Closer to the stars

When Wendy Rose feels the wheels of her plane leave the runway, she’s thinking of her daughter. Dana is 11 years old, and she wants to be an astronaut. Rose wants to set an example that any dream can be achieved.

“Parents have big influence on what their children can achieve,” Rose said. “We want her to actually get there and be an astronaut. It’s our dream to see it happen.”

The Mt Laurel resident, originally from the Czech Republic, started flying lessons at Over the Mountain Aviation in March. She and her husband, David, had already taken Dana to space camp in Huntsville and to the Young Eagles program, which allows children to fly with local pilots for free. It was at one of the Young Eagles events that David found out about the Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide and its yearly First to Solo scholarship challenge. 

“Looking at it from a parent’s perspective, this is a challenge – something I’ve never done before, but flying is fun,” Rose said. “I decided to become a pilot and fly my kid around and take her closer to the stars before she can get there on her own.”

Once her lessons began, Rose ran into every roadblock that could stop her flying plans, from bad weather and sick instructors to paperwork delays and extra medical exams. Rose has one eye that does not focus correctly, so she had to go through extra examinations to prove that she was capable of flying a plane on her own.

“It was really discouraging, but you know, you have to look ahead,” Rose said.

Finally, on April 27 she came home from a lesson to find her medical license in the mail. She called her instructor and immediately returned to the Shelby County Airport. After one last flight and some tips from the instructor, Rose taxied to the runway on her own for the first time.

“The runway’s the same, the plane’s the same, but it doesn’t feel the same,” Rose said as she recalled looking at the empty seat where the instructor usually sat. “I remember that my cheeks were hurting so much because I was grinning.”

When Rose landed, she was the first woman registered with Women of Aviation to take her first solo flight in 2015. As the winner of the First to Solo challenge, she received a $1,200 scholarship for more flight lessons and a new digital headset, but Rose was more excited to tell her daughter that she had accomplished her goal.

“I did this challenge to prove to my daughter that if you have a dream, go for it,” Rose said. “She was so happy and proud.”

The scholarship will go toward Rose’s new goal to get her pilot’s license and eventually an instructor certification so she can teach her family to fly as well. 

“It’s just the beginning into the whole world of aviation,” Rose said. “I’m totally hooked.”

Once she gets her pilot’s license, Rose said she plans to take her daughter flying and her first long-distance trip will likely be to Florida. She said she still feels a rush every time the plane takes off and she has the freedom to go anywhere.

“One mile of road will take you one mile of road. One mile of runway will take you anywhere. All you need is room to take off and you can go anywhere,” Rose said. “It has to be felt. It has to be lived.”