DJ Q&A

CB: From watching the annual Blue Angels performance during Fleet Week in San Francisco to loving the view during flights on the airlines, I always had an interest in learning to fly. I spent my earnings from my job cleaning planes on aerobatic flights out in Colorado and demo flights at San Carlos Flight Center. Despite seeking as many experiences inside the cockpit as possible, I don’t remember striving toward a private pilot’s license until I discovered the Upwind Scholarship.

SM: Becoming a pilot has always been at the back of my mind. As I grew older, the idea of this goal coming to fruition felt incredibly out of reach. When would I do the training? How would my family and I pay for it? This goal suddenly felt realistic when I discovered aviation scholarships. When I learned of the Upwind Scholarship, it definitely stood out to me. Unlike other scholarships that provide a fixed dollar amount, the Upwind Scholarship is full-ride — it provides all of the necessary ground and flight instruction over the summer between your junior and senior years of high school.

DJ: How did your families react when you told them you wanted to learn to fly?

SM: My family was overwhelmingly supportive from the very beginning. I am beyond grateful to have parents as encouraging as mine — they never doubted me and were always there to cheer me on. At every major milestone, my parents were elated — from receiving the phone call that I got the scholarship, to my first solo, all the way to the practical examination. In the same week that I earned my private pilot certificate, I took my mom flying over the coast. A week later, I took my dad flying as well. I will never forget the thrill in their eyes as they looked over and saw that their daughter was a pilot.

CB: My family was incredibly supportive when I told them I was applying for the Upwind Scholarship. After being declared a recipient, my dad immediately called “dibs” to be my first passenger. From giving me space to study at night to celebrating every milestone with me, I was lucky to have my family there to support me.

DJ: What was the Upwind Foundation application process?

CB: The application was a packet of documents to be all submitted at once. Required were four essays no longer than two pages in total, a five-minute video, a letter of recommendation and documents needed for the program. I worked extremely hard on compiling the perfect collage of photos and videos to convey my passion for aviation and my ability to succeed in the program.

SM: I applied through an online application, which can be found on the Upwind Scholarship website. The process was straightforward — personal information, essays, a short video about myself, along with a few other requirements, such as a medical certificate.

DJ: Describe the training program.

SM: The program started off in April with ground school. We start with studying the theory behind flight — aerodynamics, weather, federal regulations and other topics that help you be better prepared for when you start flight training. The lectures were about two to three hours long once per week. About a week into June, the program kicks into full gear. You attend the San Carlos Flight Center every day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for nine weeks. Days are jam-packed with flight training, ground school, and self-study sessions. While this was a very challenging and rigorous program, I enjoyed every second of it. One of the most unforgettable moments during the summer was everyone’s first solo. For this milestone in your training, the instructor hops out of the airplane — leaving you alone in the cockpit. The sense of responsibility and excitement that you feel in that moment cannot be described in words. My favorite moment from that day was definitely my first takeoff. I recall turning onto the runway and being met face-to-face with several thousand feet of runway. As I applied full power, I caught a glimpse of the empty right seat in my peripheral vision — I was flying alone.

CB: The Upwind Scholarship program is a full-ride scholarship that provides high school students with the training to earn a private pilot’s license. I’ve never seen anything like it. I trained and studied alongside the three other 2024 scholarship recipients. Summer milestones included our first solo flight, 50+ and 150+ nautical mile cross-country flights, night flights and a checkride to earn a private pilot’s license. It’s truly an amazing scholarship. I first flew with my flight instructor, Brad Daughtry, a couple of days into the summer. At the start, I barely knew the basic flight controls. With every passing day, he handed a new responsibility of the flight to me. By the end of the summer, I acquired all of the necessary skills to be the pilot in command. The Upwind program prepares us to fly our first solo flight after the first four weeks of flight training. After warming up with a few laps in the pattern above San Carlos Airport, my flight instructor left the plane. It was a big moment; my family, friends and the Upwind supporters and San Carlos Flight Center community were watching. Taking flight by myself felt exhilarating.

DJ: What are your future plans regarding flying?

SM: Over this past summer, I fell in love with flying. The Upwind Scholarship opened up the door for a career in aviation for me. I now plan to attend a collegiate aviation program in the fall — with the hopes of eventually becoming an airline pilot.

CB: Right now, I am loving the privileges of my private pilot’s license. One of my main pulls to become a pilot was for the view, so taking up my friends and family is good for me while I’m still in high school. I am planning to pursue aviation in college and I hope to fly commercially and eventually for the airlines.

DJ: What would you say to someone of your age who is interested in learning to be a pilot?

CB: Start now! There are so many paths into aviation. I found a job cleaning planes and used my money for demo flights and flight training. There are flight organizations and volunteer opportunities for youth. I recommend looking at local flight museums, flight schools and aviation scholarships. Learning the ground and flight knowledge takes time, but it is so worth it.

SM: I would say go for it! Get involved with aviation in any possible way you can — volunteer at aviation museums (the Hiller Aviation Museum has a great teen volunteer program), build airplane models, go out and do planespotting, and/or apply for flight training scholarships. Becoming a pilot can be a goal that is a lot more attainable than you may think.

Upwind Foundation encourages interest in aviation for high school aged students by awarding scholarships that provide ground and flight training to become a private pilot during the summer between their junior and senior years.

For questions contact Upwind Foundation at (650) 394-5364 or upwindscholarship@gmail.com or visit https://www.upwindscholarship.com.