Gina's Treasures: Mandy Henson

On July 25th 1987 my beautiful boy was born, Calvin Skylar Henson. Little did I know how his name would be so fitting. Sky or Skybaby as he would be called growing up. Recently Skylar age 24, aquired his CFI rating (Certified Flight Instructor). I can tell you that this guy has set goals and reached them far quicker than most ever could. He has grown up around airplanes since birth and took his first flight in an Ercoupe with my dad ( Bud) when he was eighteen months old. Carseat strapped in and away those two went. My dad could hardly go on a flight without Sky... we lived in a hanger apartment on my parents estate and our living room window looked out at the runway. Sky would look out the window everytime he heard the airplane engine start. It was pretty amazing having that for him at such a young age. I know my dad and his love of airplanes molded Skylar's love of airplanes at an early age. Those two have always been inseparable!

Skylar's first favortie airplane...the Ercoupe. Picture taken in 1989

same Ercoupe.... 2011

Skylar with his very first Log Book

4 years old

This is one of my most favorite pictures of Skylar and Bud. Bud is now backseat pilot looking over Sky's shoulder.

Skylar works at Cessna in the Instrumentation department and this has afforded him the chance to take advantage of fulfilling his dream of becoming a pilot. He now has several different ratings under his belt with the lastest one being his CFI rating. I thought I would interview Skylar so he could say in his own words how he became a pilot.

Me: Sky, at what age do you "remember" flying? And where did you fly?
Sky: My first memory of flying was at the age of seven. Bud had me sitting on a phone book and I performed my very first take-off in his Piper Dakota. He work the rudder pedals, as I could not reach them at the time. We departed his private grass strip to the south. The destination is unclear but the Take-off is burned into memory.

Me: Have you always been interested in airplanes? Or did you have another hobby?
Sky: Yes and No. As the family knows Bud had me in his 1945 Ercoupe at roughly eighteen months old. Until I was twelve, aviation was my passion, weather it was building/flying our model RC planes or attending the air shows and fly-ins. Advancing into my teen years, I got involved with motocross which I participated in until I was twenty. Traveling with the family, mainly Texas, Oklahoma & Kansas, we raced many state events including nationals. After I was done breaking bones and bringing home trophies, I had decided to find a career. Cessna’s doors opened for me which sparked my interest in aviation once again.

Me: When did you really become serious about perusing your dream of becoming a pilot?
Sky: Once obtaining a job at Cessna Aircraft in August 2008, I enrolled for private pilot ground school that fall. Adding to that, my job required me to travel via Cessna business jets for either performance or system data collection. After many trips and tests I realized the opportunities ahead. Surrounded by highly experienced pilots making an income off what they enjoy the most, flying. I knew my route in life needed to focus in that direction.

Me: What types of airplanes have you flown?
Sky: North American T-6 Texan, Piper Dakota, Ercoupe, Fairchild PT-26, Citation Mustang, Cessna Stationair, Skylane, Skyhawk, Skycatcher, Super decathlon, Piper twin Comanche, TBM 700.

Me: Did you have to train on those airplanes with someone else before flying them?
Sky: The twin engine aircraft require a Multi Engine rating which I hold. To accomplish that, a pilot must receive instruction in that class/type aircraft and an FAA examiner sign off for the rating/certificate sought. Other aircraft I listed required certain endorsements including; High performance, Complex, & Tail Wheel signoff’s by a Certified Instructor. The aircraft I fly at the Cessna Flying Club also require a single flight check out per model of craft, followed by an annual flight check for their currency rules. Otherwise, once receiving a Private pilot’s license, that pilot is eligible to fly an aircraft he/she is endorsed/rated to operate.

Me: How many hours have you logged since flying? Is there a certain amount of hours required
before you can get certain licenses?
Sky: Since my flight training at Cessna I have logged 500 hours. Growing up, Bud recorded in my log book about 300 hours of flight time I received with him. Those hours have not counted for the ratings I hold or working towards. There is a 1500 hour limitation for an Airline Transport Pilot License which is on my list to complete one day.

Me: What other goals are you working on now? What are your future goals in regards to flying?
Sky: My biggest goal is to continue being an outstanding husband to Mandy, which has always come first. Flying goals will be to build experience teaching student pilots how to fly, exercising my new Flight Instructor privileges. This fall I would like to work towards becoming an Instrument Flight Instructor, then a Multi Engine Instructor. Maybe one day I will be able to put my skills to use and fly for hire in the

business jet world. That would probably be my ultimate goal in regards to flying. When Mandy and I have kids I think it would be very special to teach them to fly if the interest is there.

Me: What was required for you to get your Certified Flight Instructor license? Was it a long
process?
Sky: To obtain a Flight Instructor License the process begins with your Private Pilots License. After this comes an Instrument rating, followed by a Commercial Pilot certificate. In conjunction, a pilot must log a set amount of flight hours focused into many categories for FAA set standards. Then you have endorsements that allow one to fly a complex aircraft (retractable gear) for Commercial Pilot completion. Once mastering all those elements, the teaching role is applied. An FAA flight test demonstrating Commercial Pilot maneuvers with tight tolerances, verbally teaching/demonstrating the process along the way is the final step. Pilots are also required to pass written exams before each rating/certificate. It was a long process for me juggling home life, work, studying and flying.

Me: What is your most memorable flight that you piloted?
Sky: There are many flights I can put my figure on, however when I operated Bud's T-6 Texan solo was a huge milestone. He and I departed the grass strip and flew over to Stearman field (1k1). After proving to Bud my ability to fly the Texan from the front seat, he had me taxi over by the restaurant. He said “your ready to solo the T-6”. Removing his seat straps and one last wave, he stepped out of the plane. I was cleared for my first T-6 solo. He watched as I engaged to smoke system, fogging everyone outside during my takeoff. Bud and I made great memories that day.

Me: What is your favorite airplane to date that you have flown?

Sky: Obviously the T-6 comes to mind here. It is a great privilege to have the opportunity to be involved with this aircraft. It has so much history form the war times earning the name “The Pilot Maker”. Its primary purpose was to act as an advanced trainer for pilots soon advancing to the fighters of the era. To fly the plane and hear the 9 cylinders firing forward of you pulling 4 to 5 G’s (G representing the force exerted by gravity) brings a strong feeling of accomplishment and respect to the table.

Me: I know you take your wife Mandy and your Chihuahua Phoebe flying, how does Phoebe like it?
Sky: Yes, Mandy flies with me frequently. She loves the experience and the sights from above. Although she does not currently wish to pursue her pilot’s license, she never turns down a flight. Going up side down is probably her favorite, striving to take that perfect inverted photo with the Iphone. We do take some short trips to her home town Great Bend, bringing along our Chihuahua PhoeBe. PhoeBe always shakes, so hard telling what is going on upstairs. She lies on Mandy’s lap during the flights, staying calm (shaking included) and collected.

Me: When are you going to fly me to Ponca City for Mexican food? ha ha
Sky: To be determined…..

Thank you Skylar for sitting down and sharing what all it takes to be a dedicated, safe and wonderful pilot! I always knew your love for airplanes would come back to you in your adult life. I am truly impressed with the young man you have become and I am such a proud mom. You have proven that with hard work and dedication that anyone can achieve their goals no matter what those goals are. You are an inspiration to me and a role model to your little brother Colton. He wants to be just like you when he grows up.

IN BUDS WORDS I SAY TO YOU.......

"Keep em' flyin"