16-year-old solos in helicopter

AUSTIN BOWA sits at the controls of a Robinson R 22 helicopter at the Auburn Airport on his 16th birthday after his first solo flight. Bowa is from El Dorado Hills and took lessons at the airport for a year. Democrat photo by Shelly Thorene

Come their 16th birthday, a lot of teenagers celebrate that milestone with cake and getting their learner's permit.

But not Austin Bowa, who turned 16 on Valentine's Day. Instead he chose to celebrate his birthday by taking his first solo flight in a tiny two-seater helicopter at the Auburn Airport. After all, flying helicopters is what he has wanted to do since he was 8 years old.

A sophomore at Ponderosa High School, Bowa has been training to fly helicopters for the past year.

On hand to cheer him on were his parents, Shelly and Jeff Bowa of El Dorado Hills, his grandparents, other members of the family, his flight instructor, and a bevy of media.

Bowa said that he first became interested in becoming a pilot when he did a tour in Hawaii. His mother said that he was so enthusiastic about learning to fly and his grades were so good in the  eighth grade that when he asked his parents if he could take helicopter lessons, they agreed. "It was his true love," said his mother.

The day's events included a flight in the morning and a second one at noon, each lasting about 30 minutes and confined mainly to circling over the airport and performing turns. Bowa won't actually be eligible to get his pilot's license until he's 17. Once he gets his license he will be able to fly with passengers.

Bowa has proven to be an apt student, according to his instructor, John Crawford of Sierra Air Helicopters. "He's smart as a whip and someone who studies well but is also a good pilot," he said. "Sometimes a person is a good study but not an equally good pilot. Austin is both."

Crawford said the studying part involves learning about every nut and bolt of the helicopter, knowing all the regulations, understanding weather, and more. "The studying part is sometimes harder than the flying," he said. "Austin passed his written test with a score of 'only' 98 percent."

Bowa said that he's never had any close calls while flying. The hardest maneuver he has had to master is called an autorotation which is landing without the engine. That involves using altitude and air speed to keep the blades spinning long enough to land. Never interested in flying a plane, Bowa knew from the beginning he wanted to fly helicopters. "Helicopters are more maneuverable than fixed wing aircraft," he said.

Bowa still doesn't have a learner's permit to drive. But that doesn't bother him since he has spent more time in a helicopter than learning to drive a car. He said he would get that permit another day.

As Bowa got ready for his big flight at noon, everything was perfect except that someone forgot the keys to the helicopter. Once his instructor ran back to the office and got them, the youngster was up and away for an unforgettable 16th birthday.

Dawn Hodson

Dawn Hodson lives in Placerville. She loves the foothills and the interesting history of this region which is captured in its historic sites.

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