“Have that crazy, larger than life goal, pursue it with a vengeance, and know that it’s going to end up being an amazing experience regardless of whether you achieve that one vaunted goal or not.”

Military aviator, aerospace engineer, flight instructor, computer scientist, West Point professor, licensed commercial pilot, Colonel Tanya Estes was part of the first wave of women in combat aviation, and only the 3rd woman to pilot the legendary $35 million Apache AH-64A, considered the Maserati of helicopters. She shares how her early love of flying and lifelong pursuit to become an astronaut influenced her decisions.

Tanya (right) and her husband Ray flying a DA40 single-engine plane