Growing up in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, Alida Soemawinata's foray into aviation began with the rite of passage of many Australian kids: Air Force Cadets. "Both my older sisters and my older brother joined when they were in high school, so, of course, I looked forward to my 13th birthday when I could too," she chuckles. [...]
"Ever since I can remember, I've been infatuated with aviation and all things that take flight," Jeff Adams admits. "Maybe it was inspired by my father's career as a quality inspector for companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin – he would always come home with stickers from a fighter jet, satellite, or rocket project he was working on."
"When asked how I became a heli pilot I often reply, half-jokingly, 'It was the only option left for me – I was bad at everything else,'" Maxim laughs. "But there Is some truth in it. I didn't perform well in high school, let alone university." "The school benches totally lost me, so I started [...]
"I wanted to fly ever since I was young – about twelve years old. I grew up surrounded by cotton fields on my mother's horse farm in Midland, Texas, and one year, a helicopter came through to crop dust. I remember thinking it looked like so much fun, and the seed was planted."
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"I have many 'whys,'" says Sam. "I never grew up in an aviation family. No one in my family is a pilot or flies. But I always had a love for aviation – I just never really thought it was attainable. I didn't quite know how to pave that path when I was younger." Instead, [...]
Amanda Deed's dad, Paul, started flying before she was born, and she's been in the front seat with him ever since she could reach the controls. Now, both fixed-wing and heli pilots, they are a spirited pair crisscrossing the country, ferrying all manner of aircraft and relishing Australia's natural wonders.
The best day for Cathy Beaucage starts early. “I’m a morning person. I’m useless after a big – or small, let’s face it – day of work!” She laughs. It’s the serene moments before the day truly begins that she relishes. “I like the time I get around the heli before clients show up, prepping [...]
Michelle Astergard's romance with aviation started early. "I have always loved aviation," she smiles impulsively. "Every time you enter an airport, there is this feeling of excitement lingering in the air. People are thrilled to go on a new adventure or happy to reunite with their loved ones." "My Godmother had two daughters that I [...]
A bunch of stories about ballooning in Western Australia on the hot air comp circuit – from then (2017) til now (2023)
Bronni Bowen 