“You know when you taxi this aircraft down to the runway, all eyes are on you.”
Flying Clubs
Their future is in your hands
In a very real sense, whether these programs aimed at teenagers survive and thrive or wither and die is dependent on you and whether you do something about the problem or turn the page and go on with your day.
Picture of the Day: My first ‘wing’ in general aviation
Tiago Barba submitted this photo and note: “Since I was very young I have always liked airplanes, so a few months ago I decided to capture the best moments in aviation through photography, always from outside the airport. This past weekend, for the first time in my 14 years, I had the opportunity to be up close with general aviation, since La Serena Aeroclub at La Florida General Airport (SCSE) in Chile organized “popular flights,” an opportunity to bring the local community closer to aviation, offering rides over the city at a very affordable price. They allowed me to participate as a photographer for the event and to my surprise I was able to fly in this beautiful Cessna 172F (CC-KLB). I am convinced that this experience was like my first wing in general aviation.”
Texas teen flying club on the move
Members of the Tango Thirty One Aero Clube flew from Texas to Florida for SUN ‘n FUN with a few missions: Learn all they could about successful teen flying clubs from the world’s biggest, the Lakeland Aero Club, as well as raise money for their own hangar.
New flying club at KALN
Flight instructors Don Hill and John Harding are forming the flying club, which will have its first meeting March 9, 2023, at St. Louis Regional Airport.
Love at first flight
Textron Aviation posted four new videos to its YouTube channel in February 2023 showcasing employees and their stories of Love At First Flight.
Old dog, new trick
My new role with the AOPA Foundation is once again something audacious, something that has never been done on a large scale. I now hold the title of High School Aero Club Liaison, which gives me the freedom to work with kids, parents, teachers, administrators, airport administrators, and community leaders from coast to coast to help them create aero clubs where kids can get into aviation in a meaningful way.
Putting Humpty Dumpty back together again
Nicknamed “Humpty Dumpty,” a 1964 Cessna 150 is in the midst of being put back together again by the members of EAA Chapter 534 in Leesburg, Florida. Once the work is complete, the donated plane will become the workhorse of the chapter’s new flying club.
Making one teen’s aviation dreams come true
Sometimes lifting someone up has very little to do with wings, relative wind, and horsepower. It can be a result of simply caring, interacting, and becoming a mentor to someone who very much wants to know what you know and do what you do.