You can fly, Wendy: 9-year-old becomes a pilot for a day in Gander
It may come as no surprise that Wendy Dalton of Harbour Main was named after Wendy Darling of Peter Pan fame. It's only fitting that Ms. Dalton also has a love of flying, like her namesake.
It's there that the similarities end. For one, Dalton doesn't like Peter Pan. For another, she has a need for speed.
"I love going fast speeds and I hate going slow," said the 9-year-old.
This week, Wendy had the chance to live out her dream of being a pilot at Gander Flight Training. She won a contest through Mattel, which is the company that makes Barbie. The You Can Be Anything Contest allows young women to try out their dream career for a day.
When she heard the news, she jumped up and down and couldn't believe it.
"I told my friend … and she screamed," said Wendy.
As for the big day itself, Wendy and her parents, Patricia Kelly and Don Dalton, were picked up in a limo in Harbour Main and driven to Gander.
There the team at Gander Flight Training suited her up in a shirt, shoulder boards, a tie, and a winged gold pin.
She was taken on a tour, given training, and inspected the airplane.
"We checked over all the stuff and it's all good," Wendy reassured me.
As one of her first passengers, that was good to hear.
Gord Butt of Gander Flight Training helped set up the day with Mattel.
"This is what makes you remember why you became a pilot. It's not just about going to work. It's about the passion that you once had and the passion that you do have ... that Wendy has," said Butt.
Before take-off, Wendy gave her mom, Patricia, and I some pre-flight advice.
"Buckle up your seatbelt and sit down," she said.
And then it was off.
Wendy co-piloted the plane with flight instructor, Heather Philpott. Kelly said it was nice for her daughter to learn with a female pilot.
"It's a great confidence builder, that you can do anything. Especially in a career that you usually mostly see men do years ago," she said.
Once the plane was back on the ground, Wendy talked about her experience.
"I learned to go right and left and straight," said Wendy.
"Amazing. It was really fun."
Wendy said in a few years she's going to come back to Gander Flight Training to become a pilot for real.
Until then, this experience is a happy little thought that may encourage her to fly, again.
