as I could. I started playing flight simulators and video games. Anything that got my mind off the ground and into the pilots seat. My favorite thing to do was travel commercially because it was really the only time where I could really be part of the flying experience. There was nothing like hearing the roar of the engine as the big jet thundered down the runway, followed by the amazing feeling of leaving the ground behind and rising into the air.
I had always seen small airplanes flying over my house but I never thought that I would get to ride in one. Then one day driving home from an errand, I convinced my dad to pull over so we could take a look at some seaplanes. There was some sort of event going on and there was a small crowd. I soon saw a gentleman I recognized from my church who explained that he was a pilot and would love to give me a ride sometime. To me this was on the same level as a trip to Disneyland and I was very pleased. He went on to explain that he was part of an organization called the EAA that ran a program called Young Eagles. At the time I had no idea who the EAA was or what Young Eagles sought to achieve, but a free ride was a free ride!
I still remember the feeling when halfway through the flight he asked me if I wanted to fly the airplane. Wondering if he was really going to let me fly it, I slowly took hold of the stick. From that flight on I just really got into flying. I found out just how accessible it was and how much fun it could really be. In the end, I found my way to the EAA Air Academy camp in Oshkosh where I was sponsored by the local EAA chapter in Daytona Beach. Then the EAA chapter found a plane for me to fly and I started flight lessons. It’s a great organization with great people. If you are interested in flying I highly recommend taking a Young Eagles flight.”
Check out EAA Chapter 288’s Web site for more details and pictures of Dylan’s solo flight. Click here!
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Flight Instructor Mike Kelly (right) congratulates Dylan Sawchuk after his first solo flight. The airplane Dylan is flying is called an Ercoupe and does not have rudder pedals making it possible for Dylan to fly
Mike follows tradition by cutting Dylan’s shirt following the flight.
Dylan’s family and instructor, proud of his accomplishment, join him for a photo after the flight.
Dylan’s first solo log entry is made on December 31, 2005.
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