By CAROLINE DOUGHERTY
I pushed the throttle forward, quickly glanced at the tachometer to check for the full 1450 RPM, let my feet dance on the rudder bar to keep the nose straight down the runway, and thought, “Wow! I’m actually out here on my own!”
That’s how I celebrated my Sweet 16: Making my first solo flight in my father’s 100-year-old Curtiss Jenny.
Years ago we thought, “How cool would it be for a 16-year-old girl to solo in a 100-year-old airplane on her 16th birthday?”
Within no time at all that became my dream and I told myself that I would do anything to make it possible.
I’ve spent my whole life around aviation. With my bedroom window overlooking a grass runway, I would always jump out of bed in the morning to see what was taking off or landing.
With the Golden Age Air Museum in Bethel, Pennsylvania, practically in our backyard, it consumed most of my time.
I enjoy watching my dad and other volunteers restore vintage aircraft, give rides and, most of all, go flying with my dad. He took me for my first airplane ride, which I don’t have the slightest memory of, when I was two years old in a 195. My parents have since told me that I loved it in the sky.
As I grew older, I started flying in a 1932 Taylor E-2 Cub with my dad. I would sit up in the front seat and he would let me take the controls.
I always knew that I wanted to be a pilot and work towards my license, but it was during a 2014 trip to Oshkosh that I was inspired to get serious about flying and logging time. I was exposed to new aspects of aviation and new people, and I can’t remember a time where I was more excited to earn my license.
I did a majority of my training in the E-2 Cub, but I also learned a fair amount in the Champ and 150.
The big date in May was rapidly approaching and I was almost old enough to make my first solo. I had over 50 hours logged, and the only thing preventing me from soloing earlier was my age.
Dad let me choose from his personal collection and, of course, I followed my dream and chose the Jenny. My goal was to do something unique, something that’s never been done before. I wanted to create my own footsteps, rather than just follow those of somebody else.
My dad and his father spent seven years restoring this 1917 Curtiss JN4D Jenny. It is powered by an OX-5 producing 90 horsepower. Its gross weight is 1,920 pounds, it cruises at 70 mph, and has a very long wingspan of over 43 feet, which makes it hard to turn around on the runway.
This aircraft was designed during World War I to be used as a primary pilot trainer. There were approximately 6,000 produced, which helped the Jenny to become the aircraft of choice for American pilots returning home from the war. Many pilots purchased them as surplus from the military and used them to earn a living barnstorming.
Our aircraft, which hadn’t been flown since the 1920s, was to its original condition. The paint scheme represents Earl S. Daugherty, a famous barnstormer and Hollywood pilot of Long Beach, California.
Some of the most common questions we receive include, “Are you related to Earl Daugherty?” and “Why is your name spelled with an A on the side of the aircraft.”
Preparing to solo
The winter months in Pennsylvania often cause great flying obstacles. There is usually snow on the ground, and if not, the cold temperatures would make open cockpit flight very uncomfortable. Even in early spring, the grass field is typically too soft and wet to fly the airplanes.
About a month before my birthday we transitioned my training into the Jenny. I had about three hours in it at the time of the solo, but very vigorously performed many takeoffs, landings, and practiced forced landings.
The big day finally arrived and I couldn’t have been any more excited. When I looked out the window that morning, I saw IFR conditions. The clouds were very low with almost no visibility, it was rainy, and too windy for the Jenny.
Dad and I were planning for the solo flight to be first thing in the morning before a crowd gathered at the airport. We waited for hours for the conditions to improve, but we weren’t sure they were going to. More people arrived at the airport and formed a good-sized audience. After more waiting, the rain stopped, the ceiling rose, and the wind calmed enough to fly.
Dad and I climbed in the historical biplane for a few flights around the pattern. After two successful landings, he turned around in the front seat and asked, “Are you ready?” I nodded and said, “Yes!” He asked again, “Are you sure?” and my response was identical, but with more enthusiasm.
Dad climbed out and gave me one last little briefing, and then a few seconds later I found myself lined up on the runway with full throttle letting my feet dance on the rudder bar. Before I knew it I was off the ground!
It had a much longer takeoff roll with two people, and I was getting used to its different performance. I kept climbing, constantly eyeing up fields I’d land in if I lost the engine. After all, I was putting my faith in an original, 100-year-old OX-5.
I reached my altitude much sooner than expected due to less weight in the airplane. I made two left turns to set up for the downwind leg, and kept glancing down at oil pressure and water temperature to verify everything was running correctly.
I treated it just like it was another flight, pretending that Dad was up in the front seat with me. I wouldn’t let any stray thoughts get into my head, but I did take a second to think, “Wow! I’m actually up here all by myself!”
I think the Jenny is a relatively easy airplane to fly, but it has a few traits that are different than the way other airplanes handle. Multiple times I’ve been cruising along, and it feels like there is someone in the front seat playing with the pedals. The rudder bar can be felt trying to move itself, and it takes force to keep it flying straight and coordinated. Also, it has no elevator trim.
When I’m in the back seat with Dad in the front, I’m constantly applying back pressure to the stick, which gets heavy.
Occasionally when you’re flying straight and level, it will drop a wing out of nowhere. To get it back, you may have to use two hands because of how heavy the stick is. Even in medium to steep turns, it takes two hands to bring it out of a turn, and it can get tiring after a half hour of flying it.
Another thing differentiating the Jenny from most other airplanes is the absence of an airspeed indicator, which most people aren’t used to flying without. You have to fly by feel, listen to the engine and the air going past you. I get asked a lot of questions about how fast it goes, but we aren’t exactly sure.
After setting up on the downwind leg, I passed the runway and pulled the power back. It has a pretty good sink rate, so it’s important to keep the speed up and the nose down. I made two more left turns and lined up with the runway.
When flying the Jenny, it’s necessary to sporadically goose the throttle when the OX-5 is idling to clear the engine. I slowly pulled the stick back and began to flare. The wheels and tailskid gracefully kissed the ground and I felt a sense of relief that I had brought Dad’s favorite toy back without a scratch. I still can’t believe he let me fly it!
I kept it straight for the remainder of the landing roll and then used the entire width of the runway to turn around. Combined with the large wingspan, the lack of a tailwheel and brakes makes it difficult to make this turn.
During the taxi in, I was so excited and proud of myself and I couldn’t wait to get back and tell my parents all about the flight. I had forgotten about the crowd of people that gathered to watch and that the flight would go down in history, but I couldn’t stop thinking that after a lot of hard work I finally accomplished my dream.
After the Jenny solo I took a few minutes to relax and share my adventure, and then it was time to make my second 16th birthday solo flight. This time, I was in a 1932 Taylor E-2 Cub, another plane full of great historical significance. Most of my training was in the Cub, and I had no doubt about soloing it.
Unlike the Jenny, the Cub does have elevator trim, but with Dad in the front seat and a full tank of fuel, there is not enough nose up trim. Again, I couldn’t believe how differently it flew with only one person. It only took a mere 300 feet to take off and, just like the Jenny, climbed so much better. I believe my first solo Cub landing was a personal best.
The temperature was below average for late May and with open cockpit flights, I only went around the pattern twice in the Cub before getting too cold. My plan was to additionally solo the 150, which has heat, that same day. Unfortunately, we ran out of daylight due to our late start, but I have since soloed in it.
I am now starting my junior year of high school and have plans to study aerospace engineering in college. An airline career is also a possibility.
Furthermore, I’d like to one day represent our country on the U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team, and perform in air shows, including Oshkosh. Dad has already started teaching me aerobatics in the Eagle, and we’ve brought the Eagle to the airshow circuit.
In the rest of my free time, I volunteer at the Golden Age Air Museum, where we host multiple fly-ins and airshows throughout the summer and fall.
My dream was not to become the first person to make their first solo in a 100-year-old airplane, but to solo my dad’s 1917 Curtiss Jenny, that he and his dad spent seven years restoring, on my 16th birthday!
This experience has proven to me that hard work and determination really does pay off, and I hope it will inspire others to chase their dreams!
Caroline’s proud father show this video of her first solo:
I was absolutely riveted by your story and the video of your solo! I am sure your father is so proud of you! I am too!
Keep of the great work and best wishes for making your future flying dreams come true!
Congratulations! Best wishes for future!
Congratulations/Kudos, CD… You made it look awful easy.
Congratulations, Caroline, on your first solo! I got my license just after I turned 18, back in 1969, but I certainly didn’t get it in a plane as exciting as the ones you’ve flown. I do remember giving my mother a ride in our very own plane, a Yankee, in the early ’70s, and that was a thrill. Good times, and I hope you can share the fun with your own friends and family as time goes on…
Caroline, great story, a day you will always remember with pride, joy and the love ofyour Dad. Aviation needs more like you, many more.
I’m proud of you, be safe and have fun.
This is more than a great story, it is a great event, a young person and a woman at that, has taken an interest in aviation, at it’s basic grassroots level. She deserves all of the congratulations and respect that can be sent her way. More so though, the people who encouraged her, deserve our heartfelt cudos for their efforts.
You go girl
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the story!
What a story and what a great opportunity. Congratulations on fulfilling a dream. I have been to the museum numerous times , Grimes field is beautiful, the collection is great and the people there are very nice.
Congratulations Caroline, very proud of you and your accomplishments. I soloed my youngest daughter and her best friend when they were 16 years old in my 1937 Aeronca K. It was a thrill for both girls. Their first solos were 24 hours apart almost to the minute. That was during October 2004 and both kids still remember it fondly. So we have an idea of the thrill you had. Again congratulations on your accomplishment.
Hello from one airport brat to another ! I too soloed on my 16th birthday , but many years ago . My two older brothers led the way , each having a life long career in aviation . I earned a Commercial license at 18 & continued flying charters until the arrival of my ( 4 ) children made that difficult . Nearly all of my pre solo time was in Cessna 172 ‘s but my instructor ( father) would not allow me to solo except in a 140 on my birthday .
My brother who was a glider instructor , commercial pilot & airport owner as well as Certified mechanic hired me to tow gliders & banners as well as carry parachute jumpers for him . My other brother was a flight instructor ,helicopter pilot & Airline pilot ( retired ) who flies with “Sully “. We competed for any empty seat , any excuse to be airborne before we soloed . I was allowed to fly a J3 that my brother converted to a tricycle gear & spent my first summer attending all the fly-ins I could collecting youngest pilot , first woman pilot , earliest arrival ( etc. ) trophies & entering spot landing & bomb dropping contests in that Cub . What a blast !
My mother was first passenger for my Dad & both brothers & myself & then the next day I flew my Prom date to a fly in as 2nd passenger .
Good luck on a very wonderful future in Aviation !
Congratulations Caroline.
An awsome experience. You looked so confident.
What a WONDERFUL story about your solo flight Caroline. FYI, my first boss after I graduated from college in 1955 (when I went to work for Pratt & Whitney, a GREAT aircraft engine manufacturer) was a women; and women are now the command pilots on many Commercial Airlines. Do KEEP the fine flying, and sharing your REAL LIFE experiences!
Completely awesome story! There’s nothing like your first solo flight and this one is unique beyond any. You have a great career ahead!
I don’t know your scholastic aptitude. A great place to get further training is the Air Force Academy. My daughter and my granddaughter both used the USAF academy to get further education. My daughter wanted to go on the space shuttle. My granddaughter has completed pilot training and is now flying C-130 for refueling helicopters.
See your CAP unit, your state senator, your US congressperson to get a nomination to the USAFA, even the Vice-president can nominate for this great education which by the way is FREE
Given the clarity and maturity with which you communicated your story I can tell you appreciate the history and beauty of the airplanes and the amazing opportunity you have already had in your young flying career. You have already mastered flight in and understand the nuances of aircraft many of the rest of us only dream of someday flying. Male or female, airplanes don’t care–they still require the same attention from the pilot. You described that attention and the intricacies of the aircraft in a way that pulled me in. While I may never have the opportunity to fly a Jenny, I was able to re-live the exhilaration of the performance increase felt for the first time on that initial solo and satisfaction of a well managed flight. Congratulations, happy belated birthday and thank you for sharing and giving US a present — brought a smile to my face!
Caroline,
Thanks for sharing your special day with the rest of us. Congratulations!
Captain Bob
What a great start! Out of words.
We believe in you, aviator!
Your dad should be very proud of you.
Wow, what an incredible accomplishment, Caroline. Congratulations on that beautiful solo flight. Another great aviator is born. Have a great flying career. I flew with Gene Soucy and wingwalker Teresa Stokes a few years ago in Gene’s beautiful modified Gruman cropduster. It was an experience of a lifetime for me. My sincere best wishes to you.
Congratulations, Caroline! Your solo is the beginning of life’s adventures through flight!! And your volunteering will bring you many pleasant surprises!
Congratulations, Caroline, from another Pennsylvania gal. Join the other commenters in wishing you many years of safe flying. And a great Sweet 16 celebration – much better than a pink princess party!
Thanks!
You belong in The 99s International Association of Women Pilots! Please find a Chapter near you and give us a try! You’ll be glad you did.
Email me if you need help finding one local to you.
https://www.ninety-nines.org/
Wow! Great job and nice, smooth landings! Thank you for sharing your story!
What a beautiful girl. It is a great satisfaction to be able to fly on a piece of history like that…
Congratulations
What a great start in aviation. Congratulations!! You will do well.
I soloed (legally) on my 16th birthday in 1958 in an ordinary, for the time, 7AC. I’ve always flown since. Although my final career was not directly involved in aviation, I learned a lot about people, honesty, common sense, achieving goals, etc. which led to a life well led.
Best of luck and achievement to you,
Thank you!
Congratulations on an outstanding accomplishment. The video is excellent. As a youngster, my father watched Jennys flown and built by the Jack Elliot Air Service in Hamilton, Ontario —- Canada’s largest civil user of the type —- and that’s how he became a lifelong aviation enthusiast. The 43-foot wing span undoubtedly made a big impression!
Thank you!
Great story, congrats & thumbs up! Jim
Dad did a great job with young pilot, we need more young Americans like the outstanding woman. So great ? congratulations to her and the family.
Well done!
Caroline, you’ve got the right stuff. Congratulations and have a long and wonderful aviation career!
Thanks!
Awesome story and good job!
A wonderful story of a life being well lived. Congratulations on a momentous achievement.
Wow! Congratulations! Loved hearing the engine and wind through the wires. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much!