Slow Flight, Stalls & Females in Flight

My last flight with Lizzy was a few things.  

​First of all, it was a bit nerve wracking as we stalled the plane & then had to recover Vyctor from the stall.  When Lizzy does it, it's like second nature to her.  When I do it, it's a definite reminder of the need for subtle movements & the importance of staying calm while at the controls.  

This lesson also taught me the following: 

#1 - At 14, Stella’s more comfortable in a plane than I am when it comes to aerobatics and stalls.  Lizzy too.  Driving comes so naturally to me. Flight, a little less so. Stella’s been using a flight simulator to practice which has significantly helped to increase her comfort in the air.

#2 - With the right teacher, some things can be taught very quickly, especially through experience. Lizzy taught me this with stalls - quickly explain, demonstrate, implement, practice, revise & repeat.

#3 - I focus mostly on teaching young people about flight through Stella’s experiences flying with Lizzy.  The focus has sort of shifted to me getting to fly with Lizzy as Stella’s off pursuing her recreational licence for piloting.  

There are more and more females taking flight across the globe. There are amazing programs out there, particularly in Ghana, where the focus is on teaching young people to fly while providing medicine to remote communities  - this includes both MoM (Medicine on the Move) & AvTech (Aviation and Technology Academy Ghana). 

Young female pilots are achieving incredible feats, like the Ghanaian pilot Audrey Maame Esi Swatson who got her commercial license at just 21 years of age. How cool and determined is that! 

Ghana is impressive in its use of piloting to reduce geographical barriers to medical care.  The country has amazing programs for female pilots that combine the need to deliver medicine to remote areas with the desire to train more female pilots in both flight and aviation maintenance and mechanics.  Patricia Mawuli Nyekodzi is a pioneer in this area & was Ghana's first female certified pilot. Go and read up on her because she's accomplished so many firsts in aviation, and she's spreading the wealth by teaching other young people, especially young girls in Ghana, how to fly & fix aircraft.  

Across the globe, let's keep seeing more females in flight. Programs like these are crucial because they reduce barriers to health and teach critical skills to those wanting to head up in the air & make a difference. 

Are you ready to fly?

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