Kandyce Crandall: Why I Want to Fly

Kandyce

Wanting to fly has become a burning desire deep in my heart. I’ve got a nomadic, thrill seeking soul with a love of adventure and exploration. This has lead to many trips overseas. My favorite part of traveling is always sitting back in my chair and buckling my seatbelt in anticipation for take off. I love the sensation I feel when the plane thrusts forward & lifts off the ground. 

My thirst for excitement and adrenaline was quenched when I got my first motorcycle. Riding became my freedom and my sanity. I love the challenge of handling my bike and feel that the next logical step for me is to actually leave the ground.

One of my earliest recollections regarding aviation is seeing the Blue Angels perform at a local air show. The precision maneuvering, the sound, and feeling the power of them flying by at such wicked speeds was, and still is, one the most exciting experiences for me. I make sure to see the Blue Angels during Seafair every summer. I always wanted to be the first woman Blue Angel pilot but started a career in the healthcare industry out of high school.

Kandyce in Dublin Ireland

Volunteering at the Fly it Forward event at Renton airport in December was so enjoyable for me, that I plan to pursue flying as a career. Meeting all the wonderful ladies who have accomplished lifelong dreams of becoming pilots gave me the hope and encouragement that I needed to take the next step. 

I have been studying my private pilot’s handbook and doing a lot of research on different aviation programs. I realize that it’s certainly not too late to pursue this deep seeded passion. I can’t wait to have that private pilot certificate! My ultimate goal is to acquire a multi pilot license and fly jets. I have taken on another job and have begun building my clientele as a licensed massage therapist in order to save up some money to make this happen!

The thought of taking the controls of an aircraft is so freaking cool to me, there are just no words to explain it!! I know this sounds cheesy, but the passion I feel in my heart for flying… is a lot like the still smoking embers of a campfire from the night before. 

Thank you to the women who graciously flew girls & ladies like myself and helped get the fire blazing. Not only in myself, but in a lot of other young ladies as well! You are inspirational to us all. I hope that there will be other Fly it Forward events in the future so I can take young ladies on their first flights and ignite that flame.
 

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to KNOW that this is
what I want, you are amazing!


~Kandyce Crandall

Monday I wrote about an amazing man of local Aviation History.... Jack Sallee. Yesterday I posted the result of his dream. Tomorrow and Friday, I'll post the legacy he left in generations to follow. But today I'm posting one of our "Why I want to Fly" essays. 

Kandyce was today's choice because of her passion for aviation, the thrill she experiences with speed, challenge, and excitement, and the effort she is giving to achieving her dreams of flight. If Jack were to have a daughter, Kandyce would have been his pride and joy. She has aviation in her blood. 


Enjoy the Journey!


~ Karlene