D. Rae’s Aviatrix Training

By Denise Rae Donegan 

Denise Rae DoneganSome of my favorite memories of my dad are of the two of us sitting in “The Boat,” our family’s white Buick Electra, parked alongside San Francisco Bay, eating lunch while watching the planes take off and land at SFO.  I can still hear him saying, with binoculars in hand, “Look Denise, that’s a DC10,” or a 7, or whichever type of aircraft was flying overhead.  It seemed that no matter where we were, up until the day he died, he always had an eye on the sky, fascinated with aircraft of all shapes and sizes. My own passion for flight began under his wing. 

Earlier this year, I began to fly with my dear friend Ana Uribe Ruiz, Aviatrix Extraordinaire and member of Women of Aviation Worldwide (WOAW.) After our first breathtaking flight together I told her how I wished I could become a private pilot myself. Ana said, “Then why don’t you?” “Because I wear prescription glasses.” “You don’t have to worry about that for a private pilot’s license. You just have to wear your glasses.” My heart skipped a beat. “Really?” I said out loud, “How cool would that be!” I stared up to the sky, past the scattered clouds and thought, “Dad, what do you think?”

After our flight, Ana introduced me to many of the fabulous people of West Valley Flying Club, located in the San Carlos Airport, San Carlos, Calif. She also explained to me how choosing a flying club is an extremely important decision. Having a longstanding history, an exemplary track record, and a staff of accomplished Certified Flight Instructors (CFI) are all crucial elements to consider.  I felt confident in West Valley Flying Club; they have been in business for more than 40 years, are a non-profit organization, and the members are owners. In addition, they have more than 30 planes to choose from for rentals.  

Ana and I went on to spend a relaxing morning at Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park. She talked at great length about her childhood in Ecuador, and of being the daughter of an airline owner. Instead of getting into the station wagon for an outing, her family would jump into a plane.  Ana’s enthusiasm was infectious.  “I want this to happen,” I thought to myself, “I unequivocally do!”

In March 2012, Ana participated, and organized a local flight event as a part of the Global Women of Aviation Worldwide (WAOW) Week, gathering seven other pilots along with herself and her husband in order to offer complementary flights to girls and women in the Bay Area who have never flown in a small airplane. Ana and her A-Team flew more than 200 girls and women out of the San Carlos Airport. Ana and her husband Daniel love few things more than to jump into their Piper Archer II and take to the sky. It is great to have her support, and I have already learned an amazing amount from her and Daniel. Globally, WOAW flew 17,000 girls and women. Two of Ana’s pilots in San Carlos were in the top ten worldwide standings for numbers flown. Francesca Fambrough was ranked number five, and Mehdi Dalvand was ranked number 10 worldwide. Not bad for their local debut for this worldwide event.  

George Kebbe, CFI with his original 30 year old Pilot’s Handbook. (Denise Rae Donegan)Then the time came to take the next step. For this, I needed to contact George Kebbe, CFI. Ana had introduced me to George at West Valley Flying Club a few months back. We chatted for a bit, and I liked him straight away. George returned my call while I happened to be at Ana’s house — I had George in one ear, and Ana in the other. We set up my first lesson for the next day. “Wow, is this really happening?” Yes it was!

George and I met at West Valley and jumped right in. I liked the way George spent some time asking me questions about my life, and the other commitments that I have. He wanted to make sure that I completely understood the time and financial commitment needed to become a private pilot — even expressing his concerns with my busy lifestyle. We discussed these issues in depth, and in the end decided that, while busy, I was ready, willing, and able to commit to my lessons.

Next, we discussed the required textbooks, many of which I had obtained with the help of Ana. We also went over the Medical Certification needed for a Third Class Student Pilot Certificate, Post student pilot first lesson with my copy of In Flight USA in hand. (Denise Rae Donegan)and where to go for the exam. George pointed out that it is good to get this certificate early, in the event that a medication or conditions finds you ineligible. It would be heartbreaking to discover, after 100 hours of flight and ground school, that you are not cleared for solo flight. 

For the next hour and a half, George explained the four fundamentals — climb, decend, turn left, turn right, then went onto Bernoulli’s principle, angles of attack, four forces of straight and level flight, and pressure above and below the wings needed for lift. We also discussed axis points; lateral pitch axis, longitudinal roll axis, and vertical yaw axis. I was fascinated with the topics at hand. 

After a complete and thorough pre-flight check, we were ready to take flight. George advised me that I was going to be sitting on the left. I’ve never sat in this position before, always on the right or in the back. George pointed out the components of the control instruments, and told me to taxi down to the runway using my feet only. “What was that? I’m going to do this?” “Yes. You have control of the plane.” Ok. I’m shocked but pleased. 

Denise’s left hand on the yoke and right hand on the throttle.Steering with your feet is a very strange experience. You use muscles in a way that you’ve never used them before. George communicated with the tower and I had control of the plane. Throttle up, pulled back, and the next thing I knew I was flying over Redwood City, Calif.  Me.  I banked to the right using my hands and feet, headed west over Woodside, climbed the mountains and headed towards the Pacific Ocean. Once over the beach, we climbed, descended, leveled, turned, and slightly rolled. It was a new, completely exhilarating, total mind, body and soul feeling. Completely unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I was in awe, amazed that I was doing what I was doing, and thrilled to be doing it. I looked up into the sky and smiled at my dad.

Denise baking right and then left to fly around Mavericks in Half Moon Bay.