Student flies with Experimental Aircraft Association

BONNERS FERRY — Sixteen-year-old Nicole Blackmore’s first time in the air was when she was in the seventh grade. She recalled hearing horror stories about airplanes, though now has plans to become a commercial pilot and try her hand at aerobatics.

“I would have never, ever thought that I would be a pilot,” said Blackmore.

“I was down in Vegas staying with some family and my aunt’s husband is a helicopter pilot, so he was like, let me take you guys up ... (kinda flex his skill), so we went up with him. I was like, this is super cool,” Blackmore explained.

When reflecting on what she thought about becoming a pilot at that time in her life, Blackmore said, “I didn’t think much of it because getting into aviation seemed super hard. Because it seemed super hard, I wasn’t thinking of becoming a pilot myself.”

A few months later, her mother asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. Blackmore stated, “being a moody teenager, I popped off with the first thing that came to mind, which was being a pilot.”

Luckily for Blackmore, the Boundary County Airport has an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 757, right here in Bonners Ferry.

Blackmore’s mother took her to the Boundary County Airport, and Blackmore realized that this was not only something she wanted to do, but could do.

“I was kind of hooked on the idea,” said Blackmore. “About a year later, we volunteered at the pancake breakfast and Dave Parker took me up for a ride, and that is honestly one of my favorite experiences ever.”

“I thought he was going to be flying, but he put me in the pilot seat and talked me through everything, and I took off and flew around without any help and he said I was doing so good,” she said. “I had this huge rush of adrenaline the entire time, and it was then that I knew I had to be a pilot.”

She began her flight schooling in May of 2019, but her first flight was in the fall of 2018.

“I had a second of nervousness, but with my coach having all the controls, I realized we are probably not going to die,” said Blackmore with a laugh.

“The best thing about flying? Well, I like everything about it, even the hard parts,” said Blackmore. “I think it would be taking my family up. They have ridden in the back while I was flying and it is so fun to do that because they are so excited.”

She talked about taking one of her siblings up to scope out Hidden Lake, where they had future plans to go camping.

“I love when people get their first experience,” said Blackmore. “Like when I have taken up family members, it was their first time in an aircraft, so they were blown away, and that is so much fun.”

“She was so excited, like how I was when I first flew,” said Blackmore.

Blackmore plans to utilize her knowledge to be a commercial airplane pilot or be an aerobatics pilot.

“You need your private pilots, instruments, and commercial licenses, and then to apply for commercial you need to have (several) years and about 1,500 hours flight time. My plan is, after I get the commercial, then I can get some other jobs like teaching others how to fly,” said Blackmore.

Blackmore works at the airport now and is a part of the EAA group.

“I recommend everyone go to the pancake breakfast because it is such a great thing, you are supporting people and you get to see all these super cool airplanes from people that come from all around, which is one of my favorite parts. The crew is made up of such amazing people that are so fun to work with,” Blackmore explained.

The pancake breakfasts are the way in which the EAA Chapter 757 raises funds for the Boundary County Youth Flight Scholarships of which Blackmore has been awarded. The scholarships are valued up to $2,500 and are used for ground school at the Boundary County Airport and flight training with Northern Air Inc.

Blackmore also recommends getting into aviation.

“The scholarship helped me merge into flying. We definitely don’t have thousands of dollars to spend, and getting a pilot’s license costs so much money, so the scholarships really help. Having the scholarship and being able to have all this money given to me to fly is just such a blessing. I am still using it now,” Blackmore said.

“I have my student pilots license and working on my private pilot’s license,” said Blackmore, “I am hoping to get it by the time I am 17 which is the age limit. That is my end goal.”

For those who wish to apply to the EAA Youth Flight Scholarship program, visit the Boundary County Airport or apply online with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) at www.757.eaachapter.org.