Amy Gesch (Wisconsin)

May 2010 Amy Gesch (Wisconsin)

Amy Gesch is based at Hartford Municipal Airport (HXF) , Hartford, Wisconsin and flies a J3 Cub.

From Amy:  “I love the site idea, it’s awesome!  Feel free to cut my “about me” down . . . I just started rambling and it probably sounds a lot like me tooting my own horn. Same on the pictures; I probably have way too many but I do love that little yellow airplane! : )”

From Judy; No way Amy, I love ALL your pictures, your excitement, enthusiasm and love for “that little yellow airplane”!

I’m Amy, and I think I have an addiction to Cubs (kind of like, “I have a fever . . . and the only prescription is more cowbell!”).  I got my private pilot’s license at 18 in a J-3 (they forced me to fly a 150 to do the VOR tracking and unusual attitude recoveries), and became a sport pilot CFI in the J-3 last year.  I’m currently an even 20 years of age, applying for scholarships like mad to get my instrument rating to become a full-fledged CFI.

“My” Cub, which truly belongs to my former flight instructor (who will always be my flight instructor), is 21Y, and she is my best friend.  I got to take her to school with me for 3 weeks last spring (yes, that is good for cool points), and I drained my carefully guarded savings account, putting 26 hours on the airplane, never with an empty front seat.  Well worth it!

We also flew to Lock Haven, PA, for the Sentimental Journey fly-in.  I wrote about that trip on my blog http://aflyingstory.blogspot.com and the story ended up getting published in Plane & Pilot last October!  See http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/pilot-talk/a-flight-ill-never-forget/cross-country-cubbing.html We even somehow won the spot landing contest!   21Y and I also headed to Blakesburg, IA, for the Antique Airplane Association fly-in in 2009 and received the Butler-Brown award for the youngest pilot in a pre-1956 aircraft.

21Y is the cover girl on EAA’s 2010 calendar, and we appeared together on NAFI Mentor magazine’s cover in November 2009.  21Y, my instructor Steve Krog, and I are the picture on the Learn to Fly website (learntofly.org) and I somehow appeared with 21Y in the May 2010 issue of Sport Aviation.

I had the privilege of flying a Super Decathlon once and got to do a few loops and rolls (WAY COOL!).  I also have time in a Luscombe.

I’m currently working on hosting a Learn to Fly day at my home airport (HXF) where Cub Air, the flight school I learned at/am still learning at/am instructing at is located.  I’m super excited to see some new people come out to learn to fly in the J-3 fleet!

Although it’s sort of nerdy, I have calculated that 87.5% of my flying time is in a tailwheel aircraft (I’m looking forward to the 90% mark).

21Y and I may be headed to Lock Haven, finances permitting, but I’m really saving up for the Barnstorming trip (barnstormingmovie.com), which I can’t wait for!