Young Eagles + AvWeb

It is events like this that make is so rewarding, not only for the child
but the pilot. I have similar stories. Some kids want to fly and others
just want to sit and enjoy. I always give them the option. I fly
sometimes for Challengair events (need to more) and I had one
handicapped child that as soon as we were in the plane her hands went
towards the wheel. I talked to her to just do not touch right now, but
she can fly when we get up. Her hands stayed just inches away. When at
alitiude, I let her take control. She was just overjoyed. What an
experience for both of us.


-------------
Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI


Roger wrote:
On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 15:29:44 -0500, "Montblack"
wrote:


AvWeb October 20th
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#190814
YOUNG EAGLES FLIGHTS CONTINUE AFTER FATALITIES...

"With 500,000 flights and 1.2 million kids safely flown as Young Eagles, we
think our safety procedures are pretty sound,"


That's more than 2 kids per flight.
A. That sucks if you're the kid stuck in back.
B. That number doesn't seem right.

If 200,000 flights have one kid, that leaves 300,000 flights for the
remaining 1 million kids.

I've seen maybe 40 Young Eagles take to the air at ANE (Anoka County -
Blaine, MN). All planes went up with one pilot, one kid.


I've taken many, two at a time and on a couple of occasions three.
There are a lot of "It all depends"
Some just want to go along with an older/younger
brother/sister/friend/ etc... In any case if one or both in back want
to sit up front, the beech has enough room they can change places. Of
course it's a lot easier with just two as the one steps in back and
the other comes up front. There's a foot or slightly more space
between the front seats. I just extend the time we're out a bit so
both can sit up front.

I've told the story before. Probably a number of times, but it's my
favorite as to flying Young Eagles.

It was at Barstow Airport's (3BS) "Airport Days" and although most of
the rides had been one-on-one, this one was to be a girl and her
younger brothers. Prior to the ride I could tell she was shy and the
boys were a bit over bearing even though she was older.

We went through the preflight and then boarded with the two boys in
back and the girl in the right seat. The two little bas...er brothers
had her about convinced she was going to hurl as soon as the engine
started. I finally told them if they didn't shut up they were staying
behind. That worked for about half of the taxi to the end of 18. I
finally stopped the plane and told them I wasn't kidding; Shut up or
get out! That at least held them until part way through the run up.

I kept up a running commentary of what I was doing, what I was going
to do and why. Still, it surprised me a bit as I'd never heard it get
quieter when the throttle went in. Absolute silence from the back
seat. "I think" at that point they were afraid of saying something
and then getting sick.

At any rate as the flight progressed the girl's nervousness seemed to
be evaporating. Each time I asked her a question she seemed a bit
more enthused although that apprehension was still there. I asked if
she'd like to take the controls. She responded with a shy shake of the
head, but there as a resounding "NO!" colored with more than a little
panic from the back seat. (GAWD, but that felt good)

When we turned back toward the west following US 10 toward the down
wind for 18, I asked, "Well, what do you think of it now?". Her face
light up, she was smiling from ear to ear and in a loud voice said,
"This is Fabulous!". That's the kind of response that really makes
flying kids worth while. (It was still silent from the back)

A few minutes after landing their parents came over and remarked, they
had never seen the girl so enthusiastic and talkative about something
as the ride.

In another instance I took a girl and her best friend for a ride, but
she was turning green by the time we hit cross wind. So I made a
beeline downwind. There was a 172 entering downwind about a half mile
in front of me and I remarked I was a half mile behind with a "green
one" on board. The 172 made an immediate right turn for which I
thanked them profusely.

At any rate about a half hour later I sat and talked with the girl,
her mother and her friend. She decided she'd like mom to go along and
she could sit with her friend. (I think mom had wanted to go all
along). At any rate, this time the two girls were constantly talking
and looking for things on the ground. They were able to go for a ride
complete with narration and it didn't bother her a bit this time. So
there are times when the kids get to go for a ride and don't sit in
the right seat, or even up front.

To me it's giving the kids a fun and comfortable introduction to
flying. Less than half want to take the controls, but I can usually
talk about half of them into just following through and then talking
them through holding altitude and course. A few even do some turns.

We have two aviation camps each summer. At the end of the camp the
kids do a round robin flight plan from 3BS to GDW, to MOP, and back to
3BS. I talked the boy who flew with me on one ride through straight
and level, then the turns at GDW to MOP. When we reached MOP all I had
to do was give him the heading and he made the turn while holding
altitude. That was a few years back and he now has his PPL and I
believe is working toward his instrument.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
.



I


Montblack