Translator: David DeRuwe
Since I was a kid, I’ve always been enchanted by looking at the sky,
and my quest to get there as a parachutist and a pilot
is what I’m going to share with you now -
I was ready to fly.
Without a doubt, what motivated me to do this was my curiosity
to see the world in new ways and from different angles,
to open new horizons, and to be true to myself.
Sometimes I was frustrated when I didn’t get the same pleasure
from the same experiences that my relatives and friends did.
At age 16, I’d already tried classical ballet and various sports -
swimming, tennis, volleyball -
and despite enjoying them all, I still hadn’t found what I really liked.
When I did my first parachute jump, I got this feeling,
and it was amazing.
Overcoming fear, getting out of the comfort zone,
understanding the here and now,
and focusing on the moment, so much talked about these days,
was really revealing to me.
At 21, I met my husband, a sports pilot,
and he was fascinated by the aerial world as well.
We fell in love and began, little by little,
a transition from land-based professions -
he was a publicist and I was an architect -
to aerial professions.
We created the first civilian air demonstration service team,
professionalizing the air show.
We set up a maintenance workshop to take better care of the machines
and an air taxi to have more revenue options
in a very seasonal sector
that requires a lot of resilience to stay in business.
My first solo flight in this machine here, the T-6,
came about one step at a time.
Until then, only the men of the team flew it,
and as a pilot, I wondered why I didn’t rise to the challenge.
The T-6’s nickname is “Pilot Maker,”
and it was used for instruction and training of pilots,
as well as for combat by various global armed forces
until it was deactivated.
Already in civilian hands, it continues to delight in air shows.
It was even the first plane used by the famous Brazilian Smoke Squadron.
The plane looks like a tank, and it’s very spartan.
It isn’t comfortable, but it is very docile.
The most difficult thing for me was the ergonomics of the cockpit
because when I sat down, I couldn’t reach the pedals,
and when I moved up in the seat, I couldn’t see.
A pillow for my back did the trick, and then I fit perfectly.
For many years I continued performing as a parachutist at shows,
but only flew the plane when we were shuttling.
It’s ironic how these stories repeat themselves
because during the war, women moved planes from factories to the combat zone
for men to fly.
But my time has come.
At air shows we fly aerobatics in formation with other planes,
and in that kind of flight, concentration, situational awareness,
and the synchronization between pilots has to be perfect.
There is no room for error.
On my first training flights in formations,
I came back exhausted with my back soaked with tension.
When the performance day came near,
I would joke with my husband that we couldn’t get into an argument
because flying together angry just wasn’t going to work.
Today when I fly alone, I miss the formations a lot.
Women in this sector are still a minority, but every year the number grows,
and we have many parachutists and pilots sharing the skies,
including in the air shows.
In my experience, I first had to believe that I had the potential and ability
to reach my goal, and I went for it.
In my first presentations, after landing and disembarking the plane,
I would see people’s astonished faces, both men and women.
Today they are delighted, and they believe they, too, can get there.
And this feeling is priceless.
People are getting used to and are no longer mystified
by our presence on a daily basis.
It breaks a paradigm that will cease to exist.
It’s been a long road, but already it’s a reality.
Difficulties were part of my journey,
and now I know how important these difficulties were to enable me
to reach more than 40 years in this field and to accept new cycles,
always with levity and always ready for surprises.
My son has become interested in parachute jumping now,
giving his heart and soul to the sport.
In one year, he made more than 300 jumps,
which in my day took me more than six years to accomplish.
I had the pleasure of jumping and flying with my husband.
Now, in addition to jumping with our son,
I’ve had him jump from a T-6 that I was piloting.
Through the years, I have been thrilled
to be able to contemplate fantastic views from the sky,
cross grand distances quickly, and meet people.
Without a doubt, these were the highlights.
We are a true air family with pilots, mechanics, parachutists, and ground crew.
For large events, our team reached 30 people,
and as we flew to the four corners of our continental country,
we made many friendships and have been received with the greatest affection,
and this continues today, a true gift.
So I invite you to challenge yourself to take flight in life,
not just in aviation but in any area.
With determination, courage, and much focus, we can all get there.
Believe.
Thank you and air hugs.