By L.J. Gambone
For the Apple Valley Review
On a wing and a prayer, Apple Valley teen Mariah Moller entered a drawing in 2012 at the Apple Valley Airshow to win a free, introductory flight. To her surprise, she won the contest and admits she had more fun than expected. In 2013, Moller went back to the airshow, where she won a free flight again.
The 17-year-old Apple Valley High School senior said this was a sign she couldn’t ignore. Soon after her serendipitous trip above the clouds, she began taking flying lessons twice a month at the Apple Valley Airport. It has now become her passion, fueling a deep desire to pursue a professional career in aviation.
“I had no idea I would love flying so much until I got up there,” said Moller, who cites the famous test pilot Chuck Yeager as her greatest inspiration. “I thought it was so cool to be up so high and have such an amazing view. It really gave me a sense of freedom, too.”
After two years of flying lessons, Moller said she is now ready to embark on her first solo flight. She had planned to do so on Sept. 27, but said it had to be cancelled due to high winds.
“I was really bummed out that the weather prevented me from taking that flight,” said Moller, who was trained in a Cessna 172. “But I know I will have the opportunity to schedule it again soon, I just don’t have a date yet.”
According to Moller, learning to fly a plane is much more challenging than it may seem. She said it requires the skills to do many things at once, including working the controls, watching what’s outside of the plane and talking on the radio to the air traffic controller.
Moller also found that landing the plane smoothly was a difficult feat that requires great focus and many hours of practice.
“The hardest thing I’ve had to learn was definitely how to land the plane,” said Moller. “But I’ve definitely gotten pretty good at it and seem to still be getting better each time I do it. The rocky landings have become less and less.”
Before catching flying fever, Moller said she had plans to go to college and take general education courses until she figured out a career path. Now, her sights are set on attending California Baptist University in Riverside. The college offers degrees in aviation flight, as well as aviation management.
“I’m so glad I will be going into college knowing what I want to do,” Moller said.
After college, Moller envisions herself working as a commercial pilot for an airline. She said she also hopes to inspire more women to get into the field, as it is one that seems to be dominated by men.
“There are only a small percentage of women pilots out there and I’m happy to be one of them,” said Moller. “But it’s also rewarding to know that I will be one who will help increase that number and maybe inspire other females to get into aviation. It’s a great feeling as a woman to say that you have your pilot’s license.”