December 17, 2003 First Solo Flight

On the morning of December 17, 2003, I had the pleasure of flying with my son Elliott. Around 10:00 a.m. both he and I took off from a small grass strip here in northeastern Ohio. We had celebrated his 16th birthday just two days before on December 15th. We proceeded to do three takeoffs and landings. At about 10:15 a.m., we taxied back to the end of the runway.

I stepped out of the plane and with his logbook and student pilot certificate signed I gave him a pat on the back, closed the door of our 1941 Taylorcraft DL-65 (civilian model of the L-2). I backed away from the plane as he advanced the throttle to takeoff power. It was 10:35 a.m. Elliott was rolling down the runway for his first solo flight! As his mother, sister, and I watched, the tail quickly rose off the ground and the main wheels kicked up light snow that had fallen earlier that morning. Just a short distance down the runway the plane lifted off the ground and began to climb. Elliott had just become a fourth generation pilot on the 100th anniversary of flight.

Flying the pattern as he had many times before, he crossed over the end of the strip and did a very nice wheel landing right on target. A second takeoff resulted in a beautiful wheel landing. At that point snow was falling and Elliott decided that two takeoffs and landings were plenty. A wise choice for a new student pilot!

Later, I took my wife, Sheryl, and our daughter Marilyn around the patch, each taking their own turn flying the plane so we could all say we had flown on the 100th anniversary of flight. Neither of my landings, however, was as nice as Elliott's.

The date of December 17th has great meaning to those of us in aviation. But to Elliott and our family, it will always be a day we remember fondly with a personal bond to the sky.

James R. Baker
EAA 141514
VAA 17582

Elliott D. Baker

On December 17, 2003  at 10:35am, Elliott Baker took off on his first solo flight.  In doing so he became the fourth generation in the family to take flight.  

1st generation -Great Grandparents

Bernard Wolff - taught himself to fly in an American Eagle biplane he acquired from a barnstormer - after the fabric had been damaged in a hailstorm in Nebraska.

Jessie and Myrtle Henry both learned to fly in 1946 in central Nebraska using a Taylorcraft (see info under Taylorcraft - NC34051)   

2nd generation - Grandparents

Walter E. Baker - earned his Private license in 1984 - instructed by James.  Instrument rated in 1986.

Eugene T. Wolff - Earned his Private license in 1977.  Recently completed construction and is in the test phase of an RV-8.

3rd generation - Parents

James Baker - learned to fly in 1977 and is now an Airline Pilot with a major airline.

Sheryl (Wolff) Baker - learning - as time allows.

4th generation - Kids

Elliott Baker - presently learning to fly.  Soloed in 2003.

Marilyn Baker - Learning - but still too young to solo.