Kristi Kingland Glowaski (Iowa)

Aug 2013 Kristi Kingland Glowaski (Iowa)

Kristi Kingland Glowaski is based at Mason City Municipal Airport, Mason City, Iowa.

My good friend (and fellow Ladies Love Taildraggers pilot) Lara Kyle & I after flying into Oshkosh

In 2007 I went for my first “small airplane” ride (it was a Cheyenne 2XL, so not even that small!), but I was totally hooked and could be found begging to go for rides with friends and acquaintances in anything available for the next several years (…to this day, really). 🙂 Around this same time, my husband also caught the bug and decided to learn to fly, and I found myself in a pretty spectacular place having him and a number of good friends around to take me up for rides in everything from a Cub to a TBM Avenger.

In the CAF’s Red Tail P-51C Mustang

Actually being able to fly myself is a relatively new hobby though, finally caving in to the peer pressure and taking my first lesson in February 2012. I decided to take on the challenge of soloing and flying a tailwheel as 2 items in an adventurous “30 things to accomplish in the 30 days before my 30th birthday” bucket list in April 2012. The mission was accomplished, along with some other fun aviation-related items, such as going up in a hot air balloon, doing aerobatics, and flying a helicopter.

Just got signed off on my tailwheel endorsement!

I received my tailwheel endorsement in April and my private pilot certificate in December 2012. As far as taildraggers go, I have built up some time in a couple of Citabrias and a Taylorcraft L-2. This past week, one of my best friends and I flew the L-2 into Oshkosh (my 3rd year at OSH, but 1st time flying in), which was an excellent adventure!

Upside down over Iowa in an F-1 Rocket (quite possibly the greatest accidental self-portrait ever) 🙂

Although flying is really tough to beat, the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, and the friendships I’ve formed have been by far the greatest aspect of my new found passion!!

I’m a Pilot/REO for our CERT Airborne Search & Rescue team

Kristi Kingland Glowaski

Iowa