iN Our OWN
WOrDs
EarNiNG My WiNGs
For the longest time, I’ve always been inspired by cool things— specifically those related to technology. When I was younger I
tAnner smith
could be found playing with various things: steam engines, radio
controlled cars, old computers, or creating my own electrical circuits that flashed lights and
things. But the one idea that always fascinated me, even to this day, was flying. Whether it
be space flight, or little tiny gliders that hung in the air with-
out engines—aviation always interested me. A few years back
Dad earned his own pilot’s certificate. After I went for a ride
with Dad, gliding through the
air over Lake Lanier, I instinctu-
ally knew that flying was some-
thing I had to conquer. I told
Dad I wanted to learn, and he
found a flight instructor.
thing and we made sure everything was “ok” and comfortable in the cockpit, I heard “Lawrenceville tower, november
eight zero six one november ready at Air Harbor South to depart to the north” through my
headset. Melissa added a bit of
throttle and we began taxiing.
As we lined up on the runway,
I pushed the throttle towards
the front of the plane, revving
the engine to full power, rolling the plane forward with incredible force. The plane’s speed
increased. I pulled back on the
control yoke. The ground fell
away. I was flying.
I continued my flight lessons
through a winter and a summer.
I began to relax. I learned how to recover from a stall, what
to do when the engine fails during flight, and steep turns (my
favorite). Things were going well; I was accomplishing what I
wanted to do—my dream.
Then one day Melissa asked me if I felt comfortable to fly
alone. I said, “Sure, yeah.” She got out with the engine running. I called up to the tower, saying what we had done a
thousand times, just a bit different—no Melissa. I made three
takeoffs and landings that day all by myself, one of which was
behind a B- 17 Flying Fortress. After I landed, Melissa gave me
a hug, and snipped my shirt. Melissa reminded me, “In order
to be a pilot, you have to do a verbal exam and a checkride
with an FAA examiner. You must study.” So we studied. It
wasn’t always fun, but I knew it would pay off.
That August it did. The oral exam went quickly, but I was
duped by a little instrument: the VOR. I had to go back and
study again. No matter. It didn’t take me long to figure out
the instrument, and before the summer was over I’d done it.
I had earned my wings at last. And I could not have done it
without Melissa. ✈
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Tanner Smith graduated from high school and plans to attend
Georgia Tech this fall. Melissa Bermudez is a WAI member.
