My name Is Isaac Shultz. I am a student pilot, who is eager to share the experience of flying with others.
I believe the best way to go about that is buying an airplane of my own to fly young eagles in. Even though it may seem crazy, unreal, or just downright undoable; I am going to try something few teens would dare attempt. I want to build an airplane. Why am I even thinking about it now as a mere 14 year old? Well , because I am uniquely situated where I can realistically complete a kitplane such as a sonex before I'm off to college.
While other kids where being passed around from grandparent to aunt to other grandparent, I was flying. My first flight was when i was a mere 10 days old! I hope I thoroughly enjoyed myself! As a toddler I played in the garage with wood scraps while my dad worked on his first homebuilt, a Minimax. When I was 6 my dad began a new kit, a Sonex it had lots of sharp metal pieces and I had to be very careful. but I still got my fair share of messing about in the form of clecoing scraps of aluminum together with all my might. Then the Sonex crashed and the second Sonex came. Again I played in the Garage, but this time I was older old enough to start building! I designed(with help) an aluminum boat for my lego guys to ride in. During that project I used the bandsaw, dill press, grinding wheel, Hole de-burr-er, rivet gun ,and more! Finally when I was 11 I got some stick time in our challenger II, and began my informal flight training. In less than 2 years I was making excellent landings, and flying to several airports around the local area. Now at the age of 14 I have a major (22hr) cross country under my belt, and am learning how to fly a Sonex.
While driving home from one of the monthly meeting of our local EAA chapter dad asked me if I wanted to go to the upcoming young eagles rally.” yes” I responded and I soon found myself riding in the Sonex to the rally. When we arrived I took a position on the ground and that day we flew over 100 young eagles! It was the that I realized ho much I wanted to be a pilot flying children who had never before flown in my own airplane. I wanted to see the smile spread across their faces as our wheels lift off the ground. I wanted to hear them oogle about how we were flying in the air, like birds. I realized that there would be so much for me to return to the community if I only had my own airplane.
One day A Sonex kit listing came to my attention, and I shot the seller an E-mail with an offer, and ,to my surprise, she responded! I thought back to the day at the young eagles rally and realized that this was my opportunity to give back to aviation. The was a way to make my dream come true. My mind immediately stared racing, how could I raise the money for such a huge undertaking? I was already mowing lawns selling random things, and doing chores around the house. I concluded that I would need help, your help, to raise enough. Please help me make my vision come to pass, by donating to this project you will be helping to pass the torch of aviation to the next generation. by helping me you are securing the future of corncob bombing runs, spot landing contests, EAA BBQs , and fun flying everywhere
https://www.gofundme.com/isaacs-sonex-project-2uvexs38