James Maloney Flying with DuBois Aviation

Although 59-year-old financial advisor James Maloney had been in one small and many commercial planes before, he had never flown one until Friday, November 29.

Prior to the flight, Maloney had no interest in flying a plane, claiming he entered a contest and thought the prize he won was a lesson taught in a classroom. When he learned the lessons involved him flying a plane at DuBois Aviation, he was a little nervous, but was reassured by the knowledge of the instructor.

After flight instructor Skylar Van Nuys finished inspecting the plane, an IFR Piper Cherokee 180 C capable of seating a maximum of four people, everyone boarded the plane. Maloney described safety as being his biggest priority before the flight began.

Although Van Nuys was the co-pilot, he only checked the gauges and provided guidance when Maloney needed it. Maloney flew the group through the airspace belonging to the Ontario airport, what Van Nuys called a “playground” for flight training, over Lake Matthews with the Perris Reservoir just in sight.

Maloney found the flight easier than he thought it would be, and Van Nuys claimed he had a “nice control” over the plane. Maloney described the flight as requiring a lot more concentration because of the need to pay closer attention to the environment.

After the flight, Maloney expressed an interest in flying again if it were to go somewhere, giving the example of flying to Las Vegas.