Mary Build’s “Finding Myself in Aviation,” is about so much more than flying. It chronicles her journey of discovery, from an abusive childhood to finding freedom in the skies. It wasn’t until she was in her 40’s that she discovered exactly what she had been searching for, flying. Once she earned her wings, flying became her career, hobby, and calling.

Once Mary earned her pilot certificate, there was no stopping her. She began flying scenic flights, ran a very successful flight training operation teaching hundreds of pilots to safely fly from the water, and shared her love of aviation with them. She also became an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, flew to Alaska from Maine four times, as well as competed in the Air Race Classic, and exhibited her airplane at the world’s largest gathering, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

Mary writes, “I never expected that surviving an overturned seaplane and almost drowning would be a turning point in my original desire to be a seaplane charter pilot before I even had a pilot’s license. Or that those clouds dropping down on me in the middle of mountainous terrain on one of my trips to Alaska would make me a stronger person.”

Many told Mary that her journey to discovering flight inspired them to go after their own dreams, whether it was like hers, learning to fly, or their own, such as running for elected office or going after a new career. Now that she is no longer flying, she hopes to inspire many more people through her journey of discovering herself through flight. Mary is the mother of two daughters and lives in Bridgton, Maine.