From Sim to Reality: How a Piper PA-28 Changed Everything
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Editor’s Note: Fifteen-year-old Colton Brown shares the story of the flight that turned his casual interest in airplanes into a lifelong passion for aviation. This is his first contribution to Air Facts.
Everyone has that one story—the moment they fall in love with flying. Mine began on a cool September morning at a small grass strip in Missouri.
It was a crisp Saturday morning, and my family and I were headed to the yearly Lincoln Fly-In (0R2). Unfortunately, it had been canceled the last two years due to COVID, so this was my first time back in a while. If you’d known me before that day, you probably would have guessed I’d become an engineer or something like that. I didn’t really have much to do with aviation, except that my dad worked on electrical and environmental systems in the Air Force. We had a flight simulator, and I’d used it some—but mostly just to mess around in an A-10 or something fast like that. Most of my free time went into learning how to code and make circuits. So, you can imagine aviation wasn’t really on my radar.
That Saturday morning was foggy, so nobody showed up early like usual. I guess nobody wanted to file IFR to reach a little grass strip. We grabbed some food to bide time until the fog lifted. Eventually, planes began arriving: Cubs, Skyhawks, Skylanes, and even a few experimentals. I recognized many from my simulator time.
Then we met a great guy named Josh Andrews. We started talking about airplanes, and I told him I liked flying but had never really flown. He mentioned that he had a YouTube channel—Josh’s Aviation Adventures—and had one of his videos playing on a laptop. Then he said something that changed my life. He put his hands on my shoulders and said, “I’m bored. You want to go fly?”
I looked at Mom, then back at him, hardly believing what I’d just heard. Time seemed to slow down as I waited for her answer. After what felt like an eternity, she said the golden word for any kid: “Yes.”
I was finally going to fly. Suddenly, time sped up. We climbed into his Piper PA-28-140, and Josh briefed me, did the run-up, made his radio calls, and then we were rolling. Just feeling that 150-horsepower engine push us down the runway would have been enough for me—but there was more to come.
We flew for a while, and I just sat there in awe. Josh probably thought I was feeling sick because I was so quiet, but I was just overwhelmed with excitement. We flew along the river, made some tight turns at low altitude, dodged vultures, and even did a little zero-G. That was the second-best part of the flight. The best came when he asked, “You want to fly?”
At first, I didn’t quite understand him—my pilot ears weren’t tuned yet—but when he asked again, I smiled from ear to ear and said, “Yeah!” I took the yoke and put my feet on the rudder pedals. I was shaking from excitement. At first, I didn’t know how to hold the yoke, so I did what Dad always taught me when driving—two hands. I kept climbing at first because I wasn’t using enough control pressure, but soon I settled in, making a few shallow turns left and right.
We flew toward Truman Lake, hoping to pass over the dam, but we had to turn back north since the Warsaw airport was nearby. Back over Lincoln, I gave Josh the controls, and we made a few low passes over the strip. Those were thrilling. The landing felt a little scary, seeing the trees and ground rush by at 65 knots, but I trusted him completely.
That was the most fun 40 minutes of my life. I knew from that day forward I wanted to be a pilot. Josh and his wife mentioned Sporty’s and how they offered ground school, and they told me about the EAA Young Eagles program. A month later, I went on my first Young Eagles flight—but that’s a story for another day.
I would never have discovered my love for aviation if it weren’t for Josh and “Foxy,” his Piper Cherokee. Thanks, Josh—you truly changed the course of my life and showed me what I want to do forever: fly airplanes.
- From Sim to Reality: How a Piper PA-28 Changed Everything - November 5, 2025
Welcome to the world of aviation. The real thing is a LOT more exciting than any flight simulator and your comment of flying something fast like an A-10, made this old A-10 driver laugh! We were always the slowest thing on wings at a Red Flag or Cope Thunder, but we got a LOT of respect for the 30MM cannon (GAU-8 — look it up) that we employed. I later transitioned to the F-16 and THAT is a F-A-S-T beast. I likened the OV-10 Bronco (what I flew in Vietnam) to an ATV, I thought of the T-38 Talon that I flew as an IP in the Air Force’s Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) program as a Corvette, the A-10 was my HUMVEE, and the F-16 was my Formula 1 racecar. If you want some help in flying, look up the Order of the Daedalians and perhaps you can get a scholarship — our Daedalian Flight in Atlanta supports ROTC cadets who are going to military (Army, Navy, Air Force) flight training.
Hey Dale,
Thanks so much for the comment! Lol I can imaging that an F16 is just a bit faster than an A10. Also thanks for the tip about the Order of the Daedalians. Love the encouragement from other pilots!
Thanks,
Colton
Welcome Colton! You just accomplished something most people only dream about!
Remember: Always keep pushing, pay attention, and never be afraid to ask questions. But most importantly, and as our own Serrhel Adams would say: JUST HAVE FUN!
Alexander
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement! This was no doubt an unforgettable time in my life.
Thanks,
Colton
Great job Colton, congratulations on your article. I’m glad you had a good experience flying with me. I know I have a blast getting to share a flight or two with kids that haven’t been able to fly yet and that’s what makes it worth flying. Keep up the writing and maybe that can help you with your aviation journey. Can’t wait to hear that you’ve gotten your ticket punched so get out there and keep learning
Hey Josh! Thanks for the comment and the experience! Changed my life completely.
Great story, Colton! I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for the support Mike!
My granddaughter graduates from Arkansas in May and wants to learn to fly. We need to know what is the most cost effective way to accomplish that as we can’t afford to send her to a commercial flight school.
Hey Capt. JPMOONEY. I completely understand your situation and how hard it can be to fund a CPL. I am not sure about a cost effective way to get her commercial but I do know the EAA does a scholarship for private pilots which is obviously the first step for anything pilot related. The age requirement if 16 and she would have to show a very strong interest in aviation. There is of course the military option where they will pay for everything. Other than that I am not super sure. Maybe try to get in touch with your local flight school. The CFIs are normally super helpful. I will say though, do not go to a college to get it. They are a lot more expensive than finding a flight instructor near you. Sorry I don’t know a whole lot but I do hope this helps her journey to aviation!
Thanks
Colton
Response to Capt. Mooney, TWA retired:
Consider a local flying club that also provides primary flight training.
The economy of a Club membership, instructors and access to properly maintained Club planes should provide a good start for your granddaughter. Some Clubs have introductory memberships and hourly cost incentives (example : $1,000 for 10 hours of flight time w/instructor and airplane) to introduce flying before making long term commitment to membership and investing in pilot equipment and supplies.
Hi Capt.JPMOONEY,
Have your granddaughter check out the nearest Ninety-Nines chapter. It is specifically an organization for women pilots (founded by Amelia Earhart, among others) that offers various scholarships as well as support, encouragement and experience.
Wishing her well!
You should take your granddaughter to Airventure and visit the Women in aviation building. Find out what grants and scholarships are available. Also Airventure is a fantastic experience.
Colton, Great article! Please do the same for someone else after you get your license!
You got it Robert! Thanks so much!
After flying a 160 warrior, I wouldn’t want to fly anything smaller. I once took off full fuel with a heavy passenger. Grass strip. I took up the entire runway, barely got off the ground and almost cut the corn.
Josh that was well told story. I have a similar story in a PA-28. Back in 1964, when I was 12 years old, my brother-in-law Jerry called me up and asked me if I would like to go for an airplane ride. So we drove over to Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, across the river from Northern Kentucky where I lived. We went flying in a white with red trim Piper Cherokee 140. I got to sit in the right seat for the flight and the pilot gave me the opportunity to fly the plane. We took off to the northeast then flew up north to the General Electric engine plant. We then flew back south over downtown Cincinnati and over Northern Kentucky, where I got to see my house and back into the airport for a smooth landing. It made such an impression on me that I decided I was going to be a professional pilot someday.
I started reading everything I could find about flying and began studying the FAA flight training manuals. I got my Private license the summer after I graduated from high school in 1970. I flew as often as I could during college and started working on my Commercial license with Martha Lunken. I entered the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School program in October 1976, got my Navy wings in January, 1978 and got to fly the P-3C out of NAS JAX. After completing my obligation to the Navy in July, 1982, I began a 30 year airline pilot career, beginning with Comair, then New York Air and finishing up the last 28 years with Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines. I was a great job, which I always enjoyed, especially working with all the great people over those 36 years. I am still flying and loving it as much as ever. I wish you luck in pursuit of your Private license and also if you decide flying is what you would like to do for your career in the future.
Wow that story is so much like mine! Sounds like you have been enjoying aviation from that first flight on. I hope I get the opportunity to do much the same.
Thanks
Colton
I had similar experiences. After my first airplane ride at the age of 10 in a TWA Constellation, I was hooked. Growing up in Columbus I started flying lessons in the PA28-140 when I was in high school and got my private after graduation. Moved to Cincinnati several years after college and resumed flying there (LUK, HAO). Got my comm, inst, MEL and my first gig as copilot on a DC3 freighter out of CVG. Went to Comair when they had Navajos, circa 1979. Then got on with a corporate operation at a private airport in SE Indiana flying Grumman Gulfstream 1 turboprop, and later a Hawker 125 at LUK. Finished out my career of 39 years in corporate aviation, in 9 different types.
Many young people become future pilots between sixth and 12th grade in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) cadets program. Boys and girls learn about aviation science. Each is entitled to five one-hour flights in the front seat of a CAP powered aircraft before their 18th birthday. One of my cadet riders from about 2018 is now an Alaskan missionary pilot–meaning she had to earn commercial instrument ratings AND airframe and powerplant mechanic ratings. I have flown about 480 one-hour cadet orientation flights. Cadets who earn the top two CAP cadet achievements are nearly a shoe-in for a military academy appointment for four years of free college followed by an officer commitment. Search for the “Youth in Cadet Program Civil Air Patrol” for more information.
Hey Robert! That’s good to know. I will look into it some thanks!
Hi Colton, I know this article is some months old now but I’ve just now gotten around to reading it. What a great start for you, and thanks to the generous spirit of another aviator – that’s what this is all about! I wish you success and safety as you earn those wings.
I am not a pilot(yet) but I work in general aviation and sure do love this community. I hope one or more of my children decide to learn to fly too!
Also – I know the southwest Missouri area and boy are you lucky to live there! What a beautiful place! I’ve only seen Truman Lake from the ground :)
Take care and enjoy the ride!
Hey Ben! Thanks so much for the feedback! I really do appreciate it. You are right, the aviation community is certainly one of the best. Also, I know you don’t have a pilots license but next time you want to come up to Truman, it HAS to be in the fall (probably around October), and on a evening flight. It will be one of the prettiest flights you will be able to remember. If you can’t get a flight at all you could go to the visitor center, which is also where they host heritage days. It’s really a beautiful place to live. Thanks again for the feedback, and as some like to say “Blue skies and tailwinds to you”.