There was a time in her CFI career when FLYING contributor Martha Lunken says she became burned out. [Courtesy: Martha Lunken]
Key Takeaways:
The author began her aviation career as an initially inexperienced flight instructor, eventually owning and operating "Miss Martha's Flying School" and accumulating 6,000 hours of dual instruction.
She then made a pivotal life decision, choosing marriage to an older, wealthy man over an airline career, which led to a lavish but socially challenging life in Cincinnati high society and the eventual decline of her flight school.
Following the end of her marriage, she joined the FAA, initially struggling as an air carrier inspector, but ultimately finding fulfillment and making a significant impact on general aviation safety as an inspector and safety program manager.
My first hour of dual given as a 21-year-old CFI was memorable and a little embarrassing.
The student was flying a Cincinnati Aircraft Cessna 172. When he added full throttle, and we started down the runway at Lunken Airport (KLUK), the tach read 2,300 rpm. I told him to close the throttle—abort the takeoff—and explained to the tower we needed to return to the hangar.
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Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.
