Jordan Mirafuentes commemorates with his flight instructor, David Boggs, after completing his first solo flight.
Story by Angel Wood, Shadow Ridge High School Journalism student
S
ome may be afraid of heights, but for Shadow Ridge High School Senior Jordan Mirafuentes, 4,500 feet above the grids of the earth provides him with the feeling of tranquility. While the engine roars and the radio quietly chatters, Mirafuentes sees what the land goers can not, miles and miles of clear blue sky and sunbaked scenery. Since his sophomore year, Mirafuentes has been a student pilot at Glendale Municipal Airport. Now as a senior, Mirafuentes continues to navigate the path towards being a successful pilot, student, and son. At an early age, Mirafuentes was introduced to the world of aviation by his father who retired from the military as a pilot. “My dad would always use pilot terms and vocabulary. I got interested in that, so he introduced me to the Air Force,” said Mirafuentes. Through this introduction, he met many pilots and got up and close with the aircraft he dreamed of flying in. “It was amazing, and it sparked what I wanted to do going forward,” said 26 APRIL 2022
Mirafuentes. His dreams turned into a reality as he experienced his first flight with his father at age 10. “I got to sit in the co-pilot’s seat with my dad in the pilot-in-command seat,” said Mirafuentes. During that experience, he watched how his father performed in the air knowing that one day, he would be following in his father’s footsteps. “The hook for me was when my dad let me take control of the aircraft. It was out of this world and so fulfilling,” said Mirafuentes. He recalls this moment as “memorable” because it was his first time realizing that he wanted to be a pilot. As a student pilot at Glendale Municipal Airport, Mirafuentes has been able to work one-on-one with a flight instructor who teaches him how to fly, how to get out of dangerous situations, and how to be safe. To become a pilot, the student must pass the written exam, complete a solo, and successfully fly in the check-out ride.
