While airshows are on hold as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, when they return, we know we’ll flock to them in droves.
Until then, check out this story from Jim Roberts about his chance to fly with the Phillips 66 Aerostars aerobatic team at the 2019 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, where he learned about the team’s efforts to inspire youth towards aviation careers:
It’s a perfect late July morning above the Fox Valley of Wisconsin, and as the nose of our bright red and white Extra 300L rockets skyward through the vertical, my body reminds me that the last time I pulled 5G’s was in a Northrop T-38 over 30 years ago.
Harvey “Boss” Meek is at the controls in the rear cockpit as he leads the Phillips 66 Aerostars through a perfect loop. Numbers two and three, Paul “Rocket” Hornick on the left and David “Cupid” Monroe on the right, appear to be welded into position, and number four, Gerry “Fossil” Molidor, is tucked tightly into the “slot” at our six o’clock.
The precision is not surprising, since the four pilots have a combined 80-plus years of professional flight experience, and more than 15 years performing as a team.
Between them, the teams’ combined resumes include fighter pilot, corporate pilot, FAA Designated Pilot Examiner, CFII, airline pilot, airline check airman, and glider pilot.
This is their second season flying the Extra aircraft, which are much more nimble than the YAK-52s they replaced. Meek, Hornick, and Monroe fly the Extra 300L, while Molidor prefers the 330Lx. The “Lx” boasts more horsepower, and is a highly-capable solo aerobatic mount. Molidor, a three-time US Advanced Aerobatic Champion, should know.
The mission this morning is a media flight with four enthusiast journalists. The goal is to publicize the team’s efforts to inspire youth towards aviation careers.
According to lead pilot Harvey Meek, two of the biggest challenges to recruiting young people into the aviation workforce are a lack of awareness of career opportunities, and financial barriers to the education and training they need.
Through their “Young Aviators” program, the Phillips 66 Aerostars are tackling the first issue, while helping youth discover options to manage the second.
In normal times, airshow appearances are their outreach tool of choice.
“We have the platform to educate and inspire youth, and educate the educators,” Meek says.
Wingman David Monroe relates a success story from an appearance at the 2018 Spirit of Saint Louis Airshow and STEM Expo. Local high schools held an aviation-themed essay contest, and the four winners were rewarded with an Aerostars team flight.
Not only were hundreds of students engaged through the contest, teachers and counselors had their eyes opened to pathways toward the legion of job opportunities in aviation.
Meek says many high school students and teachers think the only path to a pilot or aviation maintenance technician career is via the military. While many aviation professionals do come from the military ranks, our armed services turn out only a fraction of the trained talent needed to fill forecast vacancies.
The Philips 66 Aerostars hope to change students’ perceptions by capitalizing on the draw of an airshow.
The team typically gives a career briefing at local high schools before every show. During SUN ‘n FUN 2019, they spoke to more than 400 students and connected with countless others through autograph sessions at the airport.
Besides personal appearances, Meek says that the social media “lift” surrounding an airshow is a “force multiplier.”
To address the financial hurdles of education and training, “Boss” Meek points to the proliferation of major airline training partnerships with aviation colleges and schools. His own airline employer sponsors a “Cadet Academy” that offers a seamless ab initio training experience, while partnering with a program lender that makes custom career student loans. The pilot employment pathway is: Training completion, CFI or other time-building experience, employment with one of the airline’s regional partners, then flow-through to the major airline.
“It’s one-stop shopping,” Meek declares.
The Phillips 66 Aerostars characterize their Young Aviators program as “An example of corporate outreach that changes lives and communities.”
Whether in the sky or in a classroom, their expertise is obvious and the mentorship priceless.
One message David Monroe imparts is that students are told to “…be responsible. Keep your nose clean, don’t misbehave, don’t do stupid stuff and post it online. Character matters, and employers check.”
Meek adds their message to youth is, “Make good choices. They matter.”
Many decades ago when I was in a F101 Squadron we had a pilot who would put the up the gear control while still on the ground with the weight of the aircraft holding the gear in place, He would hold the plane down while he picked up more speed than required and then jerk the plane into the air. the gear would come up as soon as the weight was off and it looked really neat, though extreme;y dangerous.