Just a few months ago, the world celebrated the 100^th Anniversary of powered flight. It’s kind of hard to believe that I’ve been flying more than 25 % of that myself. Today, May 25, 2004, marks the 20^th anniversary of the day I became a flight instructor. Wow! I’ve had a wonderful time sharing the sky with so many wonderful people!

If we succeed, none of us can claim to be a "self made success." Although our own character is a big factor, we are each a combination of the many others who touched our lives, influenced us, and helped us become what we are – for better or for worse.

In the aviation realm, a lot of different people helped me along the way. I began flying in 1976, flying a 30 year old Piper Cub from a grass strip at Williamsburg, West Virginia. Tate Mauzy was at that time a retired instructor, and I will always relish those first hours in the clean country air. Occasionally, I still get to fly that same airplane, now owned by Tate’s son, Bill Mauzy.

Mrs. Ruth Tolley Gwinn was my primary instructor, and I soloed under her supervision in 1977. She had soloed in 1935, when she was 16. She was one of the links between the original aviation pioneers, and the pilots of my own generation. One of her former students, Billy Meadows actually finished me up for the Private Pilot flight test in May of 1978.

We had quite a record of family flying. Loading all the kids into a rented airplane we flew to see relatives once or twice a year – across many states in just a few hours! Each trip costs less than a car payment, and included the gas! The kids just grew up with it. You can still rent a plane for a pretty good trip for the price of a car payment.

After five years of VFR flying, I finally got my instrument rating in 1983, and my commercial and flight instructor certificates the next year. Most of the training for these "advanced ratings" was obtained at Mallory Airport near Charleston, West Virginia. The late Gary Johnson, and I made a lot of flights down there together, and swapped "hood time" along the way.

My instructors were usually Benny Mallory and Merry Casto. I had read something that said, "To be a flight instructor, you don’t have to be a perfect pilot, but you do have to be an adequate one." That was a big consolation to me. I passed my practical test at Kanawha Airport (now called Yeager) on May 25, 1984.

A few of my aviation friends were waiting for me to get my license, so I could help them "finish up." I have always said, "Flight instruction is a great occupation if you like to see other people’s dreams come true." It has been a joy to help so many "get their wings." I helped one fellow who took his first flying lesson before I was born! After getting his license he flew regularly, but not a lot, until God called him home. I am so happy to have helped his dream come true.

A few things have changed through the years, but the basics are still the same. Let me say something for the benefit of the new and future instructors. They are the important professionals that will help thousands fulfill their dream. Some people think flight instructors are overpaid. Some think they shouldn’t have to be paid much since flying is so much fun! Traditionally flight instructors are the only teachers that don’t get paid for teaching unless they are airborne (or at least about to be.) Instructors put in about 2 hours with a student for each hour of flight, and usually get paid only for the actually flight time. That’s a strange way of thinking. Do you enjoy your job so much that you would be glad to get paid only for half your time? (Usually no fringe benefits.)

Flight Instructors must meet federal standards, and must renew their license every two years. They make flying possible for you, and I hope you will help make it at least feasible for them.

Through the years I’ve been blessed to share the sky with many pre-16 teenagers, and many near the other end of life. My students have included high school and college students, farmers, teachers, school administrators, doctors, lawyers, nurses, air traffic controllers, telephone workers, janitors, building contractors, computer technicians, disk jockeys, entrepreneurs, politicians, and I don’t recall all the other occupations. But, thanks everyone for helping my dream come true!

I hope we have many more wonderful hours sharing the sky together. Right now I am sharing the same enthusiasm with the young people of Papua New Guinea. One of my assignments is to help open the skies of this beautiful land for them.

Gratefully,

David Hersman

296422644 CFII

Exp. 2/2006     (Written in 2004. Current expiration date is 06/2009)