For Eli Perl, a Senior at UNC Chapel Hill from Washington D.C., flying was more than a skill—it was a promise. A lifelong dream, finally became reality between January and March 2025. Over those months, I followed Eli through early morning training sessions, late-night study marathons, and the quiet moments of doubt and determination that marked his path to earning his pilot’s license. For as long as he can remember, Eli dreamed of flying—drawn to the sky with a sense of purpose that never faded. A lifelong fascination turned into a mission, and between January and March 2025, I followed Eli on his journey to earn his pilot’s license. From early training sessions to quiet moments of reflection, this photo story captures the grit, growth, and quiet joy of a dream finally realized.
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In early March, Eli Perl embarked on his first assisted flight of the season. Anxiously, he prepares his gear and taxis the plane, anticipating the start of many aerial journeys under the guidance of his instructor. -
“My goal is to be able to have a plane like this one day, I don’t know if that day will ever come, but being able to have that type of freedom seems unmatched.” Eli notes his situation as he tugs a loaner plane, specifically an extremely nice one, onto the runway ahead of an assisted flight. -
In early March, Eli completed a pre-flight checklist for an assisted flight. Carefully, he guides the plane onto the private runway, reviewing its internal systems to ensure everything is ready for takeoff. -
In early February, Eli delved into North Carolina-centered practice questions tailored for his upcoming pilot exam in March. “The format changes with every exam. You can study extensively only to face completely unexpected questions,” he explains. -
In late January, Eli learns to care for aircraft by cleaning a friend’s plane in Wilmington, North Carolina. Perched on a wheeled cart, he meticulously wipes grime from the plane’s underbelly, honing essential maintenance skills. -
During exam preparation, Eli strikes a determined pose with his pilot’s handbook and headset, a portrait reflecting both his dedication and the vulnerability he feels as he faces the challenges ahead. -
Tired of being hunched over the computer he switches his medium to the TV, and airplay the diagrams of various planes to begin his memorization for the upcoming exam. The hoodie pulled over his head caters to his reclusion during this time and stress pushed upon him by the upcoming test. -
“Everytime I enter a plane it feels like it’s my first time flying it. Probably not the best thing to admit as someone pursuing their pilot’s license, but rationally, there is still a lot of fear behind all of this.” Eli notes his pre-takeoff situation as he does his necessary checklist of everything ahead of his solo flight. -
Eli has his plane surveyed for a final time before his first solo flight. The crew of Modern Aviation does one final check on the vintage-like plane before giving him the green light to take on his biggest passion, but simultaneously his biggest fear. -
In a full-circle moment, Eli takes to the skies for his test flight in late March—the final step in earning his pilot’s license. As he lifts off, he carries the dreams of his younger self, the boy who once gazed up at passing planes, imagining this very moment. Now, with steady hands and years of dedication behind him, he proves to himself just how far he’s come.
