On July 9, 2025, I took my very first powered flight in a Piper Cherokee 140D, flying out of Albany International Airport (ALB). I’ve flown gliders before, but this was my first time flying in a plane with an engine — and it was a totally different experience.

Powered flight felt much faster and more complex than gliding. Gliders are quiet, smooth, and all about using the air to stay aloft. In the Cherokee, there was constant engine noise, a faster pace, and way more instruments and systems to keep track of. It was really cool flying something so different!

We first departed from Albany and flew to William H. Morse State Airport (DDH) in Bennington, Vermont. The views were awesome, and the total round trip — both legs of the flight — took about 54 minutes (0.9 flight hours). On the return leg, we took off from Bennington and headed back to Albany.

A big difference for me was dealing with air traffic control (ATC). Saratoga County Airport, where I usually fly gliders, is a non-towered airport, so this was my first time flying in and out of a controlled airport. Hearing live ATC and following their instructions was a great learning experience.

A big difference for me was dealing with air traffic control (ATC). Saratoga County Airport, where I usually fly gliders, is a non-towered airport, so this was my first time flying in and out of a controlled airport. Hearing live ATC and following their instructions was a great learning experience.

During the flight, the pilot let me take the controls and fly a heading that ATC gave us. Because I had already flown this plane in my flight simulator, I felt super confident. I flew for around 15 minutes, and the pilot even told me I did a great job!

When we were coming back to Albany, there was a Southwest Airlines jet landing ahead of us. ATC told us to “be aware of the Southwest in front,” so we kept a safe distance behind it. It was awesome to see a commercial jet land just ahead of us from a small plane like that.

As we came in for our own landing, I saw the PAPI lights — two white and two red — which meant we were on the correct glide path for landing. The landing was really smooth. After touching down, we taxied to Million Air, fueled up, and went inside. They had free drinks and cookies, so I grabbed both — the perfect end to an awesome flight.

✈️ Final Thoughts:

This flight was a huge milestone for me. It gave me a new understanding of powered flight and opened my eyes to how different it is from gliding. It also confirmed that I’m on the right path — working hard toward becoming a professional airline pilot someday. There’s so much more to learn, and I can’t wait for what’s next!