Saturday, March 16, 2024

Intro to Flight Sessions 12 and 13 Begin Eight-Week Journey Into Practical STEM Education

By Carmelo Turdo
The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation hosted Sessions 12 and 13 of their Intro to Flight Program March 9 at Creve Coeur Airport. Each class of the eight-week session, led by Ground School Instructor Dave Kleinschmidt, covers a different aspect of flight through academic instruction and practical experience on state-of-the-art virtual reality flight simulators. The final class of each session features a written test and a scored flight pattern exercise flown on the V/R flight simulators. The session point leader is presented with a Top Gun Challenge Award, and all program graduates are eligible for a flight training scholarship from one of the program sponsors, Piston Aviation.

Here we feature the class photos and the students flying the simulators assisted by local pilots Anthony Tornabene and Billy Miller.
















The Foundation’s V/R flight simulation lab provides a realistic flight experience, allowing the Intro to Flight Program participants to fly together in real time, at their own airport and with the actual weather conditions experienced that day. This use of the latest technology also provides a fair way to grade their Top Gun Challenge performance using the software's scoring system. 
 
Value-added activities include: inspirational talks by local pilots and aviation industry experts; pre-flight inspection and cockpit orientation in a general aviation aircraft; visits to the Piston Aviation flight training and maintenance hangars; Young Eagle and Discovery flight opportunities.




















The Foundation relies on the financial generosity of sponsors and donors so that individual cost is never a prerequisite for youth to participate in activities provided by the Foundation. The Foundation seeks further financial and staffingsupport to continue and expand the scope and effectiveness of the current and future STEM aviation programs. 

Sunday, March 10, 2024

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023: General Aviation - Other Brands

By Carmelo Turdo
The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, sponsored by Piston Aviation, with this survey of the general aviation aircraft types we saw during our ten days on the grounds. From the big three - Beechcraft, Cessna and Piper - to the more obscure brands, visitors to AirVenture can find almost any general aircraft brand in attendance. 

Here we continue our series of stories featuring the general aviation aircraft (non-exhibitors) at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. In this edition, we focus on the other brands represented.

American Champion Aircraft Super Decathlon



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Pilatus PC-12/47E















Robinson R44 Raven II

















Saturday, March 9, 2024

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023: General Aviation - Mooney and Piper

By Carmelo Turdo
The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, sponsored by Piston Aviation, with this survey of the general aviation aircraft types we saw during our ten days on the grounds. From the big three - Beechcraft, Cessna and Piper - to the more obscure brands, visitors to AirVenture can find almost any general aircraft brand in attendance. 

Here we continue our series of stories featuring the general aviation aircraft (non-exhibitors) at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. In this edition, we focus on the Mooney and Piper brands.






































Friday, March 8, 2024

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023: General Aviation - Textron Companies

By Carmelo Turdo
The Aero Experience continues our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023, sponsored by Piston Aviation, with this survey of the general aviation aircraft types we saw during our ten days on the grounds. From the big three - Beechcraft, Cessna and Piper - to the more obscure, visitors to AirVenture can find almost any general aircraft brand in attendance. 

Here we continue our series of stories featuring the general aviation aircraft (non-exhibitors) at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2023. In this edition, we focus on Textron brands - Beechcraft and Cessna.