Aviation Gods

sleepingsquirrel · May 9, 2014

For a few hours this week several rather ordinary pilots were Aviation Gods. I arranged a field trip for my Grand daughters 3rd grade class to the airport.
Seven other friends of mine produced aircraft for them to see, sit in and ask questions about. There were no questions asked that these pilots could not answer, there were no questions asked in guile, just simple honest questions from children being exposed to the airport and General Aviation for the FIRST TIME! All but three of these children have have never flown. Only one of them had been to the airport.
The airport management team were excellent hosts and supplied a Piper Cub airshow . One of the local RV builders also did circuits in the pattern. The State Highway Patrol arrived early in the three hour session and were a big hit. Three hours stretched into four. Our local MED FLIGHT crew were also big hits near the end of the day.The Blue Angels or Thunderbirds could not have gained more attention from these children. Can you imagine 103 children so quiet one could hear a pin drop? The Q&A between the children and the pilots was conducted in open air without any amplification.
Do airplanes crash? How high have you flown? How fast will it go? Why do you fly? How are the flight surfaces connected to the yoke? Have you ever crashed? Do pilots get lost? Why are airplanes different? Why does that airplane have eyes? Have you flown through the Bermuda Triangle? This was all before the group was escorted onto the ramp to sit in the aircraft. The questions never ended and the pilots never failed to respond. Only the upturned faces of curiosity when an aircraft would appear in the pattern seemed to slow down the childrens efforts to become pilots in one day. Any aircraft that appeared was greeted with wild hand waving and ooohs and ahhhs as they magically moved through the air to a safe landing.
Nothing I can say to describe the overwhelming satisfaction of seeing this with my own eyes!
Thanks to all who made this possible! You know who you are, ....................Aviation Gods
NO ONE can take that away from you once a child gives it.

**Hank** · May 9, 2014

Wonderful report, Squirrel! At least now we know where you've been hiding lately.

We did a similar event a couple of years ago for the children from a local bank [children whose parents had accounts there]. It's a wonderful way to introduce lots of people to general aviation, and feed that spark in the young ones. There's truly nothing like it!

**Gone** · May 9, 2014

When you take them up on a fly day, and you have gone through all the BORING safety briefing with them and you are clear of the pattern headed in whatever direction is assigned for that 10 minutes out and back and you look over at the little one and you ask: "Do you want to fly?" and you watch the look on their faces change.

Priceless.

1964-M20E · May 9, 2014

Sweet!!

I have brought some of my friends children up and they just love it especially when you tell them to take the controls and fly the plane. I know it is blasphemy but when I take someone like that up I wish I had a Cessna much easier for them to look down to me that is the excitement of your first flight. I can still remember my first flight in a Cessna 177 Cardinal sometime around 1978 I was 13.

orionflt · May 9, 2014

That is great, I love the kids enthusiasm when it comes to airplanes. We hold a young eagles event every month and nothing beats the smile on the face of a child as they walk back to the FBO from a short ride. I love to fly but Young Eagle days are just that much more enjoyable.

Brian

Mooney65E · May 9, 2014

Todays learners are tomorrow's leaders! Kudos to you and your buds for teaching our children well.

fantom · May 9, 2014

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Get them started young. Young Eagles and sqirrels are doing the right thing.

BigTex · May 9, 2014

Get them started young. Young Eagles and sqirrels are doing the right thing.

Love that picture... Brings back good memories of seeing the Red Devils/Eagles Aerobatic Team. RIP Charlie.

gsxrpilot · May 10, 2014

I flew 7 kids today at the 84R fly-in. Three of them had never been up in any kind of airplane at all. This was a Young Eagles event. Even though I fly a certificated airplane, I maintain my EAA membership just so I can do these Young Eagle events. Nothing quite as cool as taking a kid up for their very first airplane ride.

EDNR-Cruiser · May 14, 2014

Wonderful report! Impressive! Thanks very much!
Would you mind if I shared that on my FB wall? It's not about the part that these guys were indeed aviation gods this day, it's about the spirit of this event, sharing your passion and enthusiasm and giving...

sleepingsquirrel · May 14, 2014

by all means!

**Hank** · May 14, 2014

Squirrel, let us know in advance the next time. I'm close enough now to help out.

sleepingsquirrel · May 14, 2014

Squirrel, let us know in advance the next time. I'm close enough now to help out.

My Grandson will be in third grade in 7 years , I'm already planning this for his third grade class. May 7th 2021 will be the next one.

The event was surprisingly easy to make happen. I had made a display of WWII aircraft that I had taken from some old calendars. Later one of my friends informed me that one of the little boys took him aside and told him, " there is an inappropriate picture on the display." I was concerned of course but confused, until my friend told me that the inappropriate picture was nose art on a B25. Sure enough about the size of a half dollar was a cow girl with boots, vest and cowboy hat and not much else! The Med Flight pilot busted out laughing and said that's not inappropriate that's history!