A Pilot’s Dream Takes Wing With High-Tech Plane

Most people who wanted to take a trip to Russia would simply call their travel agent. Not Gulshin Gilbert of Santa Monica. She is in the process of building an experimental aircraft and plans to fly it on a friendship mission to the former Soviet Union.

“I love flying and I started from ground zero,” said the 35-year-old pilot. “I’m in the process of building one of the most advanced aircraft and it shows that you can make a dream come true.”

Gilbert is building an aircraft called a Berkut, whose name comes from an area within the former Soviet Union. In English, Berkut means golden eagle.

Part of a research and development team working under the direction of aviation designer David Ronneberg at Santa Monica Airport, Gilbert works about 20 hours a week on the project. So far, she has completed the fire wall, fuselage, instrument panel, seat back, nose gear and winglets of the aircraft. She plans to have the project completed in the next year or so.

“It looks like a jet fighter and it gets people’s minds going because it has state-of-the-art aerodynamics and ergonomics,” said Gilbert. The 18-foot-long aircraft can travel at up to 230 m.p.h. with one pilot and passenger aboard. The engine and air frame create flexibility and maneuverability, setting the Berkut apart from traditional commercial aircraft. It’s the difference between a sports car and a Volkswagen, said Gilbert.

“Since I started building this airplane, I have gotten a serious education in mechanics,” she said. “I feel like I am a much better pilot.”

Some 15 years ago, a friend introduced Gilbert to the world of aviation. After she received her pilot’s license, she flew during her spare time but turned her attention toward a career in the entertainment industry. An actress and model, she had occasional roles in commercials and soap operas.

In 1988, she took a detour from acting and opened the Aviation Workshop, an airline transport school at Santa Monica Airport, where she is the chief instructor.

“I get a lot of inspiration (from flying) and I like to share it with the community and schools,” she said. “There are a lot of things to be gained from aviation such as excellence, role models and integrity and it’s one of the values of having an airport in the community.”

Gilbert plans to make a friendship flight from the United States to Russia sometime in the near future. She hopes to demonstrate the importance of having dreams and perseverance to make them come true. She also wants to convey a message to Russian women that, given the opportunity, they too can transcend barriers and enter fields such as aviation.

“Flying is a motivating force and the ability to be the best that I can be requires excellence and refinement of who I am as person,” she said. “Those qualities are necessary to make me feel good about myself.”

The Palisadian Post and Pacific Palisades Community Council awarded its 1991 Citizen of the Year Award to Thomas Young for his contributions in gathering, writing and celebrating the history of Pacific Palisades.

Young, in addition to other Golden Sparkplug honorees Lloyd Ahern, George Billauer, Diane Hill, Phil Kamins, Irma Landa, Sophie Ravitz and Didi Carr Reuben, was honored for “sparking” new projects in the community.

Janet Lederer Schwabe was named Middle Level Educator of the Year for a five-county region by the California League of Middle Schools.

Schwabe, an English teacher at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, won the title for Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo counties.

The Santa Monica Junior Chamber of Commerce gave its Outstanding Young Firefighter Award to Santa Monica Firefighter Fernando Padilla.

A resident of Santa Monica, he was recognized for outstanding professional and community contributions by a firefighter between the ages of 21 and 40. Padilla was honored at a ceremony April 28 at Santa Monica Fire Station 5.