About Ava Shelly’s Unwavering Passion
Story from: AviNation Magazine Winter 2020
Lift Academy: From High School…
YOUNG LADY, BIG DREAMS by Mike Shelly
Most people look to the sky and see nothing more than a sunrise on a beautiful day, yet others look to the sky and see a challenging oasis that beckons the call for adventure. Ava Shelly seeks the latter. Her very first time aboard any aircraft was at six months old on a cross-country flight from South Florida to Hawaii. Most babies fuss and scream, but Ava was pleasant and enjoyable during the entire ten-hour flight. This would be the beginning of the many journeys and adventures to come her way.
The Beginning
Ava's paternal grandfather, after leaving the ARMY in the 1960s, flew commercially for several major airlines until his eventual retirement. When Ava was born, her grandfather moved in with her parents and grew very close to his first grandchild. For her 10th birthday, his gift to her was a discovery flight at the local flight school. With no visible nerves, she took to the sky and thoroughly enjoyed her first flight. The smile on her face was imprinted so hard that before we left the parking lot, she had us sign her up for her next flight lesson! Twenty-five flight hours later, we were convinced this was more than a hobby, but a passion.
The Paris Milestone
Her desire for adventure keeps our life exciting. We had plans to travel to Europe, and Ava's wish was to fly over the Eiffel Tower, so she did! The Paris Flight Academy took her under their wing and gave her an experience of a lifetime. She flew with Captain Michele from Air France and explored Versailles' many wonders and beauties. Having that time logged in her flight book was just as precious to her as the flight itself. A memory not only embedded in her mind but on paper to show to all.
My Baby Went Inverted!
Top Gun - the movie that speaks to all pilots out there. The famous "Because I was inverted" t-shirt caught the eye of this adventurous soul. Once purchased, we told Ava jokingly, "Ok, now you can't wear it till you earn it." That short statement had stuck in this little girl's mind and became not only a dream but a mission. With some homework, we found a fantastic Pilot. Mike, who took Ava up in an Extra 330NG. They performed half Cuban 8's, aileron rolls, and loops. Spiraling through the clouds and flying 500 feet over South Beach, this girl was ecstatic. It's official, and our baby went inverted! She had earned that t-shirt and wore it proudly. We were able to witness one of the best moments, the pure joy on Ava's face.
Helicopters Were Next
Happy 11th birthday, Ava! What would you like to do for your big day? "Fly a helicopter," was her response. Say goodbye to princess parties and hello to rotorcraft. We love how unique her requests are and how she breaks our comfort zone. The EAA chapter we are a part of has opened opportunities and allows these birthday requests to be answered. Surrounding ourselves with people in the aviation community has opened doors we never dreamt of. Talk about being at the right place at the right time. Once after completing another flight lesson with her CFI, the hangar next to us was being visited by a magnificent woman, Katie. She was so taken by Ava and her brother Van that after several conversations, Katie awarded scholarships to our children for Glider training. No words can express our gratitude. Fixed wings, helicopters, gliders, aerobatic aircraft, simulators… and all she can think of is what else can she get her hands on?
Finding Friends
Not your typical middle school-aged girl activity, flying airplanes has been an independent adventure. Not many peers share the same desire to participate in this somewhat unique activity. When one of her girlfriends asked about her weekend, Ava told her, “I flew to the west coast of Florida for the day with my dad to meet some friends for lunch, then flew home.” Her friend replied, “you don't have to brag.” At that moment, as her parents, we sought out a youth flight club or something similar for her to find peers that were interested in similar activities. It was during this search that we came across the United States Naval Sea Cadets (USNSCC). It is the only youth group chartered by Congress and sponsored by the Secretary of the Navy. The cadets range in age from 10-18 and are authorized to wear U.S. Navy uniforms with special insignia identifying them as Sea Cadets. The Sea Cadets offer several pieces of training in almost all military occupations, but aviation is what caught my eye. Earlier this year, she had an opportunity to attend the National Flight Academy (NFA) in Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, FL, for a one-week immersion training camp. During this training, the Ambition Experimental Pilots (AXP) live aboard the Ambition Aircraft Carrier and carry out and perform all the duties and functions of a Naval Aviator. Some activities included flight planning, briefing for contingencies, weather analysis, fuel conservation, diversion landing fields or blue water operations, weapons systems, rules of engagement (ROE), and so many more details that go into every sortie. Each student had a chance to be a part of a flight squadron and carry out real-world missions.
Once each mission was completed, a full debrief, and after-action review was completed, showing the pilots how each decision made in the cockpit affected real-world outcomes. After graduation from this training, we took the rest of the afternoon to walk around the museum in Pensacola. The amount of aviation history in this one building is remarkable. If anyone has the chance to visit, I would highly recommend it.
Unending Dedication
The aviation community as a whole has been tremendously helpful and overall very kind to an inspired young lady who wants to pursue her passion as a career. The world needs more pilots. No, the world needs more people who are passionate about their career choices and the ability to chase them down. After her first flight, I promised her she would fly at least once a month until she could qualify for her license. The FAA has strict guidelines about age minimums. For those of you that are unaware, I'll break it down for you, age fourteen for glider solo flight, fifteen for the FAA written, sixteen for powered flight solo, and seventeen for a private pilot's license. Ava is twelve, with a long list of goals in her near future. I cannot describe the amount of work behind the scenes that go into learning to fly and the fact that this determined young pilot has faced those challenges head-on and tackles them day by day. The advanced weather theory alone is enough to make any amateur meteorologist blush.
Versatile Hobbies
Although flying is her main passion, it is by no means her only hobby or extracurricular activity. Ava has been studying piano for the last four years and takes weekly private lessons. She regularly performs with her music school and even with her music teacher at a locally owned and operated piano lounge. Self-defense is also a big part of our routine. Brazilian Jiujitsu and boxing are two of her favorite activities. Over the summer, she competed in her first Jiujitsu tournament and came in third for her weight class. Living in South Florida, the ocean is a big part of our culture. Ava is a certified scuba diver and just obtained her Nitrox certification. She is currently working on her advanced open-water diver rating and will have all the necessary dives to meet the criteria to earn her card.
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