DAYTON — It was her “best day ever.”

Those are the words that Fairlawn senior Annie Stemen, 17, uttered when she returned to earth Thursday after taking a plane ride with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker. Stemen won a essay contest sponsored by the U.S. Experimental Aircraft Association and her prize was the plane ride. The flight was held at the Dayton Air Show.

Following the flight, Stemen and Tucker met with the press to talk about the flight.

“I really, really loved it,” said Stemen. “It was indescribable. I’m still on cloud 9, or however many clouds there are.”

Tucker, who is the honorary chairman of the Young Eagles program, said the organization has been giving rides to young people for 25 years. Approximately 55,000 kids a year receive flights from 8,000 volunteer pilots. More than 2 million kids have taken flights. The flights are held at air shows across the nation.

“It was the funnest ride I’ve ever taken. She’s a giggler,” said Tucker. “It was 8 minutes of sheer joy… It was really fun.”

“I’d go with you again,” Tucker told Stemen. “You are my funniest ride. We were running out of gas up there.”

Tucker performed several stunts while the plane was in the air.

“We did barrel rolls and loops,” said Stemen. “I did a loop myself. I think it went OK because I’m here.”

During the stunts, said Tucker, the plane was pulling 6gs. Stemen’s hair was flying all over. Her headset fell off, said Tucker.

“We were flying with the angels,” said Tucker. “Once she figured out it was like driving a tractor, she was OK.”

“I got the left and right confused,” said Stemen.

Once she figured that out, Stemen was ready to fly.

“During the loop I could see the curl of the earth,” she said. “I never thought that I could do it (fly in a small plane). I’m proud of myself. My stomach didn’t hurt. But my cheeks do from smiling so much.”

Tucker said he loves seeing someone take a flight for the first time.

“I’ve been flying for a lot of years,” said Tucker. “I get to see the world through the person’s eyes who are taking the flight for the first time.”

Stemen is the daughter of Tony and Amy Stemen, of Sidney.

Fairlawn senior Annie Stemen, right, 17, of Sidney, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, flies with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker at the Dayton Air Show Thursday, June 22. Tucker took Stemen through flips during their one on one flight and let her fly the plane. Stemen got the chance to fly after she wrote a winning 300 page essay about the possible flight.

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/06/web1_SDN062317PlaneRide1-1.jpgFairlawn senior Annie Stemen, right, 17, of Sidney, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, flies with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker at the Dayton Air Show Thursday, June 22. Tucker took Stemen through flips during their one on one flight and let her fly the plane. Stemen got the chance to fly after she wrote a winning 300 page essay about the possible flight. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

Fairlawn senior Annie Stemen, right, 17, of Sidney, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, poses with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker right after Tucker finished giving Stemen the ride of her life Thursday, June 22.

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/06/web1_SDN062317PlaneRide3-1.jpgFairlawn senior Annie Stemen, right, 17, of Sidney, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, poses with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker right after Tucker finished giving Stemen the ride of her life Thursday, June 22. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

A view from a press plane of Fairlawn senior Annie Stemen, right, 17, of Sidney, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker at the Dayton Air Show Thursday, June 22. Stemen’s mom, Amy Stemen, seated far left, just out of view, flew in the press plane for the chance to see her daughter in the air. Stemen’s mom wore a harness attached to a rope to keep her from falling out of the large hole in the side of the airplane which allows for unobstructed photography.

http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/06/web1_SDN062317PlaneRide2-1.jpgA view from a press plane of Fairlawn senior Annie Stemen, right, 17, of Sidney, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, with stunt pilot Sean D. Tucker at the Dayton Air Show Thursday, June 22. Stemen’s mom, Amy Stemen, seated far left, just out of view, flew in the press plane for the chance to see her daughter in the air. Stemen’s mom wore a harness attached to a rope to keep her from falling out of the large hole in the side of the airplane which allows for unobstructed photography. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News