Hickory cadet solo's on 16th birthday!
By: 2d Lt Barbie Emaus, CAP
Character Development Instructor
Hickory Composite Squadron
For most teens who turn 16 in North Carolina, getting a driver's license is a long-awaited rite of passage. Not for Cadet Rylee Emaus. She had a more lofty goal in mind. “Who wants to drive a car when you can fly a plane?” quipped the spunky teen. Instead of heading to the DMV, Emaus climbed into the pilot's seat of a Cessna 172, ready to earn her wings.
On Tuesday, June 1st 2021, C/CMSgt Rylee Emaus, a member of Hickory Composite Squadron, celebrated her 16th birthday by earning her wings through the Asheville Flight Academy! The Lake James resident’s love of flying began when she was just 11 years old, flying a balsa wood airplane in her backyard. Inspired by the small toy, she set a goal to fly a real plane herself someday, and the next year joined the Civil Air Patrol in order to chase those aviation dreams.
Under the instruction of Lieutenant Colonel Ray Davis of Asheville Composite Squadron, she achieved that goal, earning her solo wings by successfully completing her first solo flight. C/CMSgt Emaus remembers feeling a little nervous when she was sitting on the tarmac waiting for the all clear to enter the runway. "Wow, I'm the only one in this plane” she thought to herself. "But once I got the plane moving my muscle memory kicked in and it all just felt natural.” In the air, she enjoys seeing the world from a different perspective. “It’s totally different looking down on the world from up there. Peaceful.” Landing the aircraft is the part that takes the most focus. "I kept hearing Colonel Davis’ voice in my head” she said. “Keep your nose up. You know what you’re doing.”
"We are very proud of her accomplishments. She’s a pretty impressive 16 year old” said Mark Emaus, Rylee’s father. “That doesn’t mean we aren’t a little apprehensive”. Her mother, Barbie, added “We know Colonel Davis wouldn’t let her go up if he wasn’t sure she was ready. I'm actually less worried about her flying than driving." she laughed. “There aren’t many things for her to hit up there.” So it's fine with mom and dad that their daughter is taking her time getting her driver's license. The Emaus family has been involved with Civil Air Patrol for several years, and are grateful the organization has given Cadet Emaus the opportunity to fly.
The Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 67,000 members nationwide. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 28,000 young people participating in CAP cadet programs. The Richard Augur Flight Academy hosted by CAP’s Asheville Composite Squadron is the first of it’s kind, and hopes to become a model for many others around the country. Funded through a joint effort between Civil Air Patrol and the US Air Force, the flight academy exposes dedicated cadets to careers in aviation through ground and air instruction. The program addresses a growing national pilot shortage by helping those cadets achieve the first major milestone towards a future in aviation- their solo endorsement.
It took a lot of hard work for C/CMSgt Emaus to earn her wings, her young siblings shared as they cheered her on from the airport hangar. Her determination is an inspiration to all five of them. Seven year old Nelly felt a little nervous knowing her big sister was up there alone, but now that she is back on the ground Nelly is happy for her, gushing “She did great. She’s one of the best pilots I’ve ever seen doing that.”
Cadet Emaus had to take-off, go around the traffic pattern, and perform a full landing twice for her “1st Solo” flight. "She did it!” Colonel Davis cheered as she came to a stop. Emaus laughed at his response. “That’s just about the best compliment you can get from him. He’s a tough instructor, but I’m grateful for everything he’s taught me. He keeps me on my toes, never settling for good enough, and I’m a better pilot because of it.”
She describes her flight experience so far as "unforgettable" and looks up to her instructor, Lt. Colonel Ray Davis. In 2012, Davis was awarded the prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for over 50 years of safe flying. With aviation expertise that now spans 60 years of his life, Davis enjoys sharing his extensive knowledge and skills with the next generation of aviation professionals. “It takes 4 or 5 flights with them to clear the fog and then you finally get to make a believer out of them.” In nearly 2,000 hours as an instructor, He has only soloed one other student for their 16th birthday. "What she’s done, not many people have ever done.”
C/CMSgt Emaus is now preparing to get her full private pilot's license when she turns 17, the minimum age set by the FAA. She is also studying to receive her Bachelors in Aeronautics at Liberty University. After graduation, Cadet Emaus hopes to snag a pilot slot in the Air National Guard and eventually gain some combat experience flying an elite fighter jet.
Her military aspirations are a reflection of her family. She is driven to carry on the military legacy of her veteran parents but, more than anything, Cadet Emaus is driven by an insatiable desire to live life to the fullest; making a positive and lasting impact on the world.
C/CMSgt Rylee Emaus encourages other young people who have an interest in aviation to follow their dreams and work hard to achieve them. “Don’t quit. Keep at it even when you don’t think you can. But also be ready to work for it. Anyone can get there, but no one gets there by accident.”
