It all started with a dream to fly. Ever since I was old enough to talk, I knew that the pilot life was for me. The fascination of the air was fueled by watching films such as “Top Gun” and old 1980’s flight demonstration videos and inspired by local pilots and mentors tell fascinating stories of connections between generations of pilots and their timeless aviation experiences.
At 13 years old, I joined the Civil Air Patrol in Minden, Nv with the hopes to learn how to fly. I knew that becoming a pilot was not instantaneous and was excited to start my journey into aviation. I quickly learned that flying required discipline and was attracted to the extreme care to detail that was in aviation.
At 15 years old, I was accepted into the Nevada Glider Academy (NGA) scholarship and through SoaringNV the Youth Soaring Academy (YSA). Before I had my driver’s license, I would ride my bike to and from flight training. I learned valuable customer service skills working for SoaringNV in exchange for flight lessons. One week after my 16th birthday I was fortunate enough to receive my Private Glider rating.
I was extremely lucky to receive powered flight training privately from another Civil Air Patrol pilot. And at 17, I passed the Single Engine Add-on test. Although my method of Private Glider before power flight is backwards than how most people learn, I highly recommend this method. New pilots (especially young pilots) benefit hugely because the glider skills all translate to power emergencies and invaluable decision-making skills.
Aviation has taught me that if you have the desire to learn and you put yourself into the aviation community, experiences and stories will come. One of my biggest attractions into the flying community was to meet new people and share flying experiences with as many pilots as possible. This led to opportunities such as flying gliders in France, learning aerobatics, and getting certified to be launched in a glider by being towed into the air by a pickup truck.
After high school, my desire to become a pilot never stopped. My dream became entering the military as a pilot. I attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado and studied Atmospheric and Oceanic Science. My priorities shifted towards completing college and less of earning ratings and flight time. It took five years of preparing, going to class, and attending the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School before having the privilege to become an officer in the Marine Corps. Although I just commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February 2021, military flight school is shortly on the horizon!
My advice to any young aspiring pilot is to never, NEVER give up. I struggled time to time during college when I saw my goals were years out. It can be slightly frustrating thinking to yourself that ‘maybe I’ll be a pilot in 6 or 7 years from now’. Keep up the good fight and enjoy the journey that aviation gives. Sometimes it’s not about how fast can you get a license or a job in the aviation industry, but it is about the road you take to get to becoming a pilot. It’s about the people you meet and the shared appreciation for flying. Set long term goals. Work at them a little bit each day. Believe in yourself and you will get there.
Fly safely.
-Cole Pinther
I was extremely lucky to receive powered flight training privately from another Civil Air Patrol pilot. And at 17, I passed the Single Engine Add-on test. Although my method of Private Glider before power flight is backward than how most people learn, I highly recommend this method. New pilots (especially young pilots) benefit hugely because the glider skills all translate to power emergencies and invaluable decision-making skills.
Aviation has taught me that if you have the desire to learn and you put yourself into the aviation community, experiences, and stories will come. One of my biggest attractions to the flying community was to meet new people and share flying experiences with as many pilots as possible. This led to opportunities such as flying gliders in France, learning aerobatics, and getting certified to be launched in a glider by being towed into the air by a pickup truck.
After high school, my desire to become a pilot never stopped. My dream became entering the military as a pilot. I attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, and studied Atmospheric and Oceanic Science. My priorities shifted towards completing college and less earning ratings and flight time. It took five years of preparing, going to class, and attending the U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School before having the privilege to become an officer in the Marine Corps. Although I just commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February 2021, military flight school is shortly on the horizon!
My advice to any young aspiring pilot is to never, NEVER give up. I struggled time to time during college when I saw my goals were years out. It can be slightly frustrating thinking to yourself that ‘maybe I’ll be a pilot in 6 or 7 years from now’. Keep up the good fight and enjoy the journey that aviation gives. Sometimes it’s not about how fast can you get a license or a job in the aviation industry, but it is about the road you take to get to becoming a pilot. It’s about the people you meet and the shared appreciation for flying. Set long term goals. Work at them a little bit each day. Believe in yourself and you will get there.