Sawyer Swindell started his aviation journey in 7th grade at Sheridan Junior High School when he signed up for Mariah Webb’s “Intro to Aviation” after-school program. He learned about the basics of flight, the Phonetic Alphabet, signs on a runway, parts of an airplane, and navigation on the runway. Sawyer began playing a flight simulator at home and got hooked, learning how to take off, control the plane, and how the plane feels when you’re in the cockpit.

In May, Sawyer went on his discovery flight in the N307SP flight school Cessna with his mom and instructor Dylann Webb. A few weeks later, JT Grainger asked if he would like to be an intern at the flight school. Of course, he said yes! He started his internship in June by learning the basics of cleaning and maintaining planes. Sawyer hopes to participate in other flight opportunities and get his pilot’s license on his 16th birthday.