There is an enthusiasm that exudes from the voice and body language of Natalie Whitaker. She’s comfortable, confident and in no way shows any sign of intimidation. For someone who isn’t yet old enough to vote or own car insurance, she sure isn’t worried about the fleet of vehicles in the hangar just over her shoulder.
Whitaker, who will turn 18 in December, is already a licensed pilot and is flying at least three times a week. Claiming she is just as comfortable in an airplane as she is in her own Nissan SUV, Whitaker has really taken to flight school and being part of the program through Fairfield High School and Goshen Airport.
Flying for the first time just over a year ago as a co-pilot, Whitaker took over controls a month later. Getting some air time with some classmates from the flight school, her love affair with the skies was almost instantaneous.
“There was a peacefulness that I’ve never experienced before,” Whitaker said about her first night flight in a private plane. “A month later I took the controls at night for the first time. We took a flight to Chicago. Being able to experience taking the controls at night and seeing the Chicago skyline made night flying a lot of fun.”
Whitaker noted that being a pilot isn’t just the glory that might be attached to Hollywood visions of Maverick and Ice Man, or flying 747s across the Atlantic Ocean. Rather, she stated, “The reality is that 80 percent of being a pilot is studying. There is so much you have to learn before you can get behind the flight controls.”
With the fire place going as a private jet revved up for a morning launch at Goshen Airport, Whitaker sat back unbothered by any of the distraction. Having had the ability to pilot several of her friends, family and even her basketball coach, she knows the airport is quickly becoming her second home.
“Between being a full-time student, athlete, sister, having jobs, and simply being a teenager, there were times where is was hard,” admitted Whitaker, who also mentioned August was a life trial trying to get all of her schedules synched. “(Fairfield) made my life easier by allowing me to do my Work-Based Learning at the airport. That time for me was really valuable in the sense of studying and flying.
“This past year has been so worthwhile and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
Check the video to hear Natalie's aviation story in her own words.
We also have a link to a production feature Whitaker's classmate, Alex Hofer, made of her journey in flight relating to potential mission work!!!
Part two will post tomorrow morning!