Flathead student finds a way to fly

[Editor’s note: This is the first in a weeklong series recognizing noteworthy graduates from the Class of 2017. This year’s series highlights “the road less traveled,” students who are taking on unique experiences or facing unexpected turns in reaching his or her destination in life.]

By KATHERYN HOUGHTON

Daily Inter Lake

Rebecca Wride has always watched birds. As a child, her eyes traced their movements overhead as she imagined flying alongside them. Now, she wants to find her own wings as a helicopter pilot.

The 18-year-old senior at Flathead High School signed up to join the U.S. Air Force last August through a delayed entry program. After graduation this month, she’s set to head to basic training in Texas.

“I never thought I would actually fly with the birds,” Wride said. “But I guess this way I kind of can.”

It wasn’t until her sophomore year in high school that Wride began thinking about a career in the sky. While on vacation with a friend in Hawaii they decided to take an open-door helicopter tour. Wind rushed across her as the helicopter lifted. She had been in planes before, but this was different.

“It felt like I was flying free,” she said.

She watched the ocean ripples from below, the movement of the trees in the green forests and the power of the waterfalls they passed.

Before the ride had ended, she was already proclaiming her future as a pilot.

“I thought I would maybe change my mind one day, but the desire hasn’t gone away,” Wride said.

It wasn’t the first time she had announced her dream job. First, she was going to be a chef. Then, she wanted to be a librarian. But she can always enjoy food and books when she’s not piloting a helicopter through the sky.

Wride said she signed up for the Air Force last year so she had a better chance of picking her top job after training.

She said it will be awhile before she lands the title of a pilot. First, Wride needs to become an officer. And before that she needs a degree. She said the short-term dream is going to the Air Force Academy.

After that, “There would be a lot of options.”

Once she’s completed nearly eight weeks of basic training in Texas, Wride is scheduled for technical training.

“After that, they’ll station me out somewhere else, I’m not sure where yet,” she said. “But that’s part of the reason I joined the Air Force, I wanted to travel, see the world.”

Wride said she expects to move around a lot in the next few years. But, she said it’s something she’s rehearsed.

She moved a lot as a kid. When she was born, the first of five siblings, her dad served in the Marine Corps. They were stationed in California.

Wride’s dad put away his uniform before she ever formed memories of him in the military.

“He had never expected any of us would go into the military and he was surprised when I showed interest,” she said. “I never thought I was going to go into the military, but after learning about the great things that can come of it, the training and jobs, it was a good option.”

When her dad left the service, his new job took the family to Colorado, Kansas, Canada, Idaho and finally Montana, where they’ve lived for roughly seven years.

While she’s looking forward to exploring some more parts of the world, Wride said she likes the idea of returning to the Flathead. She said that could come in the form of working on a rescue helicopter or, maybe she’ll be the person leading guided trips in Montana.

“I can see me taking helicopter tours over Glacier someday,” she said. “It’s so beautiful here — it would be amazing to fly here.”

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.