Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
November 17, 2015 10:20 a.m.
The sky was blue, the winds blowing and over 20 families were waiting in line at 8:30 Saturday morning, November 14th, for a free ride in a small plane at the Fernandina Beach airport. The Young Eagles program, was started in by the Experimental Aircraft Association, headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1992 to give youngsters aged 8 to 17, an opportunity to fly in a general aviation airplane.
Our local chapter 943 has been running this event for over 10 years in the Spring and Fall, according to Tom Piscitello, their president and one of the pilots flying today. We both watched as a young girl jumped up and down with joy, after finishing her flight. Tom said, “that experience never grows old.”
At noon when we left, over 70 youngsters had had their flight experience, many holding the controls as well, and more were waiting patiently for their chance.
Pictured are: Pilot Tom Piscitello with Veronica Benite, an 8th grader at Yulee Middle, who loved her ride (top); and pilot David Sanders with Christian Taylor (9), a student at FBHS and Emma Love (L). Also pictured is Nathan Gonzalez, 9 years old from Yulee Elementary and school “student of the week,” receiving his certificate with Keoki Gray after his flight. (Bottom R)
Friday, November 13th, Friends of Fernandina Aviation members (another aviation group) were also busy, judging the 2015 Callahan Middle School Science Fair projects. (See picture.)
All in all, there are a lot of airplane enthusiasts in our area.
What a great event to get the youngsters an opportunity to experience the thrill of flying and perhaps getting them to think of their vocation future in the aviation industry, or simply getting their private pilots license and being able to pass along such experiences to future generations.
Thanks to all the members of the local EAA and the FoFA for their support of general aviation activities in our community.