Breaking Barriers: Vanzell Jenkins’ Journey Champions Diversity in Aviation
By Shawn Staerker
Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Vanzell Jenkins knew nothing about aviation. There were no pilots in his family. No flight attendants. He had no connection to the industry whatsoever.
Today, he’s building his own airplane, teaching aviation to young people, and training to become an airshow pilot – embodying the transformative power of diversity in aviation through his remarkable journey.
A Science-Loving Kid Finds His Wings
Unlike many pilots who caught the aviation bug as children, Vanzell’s journey began in college. A science enthusiast who grew up watching Neil deGrasse Tyson’s “Cosmos” with his brothers, Vanzell chose to take honors physics in high school simply because he was fascinated by how the world works.
“I have a science brain,” Vanzell explains. “Cars aren’t moving forward directly – they’re trying to push the ground back, and the reaction is the ground pushing the car forward.”
When it came time to choose a college major, his mother made a suggestion that would change everything: “Look up aerospace engineering.” She only mentioned it once, but it stuck.
As Vanzell researched, he discovered something even more exciting – he could become a pilot. The idea of combining all the sciences he loved (physics, meteorology, geography, biology) into one career path felt perfect.
Starting From Zero
Entering Southern Illinois University as an aviation major, Vanzell faced challenges most of his classmates didn’t.
“When I first got into the classroom, I knew four things about airplanes: there was a big one, a small one, one had a propeller, and one didn’t,” he laughs. “But I’m sitting next to people having conversations about ‘737s, Boeing, and Airbus.’ I didn’t know what any of that meant.”
This knowledge gap sometimes led instructors to think he wasn’t trying hard enough, when in reality, he was pioneering diversity in aviation within his community – learning everything from scratch without the foundation many students had.
“A lot of people I took classes with had done Young Eagles flights,” he explains, referring to the popular program that offers free flights to youth. “I didn’t learn about Young Eagles until after I had my private pilot’s license.”
Despite these obstacles, Vanzell persevered, driven by a determination to succeed and a supportive mother who always told her six children: “If you love what you do for work, it will not be work.”
Building an Airplane and Breaking Stereotypes
Fast forward to 2020 – the “worldwide midlife crisis” as Vanzell jokingly calls it – when he began asking himself: “What is my mark on this world? What legacy am I going to make?”
The answer? Building his own airplane to inspire others from the air.
“I’ve inspired from the ground, now I want to inspire from the air,” he explains. “I want to take my personality, my creativity, aviation, and flying, and put that all together.”
Vanzell chose to build an RV-8, an experimental aircraft kit. For those unfamiliar with experimental aircraft, don’t worry – “experimental” doesn’t mean unsafe. It’s simply a category that allows for more innovation and customization than certified aircraft.
One advantage of building vs. buying? Cost flexibility.
“With a kit build, the company has all the parts sized up together. I just put them together like Lego pieces. But I don’t have to buy it all at once – I can buy one kit at a time,” Vanzell explains. “Think of it as financing the airplane over 2-7 years, depending on life situations.”
From Student to Teacher
After graduating, Vanzell paid his dues working the ramp at Midway Airport. One day, while giving a ride to a pilot who’d left her food on a plane, he mentioned he was a pilot too.
“She knew somebody looking for instructors to inspire minorities in aviation,” he recalls. That connection led to a decade-long career teaching aviation to minorities in the Chicago area, expanding even to Gary, Indiana and other locations.
The results have been remarkable. “One of my earlier students became an instructor who has a student who became an instructor who has students. I have a whole lineage of people inspired by other people.”
Perhaps most impressive: “One of my earlier students got his pilot’s license before his driver’s license!”
Dreams With Goals
When asked about common misconceptions around “following your dreams,” Vanzell shares wisdom worthy of his namesake (he introduces himself as “Vanzell, like Denzel but better”).
“Dreams without goals are just dreams,” he explains, echoing Denzel Washington. “On the road to following your dreams, you have to apply discipline, but more importantly, consistency. Without commitment, you’ll never start. But without consistency, you’ll never finish.”
He breaks down how this applies to aviation:
“If my goal is to fly for hire, I need a commercial pilot license. How do I get there? I need to first get my private pilot license. How do I get there? I need a student license. I’m building blocks to get where I want to be.”
This methodical approach has guided his journey toward becoming an airshow pilot – a path that began with attending airshows, connecting with current performers, and earning a scholarship from the Southeast Council of Airshows.
Expanding Diversity in Aviation
One of Vanzell’s most powerful messages is that while being a pilot might not be for everyone, “there’s something in aviation for everybody.”
“For one flight that happens with two pilots, there are a thousand people, if not more, that make that flight possible,” he points out.
Some aviation careers that might surprise you:
- Fashion designers who create airline uniforms
- Architects who design airports
- Engineers who create passenger experiences
- Air traffic controllers keeping everything safe
- Mechanics keeping aircraft running perfectly
And for young people worried about the cost of getting involved? Vanzell has encouraging news:
“If you’re under 18, look up Young Eagles flights. Pilots volunteer their time, their plane, and their gas to take kids up for free so they can experience flight.”
Even better? “It doesn’t cost anything to learn. How many YouTube videos could you just download for free about different aviation topics?”
Evolve The Life You’re In
Vanzell’s personal motto – “Evolve the life you’re in” – captures his philosophy perfectly.
“Your area and your environment doesn’t define who you are. You define the environment you’re in,” he says. “Where you are now does not mean this is where you’re gonna stay.”
For a kid from Chicago’s South Side who knew nothing about aviation to become a pilot, educator, airplane builder, and future airshow performer, this isn’t just a catchy phrase – it’s his lived experience.
As he continues his journey toward the airshow circuit, training in tailwheel aircraft and building his RV-8, Vanzell remains focused on showing what’s possible and strengthening diversity in aviation through representation and mentorship.
Want to hear more about Vanzell’s incredible journey and get his advice first-hand? Listen to his full interview on The Future in Flight Podcast Episode #4—available here: https://futureinflight.com/from-the-south-side-to-the-skies
Follow Vanzell’s continuing adventures on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok by searching for “VanzAir,” or by visiting his website here: VanzAir Inc
