How I Became an Aviator 
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Return to Flying
Though I liked my job on the Kaydell Angus Farm in Watsonville, the call to fly professionally occupied my heart and mind. While doing my herdsman chores on the farm, I’d notice the DC-6 and Boeing 727 aircraft flying overhead. Seeing the aircraft flying along their flight paths between the Monterey and San Francisco Airports eventually encouraged me to train for my Private Pilot Certificate again.
Having made the decision to resume training, I met with my Mom and told her that I would need to use the money I earned working on the Angus Farm to pay for flying lessons and complete my pilot certification. I anticipated that my Mom would become angry since the money that I earned went to support the family. I was relieved when she did not become angry and I promptly resumed my training.
I decided to look for another instructor to complete my Private Pilot Certification training. I drove out to another FBO at the Monterey Airport called Monarch Aviation. Monarch Aviation was the Piper Dealer at the Monterey Airport. Although I had been flying Cessna’s for my first attempt to acquire my Private Pilot Certificate, I felt no reservation to try a low wing Piper versus the high wing Cessna’s.
Somehow, I ended up with an instructor at Monarch Aviation named Pat B. Like a lot of instructors, you can’t read their signatures. All I could make out of Pat’s last name was the first letter, “B”.
I found Pat to be an excellent instructor. My training seemed to be a lot more intensive than what I had previously experienced. I also found Pat to be a sad and serious person – like he wasn’t happy at home or with his job? He did seem highly committed to his profession as a flight instructor. Pat was also a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).
I completed my remaining training with Pat successfully. After strengthening my basic flying procedures in the new to me Piper Cherokee 140 aircraft, Pat ordered that I fly another solo cross-country flight which surprised me. I told Pat, “I’ve already flown my solo cross-country flights.” Pat said, “Fly another one.” Pat didn’t explain why he wanted me to fly another solo cross-country after I had already completed that requirement. He was all business and didn’t dress up anything he wanted to say with extra words. As ordered, I flew another cross-country flight. I enjoyed the flight and felt my confidence increase.
When Pat felt like I was ready to become certificated by the FAA as a Private Pilot, he assigned another instructor to fly with me and conduct a final stage check. The stage check instructor gave me a thumbs up on the stage check flight and recommended me for the certification flight test to be conducted with Pat. Since Pat had become my primary instructor, he could not legally recommend me for the certification flight test. Pat competently worked out these final legal steps for me to become a licensed pilot. I was in good hands with my instructor, Pat. I knew and appreciated how Pat handled all aspects of my training. Having Pat as my final instructor had more than made up for any deficiencies I experienced during the first phase of my pilot training.
On March 8, 1967, four days following my 20th birthday, I took my Private Pilot Flight Test with Pat and passed with flying colors. I felt like a really good Private Pilot. I was elated to have experienced such great success.
My first flight following my flight test was a night flight. I performed a series of night take off and landings at the Monterey Airport. It felt good flying alone at night. I enjoyed the warm comfort of the dark and calm night air. Night flying has always felt more peaceful to me than daytime flying.
I was still working as a herdsman on the Kaydell Angus Farm when I received my Private Pilot Certificate. Although I loved farming and ranching work, the sky was calling me to the air in an airplane. I could feel myself with a sense of belonging more at the airport than on the farm.
While continuing my farming job, manual moving irrigation pipes in a large pasture after feeding the cattle each day at the Kaydell Angus Farm gave me time to think about how I could advance beyond my newly acquired Private Pilot status. The only inspiration I was able to sense coming to me at that time was that maybe one of the crop dusting operations at the Watsonville, California Airport would have some work I could do in exchange for somehow learning more about flying? I didn’t have any money to pay for commercial pilot training and the crop duster idea felt like my only possibility for something positive to work out.
Having acquired this new sense of inspiration, I felt energized with a sense of hope and excitement that something would work out for me to advance further down the road to becoming a professional pilot if I just went out to the airport to check with the crop dusters.
Within a couple of days, I dressed up in some slacks, a sport coat and a tie. Little did I know that the three happiest years of my entire life were about to begin.