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.”
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,16, he received two TIF vouchers and Hayden began training at an RAAus school in Esperance. After winning a scholarship from RAAus, Hayden completed his first solo five days before he got his red Ps for driving. He now owns the very Jabiru he learned to fly in.
