Josh Lambert earns his wings

It was love at first flight for recently licensed pilot Josh Lambert

This year, New Trier junior Josh Lambert has defied the odds of what a high school student can accomplish: becoming a pilot.

From a young age, Lambert knew he was destined to fly. “Truthfully, I have been interested in flying my entire life,” Lambert said. “It is something that I have always felt comfortable with.”

Lambert grew up in a family with absolutely no background flying. His parents and relatives have always supported his journey, but they were not the ones to inspire it. Flying was love at first flight.

Lambert’s fascination with planes began when he was just a toddler. His parents would take him to the airport and he watched planes take off and land for hours a day. As planes would taxi by, he waved to all of the passing pilots and they would smile and wave back.

For the past three years, Lambert has been training to obtain his pilot’s license. At age 15, he first met with a private flight instructor to learn the basics.

“The process started when I had to first take my aviation medical so I could qualify physically to fly,” Lambert said.

During his aviation medical, he was assessed by a private physician who made sure it was safe for him to fly an aircraft. “After that, I worked on maneuvers one on one with my instructor both in the air and on the ground.”

At the age of 16, Lambert was allowed to solo. This means he could go out and fly as long as he brought along no passengers. This is a similar concept to the learner’s permit for student drivers.

After an entire year of getting acquainted with the aircraft, he was finally ready to get his license. “At age 17, I was then eligible to take my private pilot checkride with a federal examiner,” Lambert said. After obtaining his license, he was then fully qualified to fly.

Lambert has plans to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs after graduation.

In the Air Force, his goal is to be able to fly the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s.

He strives to perform strategic airlift missions, transport troops and cargo throughout the world and take part in medical evacuations and airdrop duties.

“I think that being in the Air Force would be a great way to serve my country and combine it with my life’s passion,” Lambert said.

“It’s great now having the opportunity to be that pilot who gets to wave to the kids watching the plane ago by, who like me, dreamed of being a pilot.”