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Dynamic Aviation’s legacy flight hangar where Adam Brumbaugh (seen on the cover) works.
influence young people to embrace our unique aviation industry. He found a young woman who encap- sulates this perfectly. Kala Dougan was born in Lynchburg, Virginia and grew up in Roanoke. When she was in 8th grade, an experience changed her life.
“My mom heard about a Women In Aviation event at a university. We decided to attend the event with the idea that it would just be something fun to do together but not necessar- ily something that would inspire my future career. When we arrived at the event, I had the opportunity to tour the aeronautics department fa- cilities, speak with professors and flight students, and fly their flight simulators. After trying my hand at the simulator, I was given the op- portunity to go on a flight with a female flight instructor. For me, that experience was life-changing. I still remember putting on that headset for the first time, feeling myself sink into the seat on takeoff, and being ab- solutely amazed as the world shrunk beneath us. The instructor allowed me to take the controls for a little while with her help. She was kind and encouraging and made me feel like I was contributing to the flight. Once we landed, I remember running to my mom and telling her I wanted to fly for the rest of my life. Since that
12 • TWIN & TURBINE / August 2022
Kids preparing for the flight simulator experience.
At the metal working station, students learn riveting.