Arielle is aiming sky high

“Since I was 13 years old, I either wanted to become an engineer or a pilot, though, after much thought, I settled on a pilot,” she said.

“Although, I think I have always been in planes, as I grew up in the Illawarra — there always seemed to be planes flying overhead.

“Next year, I plan to take several lessons with the Echuca Moama Aero Club.”

Arielle insists on paying for flight lessons from her job at Coles, saying she would feel terrible if her parents paid on her behalf.

“Even though my parents are happy to help and support me, I would prefer to pay for all the training without the assistance of other people,” she said.

“I’ll be commencing my flight training next year, as I was finishing Year 12 and working part-time this year.”

Arielle admits she didn’t consider a career as a pilot until she was invited to fly in an RAAF plane.

“In 2021, I was fortunate to go up in a Diamond DA40 NG aircraft as part of (Australian Air Force) Cadets, which made me want to become a pilot,” Arielle said.

The small two-seater aircraft the RAAF uses to train pilots in the early stages of flight training.

“When I spoke to the recruiter, I said to them, I’ll see how I go in my aviation screening program as well as other training and look to progress from there,” Arielle said.

“If I’m lucky enough to be accepted into the RAAF, I’m not too fussed with which plane I fly.”

Arielle hopes to be accepted into the RAAF in 2026 or 2027.

“I would like to say a big thank you to Echuca Moama Aero Club. They’ve been great,” she said.

“They have supported my ambitions in becoming a professional pilot, and if you are interested in aviation, come down and see them.

“If anyone is considering learning how to fly a fixed-wing or rotary aircraft or joining the military, I would say go for it.

“No matter your grades, keep trying and work hard, and if you don’t succeed the first time, get up and go again, as naff as that may sound.”