As a child, Hayden McDonald knew he would grow up to be a pilot. His grandfather (known as Papa) owned a 1977 Beechcraft Bonanza which he used to fly for his commercial business. “My sister and I used to fight to be in co-pilot’s seat but as we got older, she lost interest sitting up front,” Hayden says. “I touched the controls when I was six under Papa’s strict supervision as its the "pilot’s job to fly" and I loved it. I used to read a lot of kid’s aviation books as a kid which I still have.”
“It has come to the point that we have to hide our part of selves and "mask" from DAMES just to get a piece of paper.”
Hayden’s Papa started to fly less and less as his chronic fatigue was starting to affect him more and as Hayden’s only avenue to fly,