Initial update!

Well I made it here safely and with few problems! I only had a delayed plane in Louisville to Atlanta. The rest of the flight was as smooth as possible except for the few times we encountered turbulence. :)
I spent the weekend with some of my cousins and aunt and uncle and today I am on my way to Lesotho. I'll be there for two weeks.
So far the trip is going well! I'm enjoying braai (barbeque), rugby, biltong (beef jerky but better) and a bunch of other stuff that make South Africa what it is. But unfortunately it's cold once the sun goes down (close to freezing). Now I will be going to an even colder place where there may even be snow. I'll just have to bundle up.
Well! until next time.
Fly with Christ,
Helen

Away I Go!

This time tomorrow I will be in the airport going through customs and waiting to board my plane, first to Atlanta and then to Johannesburg! 

Here is a quick update as of the news this week. I will be going to Lesotho by myself to work with the missionaries there. My fellow travel mate will not be able to make it as she is recovering from sickness which made her unable to travel sadly. I will also not be going to work with ZUMAT due to the lack of pilots/ staff to help coordinate groups and such. However, I will be looking and getting in contact with missionaries that my family knows and working with them. I will try and keep you all updated. Feel free to send me an email and read my blog!

Fly with Christ,

Helen 

Flying with the Lord’s Air Force

        Here’s the news you’ve all been waiting for! I passed my flying exam! Now I have my official private pilot’s license! The tests consist of several phases/ exams. I had to take a written test, an oral exam, and a practical exam. The latter two I did on Thursday.

        I got to the place in Bowman field where I would meet my examiner and we went over some paperwork and then began the oral part of the exam. He had me plan a route as well as do some weight and balance and landing/ takeoff distance calculations. Together we went over those and then he asked me some questions regarding the map, emergencies, the aircraft systems, and weather. After the oral part was over I went back to the hangar by myself (on the other side of the airport) and did preflight check and then brought the plane over to where I began the test in order to pick the examiner up. He got in the plane and we went over the log books for the airplane and then we were off (well when the tower said we could!). I did a short field take off and then we departed to the North (just across the Ohio River) where I did an S-Turn, a turn around a point, and then several different types of landings at Clark County Airport.

S-Turn

Turn around a point.

  

        

We then started the cross country part of the test (I had preset a course and had to follow part of it). He made sure I was where I was supposed to be in relation to the course I set. We went to the town of LaGrange (20 miles East) and then an imaginary storm came up so I had to divert and recalculate my distance and the time that it would take to get to the new destination. After that we did stalls, slow flight, steep turns, and instrument flying (I don’t look outside- only at the instruments to see where I am). At this point we were over the Ford Car Plant and we radioed Bowman to land and they said I could land straight in! Usually you have to fly around the airport before landing but this time since we were coming directly they allowed us to go straight in. I had never done this but I managed to do it all right and had the best landing ever for me. We taxied over to Central American (where I started the test) and then went inside and he signed some forms and that was it! I had passed my checkride! We waited a little bit as the plane was filled up and then I taxied back over to the East Ts where the plane is kept. 

Bowman Field: star on left = Runway 6/ Central American (where I took the majority of the test), star on the right = Runway 24/ Louisville Aviation- where we keep the airplanes.

        God has blessed me so much with my ability to fly and it is only through Him that I am able to fly. I am working for Him in His Air Force to win the souls of the lost. Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement! Tune in later this week for a trip update before I leave.

Fly with Christ!

Helen

Moving at the Speed of Sound...

… or close to it. These past two weeks I have been so busy with flying, planning, studying, and trip planning. Since the 29^th I have completed my long cross country flight, passed my written test, and done a three hour review for my check ride. Yesterday I spent 7 hours either flying or in the hangar getting ready. On Thursday at 8:30 I will take my check ride which is the final portion of my tests to see if I get my license or not. Your prayers are very much appreciated.

I have also been working a lot on getting my travel plans together. Today I formulated my itinerary and still need to get into contact with family and friends to work out small details.

June 16-17: Flying from Louisville to Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). I arrive in SA at 5:00 p.m. on Friday

June 17- 20: Stay with family

June 20- July 1: Lesotho

July 1- 6: Stay with family

July 6- 15: Possibly working with ZUMAT

July 16-18: Stay with family

July18-22: Work with Harry and Joke (“Yoké”) Lukens

July 21: Celebrate my 20th birthday with Harry Lukens 

July 23: Hagg Day (Hagg Dag!) Family reunion!

July 24-25: Stay with family

July 25- 26: Flying from Johannesburg to Atlanta to Louisville. I will be back home at 10:00 am on Tuesday

May God bless you as He is doing so for me even when I am super busy.

Fly with Christ,

Helen