Woman Aviator Rachel Sallee

My love affair with aviation started right here among EAA Chapter 430’s ranks. As a young impressionable thirteen-year-old, I was offered a first flight birthday gift by dear family friends, Ken and Mary Brown. I remember being nervous but excited as Ken allowed me to operate the Piper Archer through some basic turns, climbs, and descents. Not even old enough to drive, I couldn’t believe the feeling of absolute control over not only two, but three axes of motion. My mom’s airsickness as she watched anxiously from the back seat couldn’t even put a damper on that feeling. After that day, I spent every Young Eagles weekend “volunteering.” Of course, my version of volunteering was looking forlornly at those lucky kids getting rides until someone felt sorry enough for me to take me up.

When I was finally old enough to start taking lessons of my own, I was able to convince family friend Mike to trade me flying lessons for website development for his school. His ever-patient instruction fueled in me an obsession for tail-wheel and aerobatic flight as I trained in his Citabria. After making it through solo, I had to put my flight training on the back burner when I headed off to college. Although I wasn’t logging hours, my flying continued after I began dating my now husband, Daniel. Before we got together, I didn’t think anyone could love aviation as much as I did. Boy was I wrong. We purchased our first airplane together shortly after getting married. We could barely afford our rent and had to keep the fuel purchases to a minimum, but it was worth it to continue fueling our passion.

After graduating engineering school, I excitedly began work at Boeing designing airplanes as Daniel worked his way through the regional airlines. One of my coworkers was a retired C-17 Loadmaster out of McChord AFB, and suggested I look into joining the reserves. When Daniel landed his dream job at a major airline, I finally had the flexibility to finish my private pilot’s license and apply to be an Air Force pilot. Seven years after my initial solo, I had finally achieved the first tangible step in my journey. I loved being an engineer at Boeing, and the opportunity of the Air Force Reserves allowed me to keep that job, continue my training, and fly big gray jets at the same time. (continued on next page)

What I never anticipated was how incredible of a ride Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) would be. I couldn’t have dreamed that a few short months later I would be strapped to a 1200 horsepower engine, doing aerobatics 10 feet away from my wingman. The T-6 Texan II was (and still is) the most incredible aircraft I’ve had the pleasure to fly. After the T-6, I completed my UPT training in the T-1 Jayhawk which was the first jet experience of my life.

Aside from the incredible flying, the friends I made at UPT will continue to be my brothers for life. The day I graduated with my Air Force wings was by far the proudest of my life.

Just when I thought things couldn’t possibly get more exciting, I started flying the mighty C-17. Over the last eighteenth months flying missions, I’ve travelled the globe multiple times over. The aircraft is a true work-horse, and has allowed me the opportunity to deliver troops, ammunition, supplies, drones, VIP’s, bomb-sniffing dogs, food, aeromedical personnel, and patients (to name a few) to locations all over the world. The first time I landed the massive jet on a 3500ft dirt strip while on Night Vision Goggles, I had to scrape my jaw off the floor. It’s truly been the most exciting and humbling experience.

While I’ve been spending most of my time these days up above FL350, both Daniel and my love for general aviation have continued to hold strong. A typical week at home for the two of us (if we happen to be there at the same time), will often involve 3-4 aircraft and countless hours maintaining, cleaning, and continuing to build as much proficiency as possible. It’s an incredible honor to now have the ability to give back the gift of flight - taking someone on their first ride is still my absolute favorite way to spend a beautiful Pacific Northwest day. I am grateful every day for all the incredible people in my life who have inspired and helped me along the way, and to the EAA 430 for teaching a young girl to dream!

NOTE: Since writing this story, Rachel informed me she has been upgraded to Aircraft Commander in the C-17.

A week before my 13th birthday, sitting in the living room with my father watching a documentary on Navy Test Pilots, I saw an F-18 recovery from a spin. That was the moment I was hooked to be a pilot. The following day, my father showed me a newspaper article on the Port Angeles Civil Air Patrol and I signed up that week, which led me to the Young Eagles.

The following summer I was walking up to Sequim, Washington’s local airport to a stunning 1947 Stinson when Alan Bar-nard, the owner and pilot, greeted me and another teenager. Shortly after take off, Alan, calmer than I expected, told me to take the controls and guided me through my first few moments of flight. Fourteen years later, I can remember how that control wheel felt just as vividly as the wheel feels of the Embrear 175 I fly today. There was an article shared over a year ago about my story, validating the purpose of Young Eagles. Again, I want to personally thank Alan and all those who fly for the Young Eagles. I also want to thank our perfect Washington State Community who raised me to be the resilient, accomplished, and happy women I am today. It truly takes a village to raise a child.

Ken and Skip Brown, I want to thank both of you for getting me back in touch with my roots. It was wonderful hanging out with both of you on my visit home and I cannot wait to see all your hangar and airplane improvements on the next visit.

My first flight confirmed I was destined to be a pilot and from there I hit the ground running to become the best Fighter Pilot the world had ever seen and to become a Test Pilot. The big question was how to afford it. To the young future pilot, this is the best advice I can give: Apply for every scholarship out there, start working to make money, become an airport bum and never stop learning. I used scholarships from the beginning, and all the way to a Certified Flight Instructor. I applied for over a hundred and I was awarded 4, but that was all I needed. From High School to this day, I’ve always had at least two jobs. If you have time to sit on your sofa, you have time to get involved in something new! (continued on next page)