Dave Dixon
For as long as I can remember I have always loved airplanes and flying, but I had never considered it as a career. As a junior in high school I took my first aviation course, Aeronautics; taught by Mike Guarino. He is a great teacher and was one of the main people that got me interested in aviation. For Christmas one year my Dad and Step Mom gave me an introductory flight with Norm Anderson. That was my first real flight in a small airplane, I loved it. I continued to take flight lessons from Norm; he is truly a great flight instructor and further encouraged my love of flying. Mike Guarino taught a few more of my classes throughout high school and he would always tell us about the Young Eagles and how we could go get free flights. I went to a few Young Eagle events, and every time I fell more in love with flying. Some of the airplanes I got to fly in with the Young Eagles were Experimental airplanes and a once in a life time experience. I loved flying so much that I started to look into flight schools for my college and my career. I searched out the best and found Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I started the application process. When I received the notification that I made it into the school I was very excited, to say the least. I arrived at school and I love it here, the flying is awesome and the school is great. I tried out for the Golden Eagles Fight Team in the fall of 2002; they took second in the nation last year at the National Competition. It was a hard try out process, but thankfully I made it. It has been very hard work here at school, and the flight team has taken up all my free time, but I love it here and its well worth the effort. I have received my private pilot’s license and am currently enrolled in FA 208, the multi-engine course. My goals are to finish off school here; compete at the regional and national competitions with the flight team; be a flight instructor here for a year or two; then hopefully get hired on with a regional airline and fly for the rest of my years.