Aviation enthusiast shares her passion at first ever Fly in and Car Show

MADISONVILLE, Texas (KBTX) - The city of Madisonville partnered with the Lazy Eight Flight School to bring aviation and car enthusiasts together with their first ever fly in and car show.

Locals and travelers gathered to watch planes land, appreciate cars, and have family friendly fun at the Madisonville Municipal Airport on September 28. Pilots that flew in earned a free dinner and got to show off their aviation skills.

"This is our first annual... Fly in and Car Show, and what that means is different pilots from different areas are flying in... and we've got cars on display here," said Brianna Williams, Director of Marketing and Tourism for the City of Madisonville. "We just really wanted to show the public that we have a beautiful airport here... and bring people out to have fun. "

One of the pilots that flew in was Devanie Sanchez, a flight instructor, flight attendant, and self proclaimed aviation enthusiast.

Sanchez told KBTX that her passion for aviation started when she realized she wanted to become a pilot at 18. After attending college, she worked to earn a place in aviation as a flight attendant.

"When I learned that I can be a civilian pilot, I was all in," said Sanchez. "I've just kind of dove head in first and picked up everything that I can learn from everyone."

As a civilian pilot, Sanchez is a flight instrument instructor and a multi-engine instructor with Delta Whiskey Hotel Aero Club .

Sanchez began her journey towards becoming an airline pilot in 2020. She told KBTX that her experience as a flight attendant has helped her meet more people and expand her network in the world of aviation.

"Whenever I'm working, I'm working with different people all the time... When they find out that I'm on my flight journey, then they connect me with other people or they send me students to start flying with," said Sanchez. "That's been a huge help, as well, being a flight attendant."

Now Sanchez owns a business called Pilot Juliet. She hopes to create a scholarship fund for first generation female pilots.

"I want to be able to help... I want someone else to feel like they have a chance to do something more," said Sanchez. "This is just... my way of giving back, not just to the aviation community, but to the world."

Sanchez said that events like the Fly in and Car Show are the best part of her path because she gets to connect with other aviation enthusiasts and reach the younger generation.

"The most exciting [part] is just seeing it all come about, putting on an event like this, you just never know," said Williams. "Just to see the turn out, the families out here and the kids interested in the planes... and just enjoying our airport."

Lazy Eight Flight School uses the municipal airport grounds to teach its students, according to the Lazy Eight Flight School website. Lazy Eight offers private pilot lessons, instrument rating training, commercial pilot lessons, and tailwheel flying endorsement training.