Brett Phillips was 17 the first time he went up in a helicopter.
As a child, he'd eagerly watch the aircrafts' flights from a campground. Now, with the attainment of his pilot's certificate early this May, he can be the one today's young children watch and envy.
"We used to go camping at this spot in Randle, and there was a place that had helicopter rides to Mount St. Helens, and I'd watch it take off and come back. I always wanted to ride it, but I never got to," he recalled.
"It just fascinated me, and I've always wanted to fly. … I finally got old enough to," he said.
The demo ride he took in February of 2002 convinced him he wanted to take lessons.
"I was scared … but as soon as we got off the ground, I was, 'This is great. This is awesome,' " Phillips said.
"There's a whole different world in the air. It's cool," he said. "I really like it. It's really formal because there's certain things you have to do at certain times, but you're doing something that not very many people know how to do, and that feels really good."
As of the end of 2001 — the most recent figures available — 612,274 individuals were licensed as student, private, commercial and airline pilots with the Federal Aviation Administration, spokesman Donn Walker said. The FAA does not license military pilots.
Of that number, just 16,516, about 2.7 percent, are licensed to fly helicopters, gliders or a few other miscellaneous aircraft, he added.
Phillips did his senior project — which requires interviews, presentations, research and the writing of a 10-page paper — about pilot training and helicopters in general.
"The one thing I learned the most was about the history — the people and how it came to be. The rest was me just writing down what I already knew," he said.
For his presentation, he flew a helicopter from the airfield in Olympia where he took lessons and landed at the school, then answered questions from his class.
A short time later, he passed the complex, multi-part pilot's certification test.
"I did fail it the first time, but I think it's good that I did. It really put helicopter flying in perspective for me. It reminded me that there was still a lot I didn't know about helicopters," he said.
And he'll keep learning about them after high school, as he's planning a career in that field.
"I haven't done the training yet, but I think what I'd like to do is keep on with my education and eventually become an instructor-tester," Phillips said.
This fall, he'll attend Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., located just south of Anaheim. It's one of the few community colleges in the nation that offers a helicopter technician program with helicopters on site, he said, adding the school has about 25,000 students.
Phillips said once he completes the airframe and power plant (or engine) mechanic course, he'd be certified to work on any aircraft.
"He's very determined; he's got a plan, and he's going after that plan," said Jon Rooklidge, a Centralia High School history teacher and the Tiger head varsity baseball coach.
As a ballplayer, Phillips is consistent and the type of person who can be counted on to come through in a clutch situation, his coach said.
"He's very demanding of himself," Rooklidge said. "He expects to excel, and he does excel."
Phillips said he's played baseball since the age of 6. He started playing tee-ball as a 6-year-old, and has been involved with baseball through both school and community teams.
He likes pitching, he said, because that's the position that gets to handle the ball the most. He started pitching as a 12-year-old in Little League; he had been playing in the outfield, and wanted to get in on more of the action. In high school, he has filled both roles.
Phillips blew out both his ankles last spring sliding into home. Normally, he'd tense up if he was going to slide, but this one was unexpected, he said.
He was off his legs for four months — he called it a humbling experience — as he first tried rehabilitation and then reconstructive surgery, which took place at the beginning and end of October (one for each ankle).
He's still rebuilding his strength — having his ankles get tired before the rest of him is frustrating — but was on the school baseball team again this spring for his senior year.
In addition to flying and baseball, Phillips also enjoys French. He has studied the language for six years at Centralia Christian School, which he attended through eighth grade; in high school; at Centralia College; and at Flying Tiger, a Centralia business.
He said he doesn't think he'll miss high school, but would miss some of the people; he's ready to move on, and enjoys meeting new people.
"I think that's why I'm not scared of graduating. I'm kind of excited actually," he said.
Phillips said he sees high school as preparation for college and college as preparation for a career, which to him, means helicopters. He's looking forward to it.
Julie M. Graham covers education and religion for The Chronicle. She may be reached by e-mail at jgraham@chronline.com or by calling 807-8232.
