Braylon Faulkner, 6, fell in love with airplanes on his first flight.
Traveling with his mother Michelle Faulkner and grandmother Carol Faulkner-Davis in September 2012 from Orlando to Providence, Rhode Island, his excitement came to the attention of the Southwest Airlines pilot who invited him to the cockpit before the flight.
His father, Brian Faulkner, works in business development for a large healthcare company and Michelle was a licensed private investigator in Florida.
They encouraged Braylon’s interest in flying. Later that year while traveling in Hiawassee, Georgia, they booked a helicopter ride with pilot Ron Carroll.
From there Braylon’s fascination continued. He was living in Winter Haven, Florida, and he would get excited whenever he passed the airport. The Winter Haven airport is also the base of operations for Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base.
Braylon enjoyed dining at the restaurant on the field to watch planes land and take off.
His grandmother Carol was a neighbor of Jon Brown, so she asked if Braylon was old enough to take a ride in a seaplane. In August of 2013, Braylon flew in a Piper Cub on floats.
In the fall, he enjoyed a tour of Fantasy of Flight Aircraft Museum.
In January 2014, Braylon took another helicopter ride in Sevierville, Tennessee. He took more flights in the seaplanes through Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base and developed a friendship with instructor Ben Shipps.
His parents gave Braylon a logbook to track his flights. Braylon asked for flights to celebrate birthdays and holidays.
Braylon’s grandmother, Carol, introduced Braylon to the granddaughter of a pilot friend. Giana Griner, a year older than Braylon, shares his passion for airplanes. They had playdates at the Winter Haven Airport restaurant and watch planes. They shared a flight in a Cessna 210.
When the Faulkners moved to Texas for a better job opportunity, Braylon returned to the seaplane base for a flight with Ben. Though he has family in Winter Haven, Braylon understood he would not be back as often as he wanted to be. Last November, just before the family moved, Braylon flew again with his favorite instructor.
“We found a local airport here in Texas,” Michelle Faulkner said. “Our church was loading supplies for missionaries, and Braylon wanted to. They said they’d call us whenever they are loading so Braylon can help.”
Braylon has logged 8.25 hours since getting his logbook. With such an intense interest from such a young age, Braylon demonstrates the passion of a future pilot.
I enjoyed your article, Joni