All's well that lands well.

Smoke in the cockpit and a noisy engine forced 29-year-old Wayne Myers, his father, Paul Myers, and flight instructor, Kevin Fedon, to notify Philadelphia International Airport that they would need to make an emergency landing at Brandywine Airport just before 11 a.m. Thursday.

The men took off in a Cessna 172 from Stafford, Va., Thursday morning and were headed to New York. The plan was for Paul Myers to log some hours toward an advanced pilot's license then grab some lunch in Schenectady, N.Y. - about 15 miles outside of Albany - before Wayne Myers flew the trio back to Virginia using his student's license.

The plan went sour over Chester County.

"We were about five miles south of here when suddenly we sensed engine trouble, we smelled smoke in the cockpit and for a little while none of us said anything and then finally one of us spoke up ... and said 'I smell smoke and something sounds funny,'" said Wayne Myers, of King George, Va.

The instructor, Fedon, then took over the controls.

"The thing that was going through my mind was 'take a deep breath, count to five and fly the airplane,' which is what I teach and what we're taught as we become professional pilots - most importantly, fly the airplane." Fedon said.

Fedon declared an emergency with Philadelphia International Airport and utilized GPS to divert to the nearest airport. In the process, Fedon said he had his student, Paul Myers, go through a checklist to ensure the team was following all procedures.

The plane landed at Brandywine Airport where West Goshen police and local medical responders were waiting as a precaution. A mechanic examined the small plane and said it appeared the engine blew a cylinder. Oil had spilled out of the engine and dripped down the front of the plane, which Paul Myers owns.

"This is probably about the most serious incident I've had," Fedon said. "I've had communications go out. I've had electricity go out on airplanes. But as long as you do everything like you're taught and like you teach people most of the time the outcome is good, all things considered."

The men planned to rent a car and travel back to Virginia Thursday afternoon.

Despite the startling experience, Wayne Myers was able to maintain his sense of humor. As the plane prepared for the emergency landing, he said, "The only two things I could think of was, 'Thanks for inviting me on this, Dad' and 'I hope this airport has a restaurant.'"