Coast-to-Coast Training Flight Delivers Quality Time

Dan Pimentel

Friday, February 04, 2022 at 09:36 AM ET

Verified

Student pilot Lily Lytle tries on the flight jacket of her proud grandpa, Rich Lytle. [Courtesy: Rich Lytle]

Key Takeaways:

CFI Rich Lytle and his 17-year-old granddaughter, Lily Lytle, completed a 2,100 nautical mile cross-country flight from Florida to California in a light sport PiperSport LSA.
The five-day journey served as intensive, real-world flight training for Lily, helping her accrue 29 flight hours and experience towards her sport pilot certificate, which she pursued shortly after.
During the challenging trip, they encountered severe weather, an autopilot failure, and executed an evasive maneuver to avoid a drone mid-air collision, showcasing Lily's quick learning and decision-making under pressure.
Beyond the practical training and demonstrating the capability of light sport aircraft for long-distance travel, the flight created a unique and cherished bonding experience between the grandfather and granddaughter.

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Usually, when a pilot sits down to flight plan a cross-country trip of 2,100 nm from one coast of the U.S. to the other, there is a Cirrus SR22 or Pilatus PC-12 involved. If that planned route takes you from Naples, Florida, to Riverside, California, over several days and through all sorts of weather, flying the trip in a light sport airplane is not something many people would even consider.

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When certified flight instructor Rich Lytle’s granddaughter, Lily Lytle, suggested she airline to Florida and learn to fly Rich’s 2010 PiperSport LSA on the very long XC back to the West Coast, Rich thought the idea made perfect sense. Not only would the trip be fun, it would also serve as training for Lily as she pursues her sport pilot certificate.