For Grace Landaiche, learning how to fly an airplane while studying for her high school diploma might seem like a heavy load. She’s doing it anyway.

For several months Landaiche has been training in a Cessna 150 on her way to earning a private pilot’s license. 

“I don’t really think about it,” Landaiche said. “I’ve been told I’m a natural at it.”

A senior at Cripple Creek/Victor Jr. Sr. High School, Landaiche recently flew solo in the Cessna, which was built in 1959. 

With her dedication and drive, Landaiche attracted the attention of the American Legion Post #171, which sponsored her attendance at Girls State in Fort Collins this year.  

“Grace is developing her technical skills by studying and working towards her private pilot’s license supported by her parents, Lee Chamberlain (CC-V counselor and pilot), and the generous aviators at Meadow Lake Airport,” said Rich Ingold, the legion’s adjutant. “Aviation has always been a passion of hers ever since she was ‘young,’ stimulated in part by her mother, who is a retired commercial airline flight attendant.” 

For Landaiche, Girls State provided the opportunity to network with the leadership.  

“I was able to talk to people more,” she said.  

The experience helped Landaiche learn about “how government is supposed to work,” Ingold said.

“She organized the attendees (incoming seniors) into governmental bodies such as cities, counties and state; drafted, debated and passed legislation.”

As part of the experience, Landaiche led campaigns for various governmental positions but lost her bid for the lieutenant governor.

“This was a valuable leadership growth experience where she met, worked with and competed against selected highly capable girls from all backgrounds and school sizes across Colorado,” Ingold said.

In the meantime, Ingold happened to meet Charlotte Green, a former pilot for the Air Force and the first female weapons controller.

“She was assigned to a remote Alaskan Air Command radar site,” Ingold said.  

In 1975, Greene, with 14 other female lieutenants, was selected to set up the women’s admission program at the Air Force Academy.

“She became the 11^th Air Force female pilot to receive her wings, achieved supersonic flight in training, later flew transport planes, and traveled the world for the Air Force,” Ingold said.

After hearing about the student and her goal to be a pilot, Greene said she wanted to donate her flight jacket to Landaiche. Ingold brought the jacket to the high school where Landaiche received the gift with Greene’s blessings, he said.

Landaiche is the daughter of Suzette DeBarros-Landaiche and Roch Landaiche.