Emma Crawford’s Journey to Flying Doodles and Beyond

By: Shawn Staerker

Have you ever felt like you were meant for something more? For Emma Crawford, known today for her work on the popular YouTube channel Flying Doodles, that path has always led to the sky – even when she didn’t realize it herself.

Picture this: a young girl with airplanes in her backyard, daughter of a career A/P. You might think she was born with a passion for flying. But Emma’s story isn’t that straightforward.

“I was one of those kids that, you know how when you grow up in something sometimes your kids don’t really appreciate it as much as maybe some other kid who’s always looking up does? That was me.”

Despite being an “airport kid” with a father who worked for Southwest Airlines after serving in the Navy, Emma didn’t immediately embrace aviation. The planes were just… normal.

Everything changed when Emma turned 16. Searching for direction, she decided to give flying a try.

“I went to a flight lesson. I was hooked after that,” Emma recalls. “I’d flown with my dad before, but it was different when I was in control. It completely changed the whole perspective for me.”

That pivotal moment when she took the controls sparked something that would change her life forever.

Emma’s journey accelerated through Civil Air Patrol, where she became the first person to complete their Cadet Wings program – a full scholarship from zero to private pilot.

“Hard work can get you a long way,” Emma says. But she also learned that “even at a young age, the world is a political place. You gotta know who your friends are, and you gotta stand by your integrity.”

With flying now in her blood, Emma set her sights on becoming a fighter pilot through the Air Force Academy, despite not having competitive grades or test scores.

When her first application was rejected, most people would have given up. Not Emma. At 19, at the famous Oshkosh airshow, she learned that Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein would be speaking.

“I snuck backstage past the security forces,” she recalls. “I ran back there and I go, ‘I’m EAA, I’m EAA.’ And they were like, ‘Where is your badge?’ I’m like, ‘No, I need to talk to that guy.'”

Her boldness paid off. She met General Goldfein, who helped her secure a slot at the Air Force Academy prep school, which led to an appointment to the Academy itself.

Emma’s time at the Academy coincided with COVID-19. Despite fighting to stay, a moral decision about the COVID vaccine ultimately led her to resign, giving up her fighter pilot dream.

“I realized I might be the type of person that needs to carve my own path and be in charge of my own fate,” Emma explains.

Sometimes our greatest opportunities come disguised as setbacks.

Emma’s journey took a life-changing turn when Bobby from the popular YouTube channel Flying Doodles approached her while she was giving biplane rides in Galveston.

“Bobby said, ‘Hey, I’m looking for somebody to take over this channel.’ And I’m like, I’m willing to try something different.”

Taking over Flying Doodles meant stepping into a new role as a content creator – one that perfectly matched her authentic, adventurous personality. While running Flying Doodles meant flying less, it opened up a whole new way to connect with the aviation community.

“The transition has been interesting,” Emma explains about her Flying Doodles experience. “I’ve started really enjoying the content side of things. It’s been difficult but it’s also been fun and natural.”

Under Emma’s direction, Flying Doodles has continued to showcase fascinating aircraft and the stories behind them. Her natural narration style and genuine enthusiasm for aviation has kept viewers engaged and inspired.

Building on her success with Flying Doodles, Emma also started her own podcast called “Hangar Bums,” inspired by the “crusty old guys” who shaped her aviation journey.

“I wanted to give back, and I wanted other people who may not have had that experience of being the airport kid to have that platform.”

Through her podcast, Emma interviews the characters you find at small airports across America – the Georges, Bills, Bobs, and Mikes who carry aviation’s stories and wisdom.

“Everybody’s got a George or a Bill or a Bob or a Mike,” Emma laughs. “I get the stories of the fellas who frequent these old airports.”

This work is crucial. We’re approaching a time when the people who witnessed the early days of aviation will no longer be with us.

True to her adventurous spirit, Emma has purchased a 1929 Travel Air 4000 project that she’ll be building over the next several years – a journey she’ll likely document on Flying Doodles.

“You don’t see Travel Airs in air shows. I think that’d be cool,” she muses.

Her dream aircraft? The Beechcraft Staggerwing, the Ryan, and the legendary P-51 Mustang. And if she could fly with anyone? “Bob Hoover,” she answers without hesitation.

Emma’s story reminds us that our paths aren’t always straight. Sometimes we have to forge new ones, guided by our integrity and powered by determination.

Want to hear more about Emma and her Flying Doodles journey? Check out the full interview on The Future in Flight Podcast. You’ll get all the details of Emma’s aviation adventure, plus her insights on content creation that couldn’t fit in this article.

Follow Emma on Instagram at @EmmaFliesPlanes, subscribe to Flying Doodles on YouTube, or check out her Hangar Bums podcast. And if you’re one of those “hangar bums” with a story to tell, reach out to Emma – she might feature you on one of her channels!

Remember, sometimes it’s not about following the traditional path. It’s about finding your own way to soar, just like Emma did with Flying Doodles.

Want to listen to more on The Future in Flight Podcast Episode 12? You can check that out here 👇

The Future in Flight Episode 12 with Emma Crawford from Flying Doodles