Originally published in 1997
What do you get when you combine 11 pilots, 30 trained adult volunteers, 1 dedicated airport manager, 6 or 7 totally committed community leaders, an ex-NASA engineer, and then mix generously with 105 kids?
You get a group of caring and competent people providing kids with an adventure in flying that they will never forget. At least that’s what happened at Rusty Allen Airpark in Lago Vista on Saturday, February 22, 1997.
If you were a kid who wanted an airplane ride this was the place to be! On this day the airport conducted its very first Young Eagles Day.
Prior to their flight, all of the Young Eagle wannabees were required to participate in a short ground school, conducted by Jim Wood. The same Jim Wood who is an ex-NASA engineer who developed the audio visual equipment that made it possible to transmit pictures and audio from the Apollo Mission. “He spent a great deal of time explaining the theory of flight, but more importantly, conducting a safety seminar focusing on conduct around an aircraft,” said Carl Vernon, Airport Manager.
The Lago Vista Fire Department and EMS each volunteered their trucks and services for the day, and scouts from Troop 198 took charge of directing vehicle parking for the event. George Eads remarked, “After attending Oshkosh, I really wanted us to participate in the Young Eagles Program. I am very pleased at how the day went!”
As a result of their experience, 3 girls and 1 boy from Lago Vista High School will be returning to the airport in a few weeks to begin taking flying lessons! Interesting, since according to Carl Vernon, the first ever 3 student pilots at Rusty Allen Airpark were girls!
The staff and volunteers did a remarkable job. The entire event was run very professionally by individuals that were obviously confident in the training they had received to prepare them for this exciting and rewarding day.
If you’ve never been to an airport on a “Young Eagles Day”, you are in for a real treat. You won’t stop grinning at the obvious wonder and excitement that this first-time adventure provides for kids.