Young Eagle Flights Highlight of Belleville Area Schools Aviation Summer Camp

By Carmelo Turdo 

Middle schoolers from several Belleville, IL area school districts took to the skies Friday morning during the final day of this week's Aviation Summer Camp. Member pilots Bob McDaniel, Mike Lotz and Tom Murrell from EAA Chapter 64 donated their time and aircraft to provide Young Eagle Flights to 18 students from St. Louis Downtown Airport. The students were flown in one of two Cessna 172 Skyhawks, or in the unique two-place Ercoupe 415-E, over the St. Louis area. When not flying, the students and their families learned first-hand about pilot training and aircraft structures from the exhibits in the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum. 

The Aviation Summer Camp was held at Harmony-Emge School June 25-29, with a field trip to the Southwestern Illinois College Aviation Program in addition to St. Louis Downtown Airport. The program is funded through grants from Scott AFB and four local school districts, and is one of eight STEM summer camps and three Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy camps available for students entering 3rd through 8th grades.     

Some of the campers can be seen below as they take their Young Eagle Flights, the aircraft parked conveniently in front of the museum, and a group who stayed for a post-flight review session:

 

The Aero Experience thanks all those involved in providing the Aviation Summer Camp for these students, especially event organizer Amanda Downard, Keith Mueller at SWIC, Laura O'Brien from Women With Wings, EAA Chapter 64 Young Eagles Coordinator Bob McDaniel and the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum.