In an inspiring tale of family and adventure, Kerri Kimmich and her sister, Amanda Giese, have been flying high together for years, immersing themselves in their shared passion for aviation. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Kimmich, 29, recently introduced her four-month-old daughter Macie to the joys of flying during a special trip that has captured the attention of social media users.
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Kerri comes from a family steeped in aviation, with her sister, father, brother, and husband all engaging in the art of flight. Until recently, Kimmich worked as an aviation systems engineer at Garmin International, but she made the life-changing decision to leave her job to focus on motherhood and her growing family. Alongside Amanda, 27, the sisters have spent the last five years creating cherished memories in the skies together, sharing their adventures on social media.
Discussing the essence of their expeditions, Kimmich remarked, “Our favourite part is the freedom to hop in the aeroplane, travel to new places and visit family and friends.” The duo established their social media presence to document their airborne journeys and inspire others to embrace similar passions.
This summer, Kimmich was eager to introduce her newborn daughter to the world of flying that she has loved for most of her life. The opportunity arose when Kimmich and Giese found themselves in South Carolina, just a short hop away from friends in Jacksonville, Florida, who had welcomed a new child into their family.
“We thought it would be really special to make the trip, meet their new baby, and introduce our babies to each other for the first time,” Kimmich shared. The sisters set off on a 90-minute flight from Columbia, South Carolina, to Craig Airport in Florida, with just the three of them on board for what Kimmich affectionately described as a “little girls’ trip.”
Preparation for Macie’s inaugural flight involved strategic planning. Kimmich took steps to ensure her daughter would be comfortable in the air. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Kimmich acclimatised Macie to wearing hearing protection during playtime. The timing of the flight was also carefully orchestrated, taking place during Macie’s normal naptime and equipped with a bottle for Giese to feed her during take-off and landing — a method that helps with ear pressure regulation, just like on commercial airlines.
“I wanted to make Macie as comfortable as possible so she grows up loving flying too,” Kimmich explained. In her mind, the benefit of piloting their own aircraft allowed for a more gradual ascent and descent compared to larger airliners, easing potential ear pressure issues. Additionally, being able to adhere to a personalised schedule meant they could coincide the flight with Macie’s cuddly naptime. Remarkably, Macie slept through most of the journey, waking just in time for her bottle before landing.
Though the trip was filled with excitement, Kimmich admitted she felt some nervousness ahead of the flight. “We overcome any nervous feelings by being prepared,” she stated. They ensured proper pre-flight checks, reviewed their route, and planned for potential challenges. Interestingly, Kimmich admitted to feeling more anxious about driving with Macie for the first time than piloting her through the air. Fortunately, now that Macie has experienced flying a few times, Kimmich feels confident that her daughter enjoys it.
The duo later shared their adventure on TikTok, as they do with many of their flying experiences. This particular video unexpectedly gained significant traction, amassing over 10 million views and numerous comments. “Seeing it go viral was honestly crazy,” said Kimmich. The overwhelming response positively surprised them, and the sisters were thrilled to hear that their journey resonated with many viewers.
“It was really cool to hear that other mums and women were inspired by it,” Kimmich remarked. She expressed hope that their story encourages mothers and anyone else to continue pursuing their interests while managing family life.
The flight has prompted even more outings on the horizon, as Giese is keen on flying Macie to Disney World this summer. Kimmich joked that her sister is eager to secure her title as the “favourite aunt.” The family also plans to visit Philadelphia later this year so that Macie can meet family members, including her great-grandparents.
In conclusion, Kimmich emphasised that entering a new chapter in life, such as motherhood, shouldn’t mean abandoning one’s passions. “Flying is even more meaningful to me now that I get to share it with Macie,” she stated, encapsulating the sentiment of many parents who strive to balance responsibilities with their dreams and passions.