Wheels Downed and Locked

Due to the extreme heat, there has been less activity at the airport this past week. But, we have had five planes from various locations in Missouri, two from Illinois, one from Las Vegas, Nevada and one from Sunnyvale, CA in addition to our own air traffic.  This brings our totals to 35 takeoffs and landings from H88 in just a week and a half.

During the Fly-In we had on August 4th, we had a special event for kids  8 – 17 years.  This is called the “Young Eagles” and is sponsored by the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association).  Through this program, young people have a chance to experience flight, free of charge.

Marvin Pitney, of Ironton,  is a member of EAA and owns a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, which is hangared here at our airport here in Fredericktown.   At the Fly-In, Marvin told me he would donate 20 Young Eagle flights.  So, we made posters and had them displayed where the general public would see them.  There is a form that parents must fill out and sign for their children before they can be taken up into the skies above Fredericktown.    There were 13 young people who signed up:  Eli Valencia, Ben Brewington, Kyle Huber, Clayton Brown, John Andrews, Macie Hovis, Morgan Hovis, Eric Pirtle and Eric Huber, all of Fredericktown.  Mathew Cox of Jackson and Jeremiah Ahlemeyer of Park Hills also traveled to Fredericktown so they could participate in the Young Eagles.

Part of the experience includes Marvin explaining to these young, possibly future aviators, the parts of the plane and how each is needed in order for the plane to become airborne and then land.  The student passengers then were buckled in, the doors closed and the engine roared to life.  Soon the plane gracefully left the runway and became a speck in the sky.  About 15 minutes later, the plane returned and as the doors opened, I could hear…”That was AWESOME!”,  “that was NEAT!” and some were utterly speechless, with a wide-eyed amazed look on their faces.

Marvin sent each flyer registration to the Young Eagles office in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where the names listed above will be added to the World’s Largest Logbook which is on display at the EAA Airventure Museum in Oshkosh.  These flyers will also receive a monthly newsletter and information on scholarship programs administered by the EAA.

Our friend, Marvin Pitney, has registered over 112 flights to date.   Until next time.