PIP Shephard says she has always been interested in "things with motors that go fast".
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"I had great joy in watching the crop dusters spraying our crops on the farm [near Forbes], and the occasional RAAF C-130s that would conduct training flights over the property, so once my dad had his first flying lesson, I naturally wanted to have a go too," she said.
Fast forward a number of years and the Bathurst Aero Club member, now living in Brisbane, has just received her commercial pilot's licence and is considering the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a career option down the track.
But back to those early days in the air.
"My introductory flight was in 2011 when I was 13 years old in Forbes with Jake Redfern in a Cessna 152," Ms Shephard said.
"From that day, I was absolutely hooked.
"Unfortunately, being at boarding school in Bathurst made it extremely difficult to progress, so in 2014, I began flying at Central West Flying in Bathurst.
"I achieved my recreational pilot's certificate in 2015 and, later, cross-country endorsement.
IN NEWS AROUND BATHURST:
"At this time, my parents and I became members of the Bathurst Aero Club."
The club, according to Ms Shephard, provided support and encouragement for her dream of becoming a commercial pilot.
"In 2015, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the USA with members of the Bathurst Aero Club to attend the week-long air show at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Airventure Oshkosh Wisconsin, which absolutely blew me away.
"After graduating year 12, I spent my time working a casual job, travelling and figuring out what my plan of attack was for a future career.
"In 2018, I was unsuccessful in an attempt to join the Royal Australian Air Force.
"With the time I had to spend before I could apply again, gradually I decided I wanted to move to Brisbane to live with my partner and start the process of training for my commercial pilot's licence.
"Due to needing recognition of my prior learning and flight hours, I was required to obtain my recreational pilot's licence first with Ward Air in Bathurst, which was a quick process."
An incident in late 2018 tested Ms Shephard's skills.
"I was visiting the family farm west of Forbes and was able to fly my dad's aircraft, a Jabiru J-230, back to Bathurst for work.
"About 20 or so minutes after departing, I suffered a complete engine failure to the east of Forbes.
"I initially tried to restart the engine, but it had completely seized, so I quickly chose a suitable paddock to make a forced landing.
"I was flying at a lower altitude due to low cloud, so there was little time to make decisions; setting the plane up for landing safely was utmost priority.
"Before landing, I managed to get out a mayday call to Melbourne Centre just in case things went south so I knew there would be people looking for me.
"I conducted a textbook forced landing and sustained no injuries and no damage to the aircraft or property; we still fly the same aircraft today."
Ms Shephard said the engine failure was an "overall good experience for me".
"I feel it made me a much better pilot. I would consider it lucky to have occurred when and where it did as I had no passengers on board and many large paddocks to choose from."
In 2019, Ms Shephard officially moved to Brisbane to begin her flight training at Basair Aviation College.
"It was difficult to begin with as I wasn't familiar with the area, didn't know anyone besides my partner and it was hard to get back into studying full time after four years," she said.
"I managed to get through the course quickly, officially achieving my commercial pilot's licence in a Cessna 206G on April 9, 2020, and will be furthering my studies in late April, beginning my multi engine command instrument rating, which I am excited to start.
"I recognise that it will be difficult for me to start out and get my first job as a professional pilot.
"I expect to have to move around the country to do so.
"As well, the recent unfortunate world pandemic may make it near impossible for the near future.
"I am still considering the Air Force, but I would also be very interested in flying for the Royal Flying Doctor Service down the track as it would be an extremely rewarding career."
She hopes to one day get her aerobatics rating, which she has decided is her favourite kind of flying "after having the privilege of being gifted a few joy flights over the years".
"A dream of mine would be to one day fly in a Supermarine Spitfire in the UK, as well as doing an aviation tour around the US, returning to EAA Airventure Oshkosh," she said.
