• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
  • Online E-Editions
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits

Robert Crews

She has lofty goals, and the will to achieve them

October 20, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

After a lifetime of preparation, Olivia Jenkins was ready to fly.

She boarded a Cessna 172 Skyhawk — and her instructor stayed on the ground.

She took off from Tampa North Flight Center in Lutz on Sept. 23 and flew her pattern, soaring to 1,000 feet, then she touched down flawlessly to begin a run of three landings.

Olivia Jenkins stands near a plane at the North Tampa Flight Center in Lutz. (Courtesy of Olivia Jenkins)

Her quirky goal was complete.

“I flew a plane solo before I drove a car solo,’’ she explained.

Jenkins, 16, has many more goals in mind (including getting her driver’s license — one day). On her birthday — Feb. 10 — she intends to take her last check ride and finalize her private pilot’s license. Then she can fly without restrictions and even take some passengers aboard.

She’s a member of Mitchell High School’s Navy ROTC program and will seek a congressional nomination to a military service academy. One day, she hopes to fly for the U.S. Air Force or perhaps fly helicopters for the Army.

“I would not put anything past Olivia,’’ said Robert Crews, her flight instructor. “For a 16-year-old, she approaches it so professionally. When you ask her to do something, she does it and she understands it.

“You know how 16-year-olds are? They say, ‘Yeah, I got it, I got it.’ Then they don’t have it. When Olivia says she’s got it, she’s got it.”

Jenkins, whose family lives in Trinity, has a 3.9 grade-point average. She has honed her skills and training through the North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary unit of the U.S. Air Force. As a cadet commander, she has taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in orientation flights, where cadets fly with instructors and take the controls themselves, while soaking up knowledge.

“Beyond the flight experience, the Civil Air Patrol has allowed Olivia to build a lot of character and leadership skills, as she has progressed through the ranks,’’ said Rich Jenkins, her father. “I think it has all shown her raw ambition. Whenever we set a goal for her, she has always outperformed that goal. She takes it on and masters it, whether it’s schoolwork or anything else.

Sixteen-year-old Olivia Jenkins recently took her first solo flight.

“But, clearly, she has a passion for flying. And, she had it from a very early age.’’

Jenkins’ father helped with that. As a private pilot himself, he took Olivia on flights when she was still in a car seat. She doesn’t remember much from those early days. But, the father recalls when they were at the top of the old Pier in St. Petersburg. She had a clear view of Albert Whitted Airport. She spotted the landing indicator lights and knew if the planes were coming in too low. Olivia was 4.

She attended the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland annually with her father, but her flight interest really took off at age 10, when she participated in the Experimental Aircraft Association (EEA) Young Eagles program.

That’s when she set her goal. She wanted to fly solo before she could drive solo.

Mission accomplished.

“I just love the feeling of flying,’’ Jenkins said. “I always had an interest, I think, but the Young Eagles experience really showed me what it’s like to be in the air.

“I was a little nervous on my first solo flight, but I was prepared. I studied hard and was confident in what I was doing. When I flew the approach nicely and touched down nice and smooth, that was absolutely the best part. It’s like achieving a lifelong dream. I’m excited for what’s ahead,” she said.

Olivia Jenkins prepares her plane, at dusk.

Jenkins is nothing but prepared.

She served an internship last summer in the office of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who represents the 12th congressional district in Florida.

Jenkins is back in Bilirakis’ office for occasional work, some of which involves helping organize students who are seeking nominations to military service academies. By next summer, with her connections firmly in place, Jenkins will be seeking her own nomination.

She also has maximized her experience with the Civil Air Patrol, taking five orientation flights (almost mini-flight lessons), getting accepted into a summer flight academy and securing most of her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examinations, the precursor to a private pilot’s license.

She has about 13 sessions remaining with Crews, her flight instructor, before the birthday flight that will make things official.

If the weather conditions are right, Jenkins can rent a plane at the Tampa North Flight Center for a brief flight. On a whim, she did that recently. It was after-hours, calm and quiet. Taking the plane up was a thrill. The landing was perfect.

“The sunset was amazing that night,’’ Jenkins said. “It was just awesome. I think I’m always going to love the feeling. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.’’

Off she goes into the wild blue yonder. She’s ready to fly.

By Joey Johnston

Published October 21, 2020

Filed Under: People Profiles, Top Story Tagged With: Albert Whitted Airport, Army, Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Civil Air Patrol, Experimental Aircraft Association, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, Gus Bilirakis, Mitchell High School, Navy ROTC, North Tampa-Lutz Cadet Squadron, Olivia Jenkins, Rich Jenkins, Robert Crews, Sun 'n Fun Aerospace Expo, Tampa North Flight Center, U.S. Air Force

Primary Sidebar

All the Way Health and Acupuncture

Twisted Sprocket

Foodie Friday Gallery

Search

Sponsored Content

A New Look For 2021 From Tampa Surgical Arts

January 12, 2021 By Kelli Carmack

Tampa Surgical Arts offers cosmetic treatments that give patients confidence and makes them look years younger. Two of … [Read More...] about A New Look For 2021 From Tampa Surgical Arts

More Posts from this Category

Archives

What’s Happening

01/23/2021 – Adult craft

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a virtual craft at home for adults on Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. Participants can learn to make fireworks in a jar. To view the video, visit Facebook.com/cplib. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Adult craft

01/23/2021 – Dumpling soup

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will present “Cook-a-Book: Soup” on Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. This month the book, “Dumpling Soup” by Jama Kim Rattigan will be featured. Participants can hear the story and then learn to make a kid-friendly dumpling soup. For information and to see the presentation, visit Facebook.com/regencyparklibrary. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Dumpling soup

01/23/2021 – Hobby Circle

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer a Hobby Circle on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m., for anyone who wants to share a hobby or learn about a new one — from a work of art to a new recipe, to a favorite video game. The group will meet via Zoom. For information, email . … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Hobby Circle

01/23/2021 – Star Wars Night

The Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, will host a Star Wars Family Night on Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for ages 7 and older. Guests can take part in intergalactic adventures and hands-on activities, such as build-your-own lightsaber and train in the art of dueling. Participants also can control a droid through an obstacle course, learn about traveling to other planets in the Saunders planetarium, and navigate through exhibits. There also will be a game called Beat Saber on the Oculus Rift. Preregistration is required. For information and tickets, visit Mosi.org. … [Read More...] about 01/23/2021 – Star Wars Night

01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer an adult fizzy bath bomb craft, through curbside pickup only. The kit will include lavender Epsom salt, citric acid, a reusable mold, instructions and more. Pickup is from Jan. 25 through Jan. 30. Registration is required through the calendar feature on the library’s website, or by calling 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Fizzy bath bomb

01/25/2021 – Lego building

Mr. John from Bricks 4 Kidz will show participants how to become a Lego Master Builder with an online class that teaches various building methods and techniques. The program will be presented on Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m., for ages 5 to 12. Registration is through the calendar feature at HCPLC.org. … [Read More...] about 01/25/2021 – Lego building

More of What's Happening

Follow us on Twitter

The Laker/Lutz NewsFollow

The Laker/Lutz News
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
9h

Looking for your new favorite restaurant? Maybe Foodie Friday can help!
https://buff.ly/38wIay0

3
Reply on Twitter 1352662509833105411Retweet on Twitter 1352662509833105411Like on Twitter 1352662509833105411Twitter 1352662509833105411
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
11h

Vaccine demand continues to outpace supply. https://buff.ly/3qGblWM

Reply on Twitter 1352622730059902978Retweet on Twitter 1352622730059902978Like on Twitter 1352622730059902978Twitter 1352622730059902978
LakerLutzNewsThe Laker/Lutz News@LakerLutzNews·
21 Jan

400 apartments proposed on Wesley Chapel Boulevard. https://buff.ly/38IxVb6

Reply on Twitter 1352299929759326208Retweet on Twitter 1352299929759326208Like on Twitter 1352299929759326208Twitter 1352299929759326208
Load More...

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Top Stories

NAMI/Pasco addresses growing need for its services

Pasco commissioners clash on apartment request

Burgess discusses pandemic response

Vaccine demand continues to outpace supply

Input from law enforcement welcome in planning efforts

Zephyrhills CRA has full plate to start new year

City of Zephyrhills gives employee service awards

Pasco allocates funds for new central office design

Don’t forget: This year’s Kumquat Festival is set for March 27

Hillsborough County’s Sunshine Line helps seniors get around

The Big Shred IV helps people dispose of documents

Pasco’s building boom creates a backlog in permits

Enjoying entertainment, and sampling syrup

Secondary Sidebar

More Stories

Check out our other stories for the week

NAMI/Pasco addresses growing need for its services

Pasco commissioners clash on apartment request

Burgess discusses pandemic response

Vaccine demand continues to outpace supply

Input from law enforcement welcome in planning efforts

Zephyrhills CRA has full plate to start new year

City of Zephyrhills gives employee service awards

Pasco allocates funds for new central office design

Don’t forget: This year’s Kumquat Festival is set for March 27

Hillsborough County’s Sunshine Line helps seniors get around

The Big Shred IV helps people dispose of documents

Pasco’s building boom creates a backlog in permits

Enjoying entertainment, and sampling syrup

Sports Stories

All-Pasco County girls fall awards announced

Banner soccer season

Local runner claims national title

Pasco County athletes compete in 2020 Florida Senior Games

South Pasco cheer program wins national titles

Copyright © 2021 Community News Publications Inc.

   