INT 0 PILOT'S T HE SEAT lly Alex Wingrove Freshman Kale Czerwonka became interested in flying while he was in high school. Instead of dismissing the thought, he studied for seven months and acquired his pilot's license during his senior year. Czerwonka said he first realized he wanted to be a pilot when a friend of his dad went to get his medical certificate, an extended physical for pilots that proved he was healthy enough to be flying by himself. He let him fly to Searcy, Arkansas, and back with him, and Czerwonka ended up getting his physical as well. "I kind of fell in love flying there and back,'' Czerwonka said. "It was just a lot offun to have control in the air." Czerwonka said he most enjoyed flying his friends around whenever he wanted even though he could not charge them. "It's a lot of fun to be able to say that you're a pilot and to be able to extend your knowledge further in piloting," Czerwonka said. "You know a lot more about the weat.her, actually, and aerodynamics and physics." Kale's dad, Fred Czerwonka, did training at the same time and got his Private Pilot's License before his son. Fred said they often quizzed each other over the material, and it was a great experience to achieve their goal together. "Kale gave up weekends, evenings and many events with friends in order to train and study to prepare for the written, oral and practical exams," Fred said. "It was not uncommon for him to go out and practice on his own on Sunday after church or give up a Friday evening with friends in order to get in some nighttime flying practice." Senior Kelby Czerwonka, Kale's sister, said her brother's dedication to studying so much outside ofhis actual schoolwork impressed her. She said having two pilots in their family had its perks as they could fly anywhere they wanted, whenever they wanted, within a reasonable distance. "I have a niece and a nephew who are 3 and 5, and they live in Alabama," Kelby said. "We're able to go visit them more often now. My parents are able to come down here more often, which is great." Fred said he was proud of his son for accomplishing such a difficult task that less than one percent of the population had achieved. He said it took great dedication and focus to see it all the way through to completion. "I made sure I was there to shake his hand when he got out of the airplane after his first solo and when he returned from his check ride with his official license," Fred said. "We are proud of all of our children, and we thank God every day for the great blessings they are in our lives. I am one proud father." Freshnwn Knie Czerwonkofe/1 in loue 1uith.flyi119 ancl studied for monlhs to earn his pilot's /icen:;e duriny hi!:' St'nior ye(ll of hiyh school. I Photo by Becca Riley
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