Shot by club member Jim Hartley. Emma did not know the whole club had shown up.

First Flights·▶ Video

First Solo: The Whole Club Was There

When a 19-year-old student member did her first solo at our home airport, someone had the presence of mind to hit record. We're glad they did.

Sarah Mendez
Sarah Mendez·January 20, 2026·2 min read·KGYY — Gary/Chicago, IN
💬 67 Comments

Emma was seventeen when she joined our club as a student member. Two years later, on a calm Tuesday morning in January, she flew three touch-and-goes, taxied back to the ramp, and found eleven people waiting with a cake.

She cried. We're not ashamed to say a few others did too.

This is what clubs are for. Not just the shared cost of an airplane. The shared experience of becoming pilots together.

#First Solo#Student Pilot#Milestone#Community
💬 67 Comments
Sarah Mendez

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Sarah Mendez

KGYY — Gary/Chicago, IN

Private pilot, club treasurer at Lakeview Flyers. CFI candidate. Prefers tailwheels over tricycle gear, always.

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Ray Hutchinson
Ray HutchinsonKPWK — Chicago Executive3 days ago

This is exactly why I joined a club instead of renting. The numbers worked on paper but the community is what actually keeps me flying.

Tamara Ellis
Tamara EllisKHOU — Houston Hobby5 days ago

Shared this with our club WhatsApp. We've been arguing about dues structure for months. This is the clearest explanation I've seen.

Greg Nakamura
Greg NakamuraKSNA — Orange County, CA1 week ago

Nine years in flying clubs. Can confirm: the engine reserve is sacred. We learned that the hard way before we learned it the right way.

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