Elite Aviation Hosts Discovery Flights for St. Louis Area Youth

By Carmelo Turdo

Elite Aviation hosted a youth discovery flight day on Saturday, May 31. Twenty-five area middle school and high school students were scheduled to fly with certified flight instructors in five Elite Aviation Cessna 172 fleet aircraft. Participants learned about the aircraft through the pre-flight inspection process before taking to the air over St. Louis. 

The event was sponsored by the Hugh J. White Tuskegee Airmen Chapter and Henderson "Karl" Smith of Henderson Aviation Resources. Smith is a USAF veteran and independent IT contractor who exudes enthusiasm for inspiring the next generation to explore careers in aviation. It was officially named the Tyrell Rhodes Discovery Flight Day (second annual) in memory of a young man who embodied the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen as he overcame adversity to earn the right to fly. Born with Cerebral Palsy, he was raised by his mother, a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, and loved all things aviation. In 2012, he earned his pilot certificate through Able Flight. Tyrell Rhodes passed away of cancer in 2015, and Able Flight established the Tyrell Rhodes Memorial Scholarship the next year. His legacy continues through events like the one held last weekend. 

The students and their families gathered in the Elite Aviation hangar Saturday morning in two groups (8:30 and 10:00) for their information sessions and flight assignments. Karl Smith opened the day with encouraging words about the opportunities available in aviation, starting with the day's flights and several other youth events coming this summer. One of those special events is the opening of the Tuskegee Airmen: America's Freedom Flyers exhibit at the St. Louis Soldiers Memorial on June 19. According to Smith, over 90 of the original Tuskegee Airmen were from the St. Louis area.

The next presenter was Yolandea Wood, also a USAF veteran and President of the Hugh J. White St. Louis Chapter of the National Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. She is also the Director of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals St. Louis Ace Academy to be held June 23-28. The Ace Academy will provide a variety of interactive sessions to introduce the students to aviation fundamentals through hands-on projects and tours of Southwest Airlines and Boeing at St. Louis Lambert International Airport as well as Scott AFB. Registration is currently open for the St. Louis Ace Academy through June 8.

Joel House, Youth Program Director for the Hugh J. White Tuskegee Airmen Chapter, encouraged the students to get involved with STEM/STEAM programs. Along with aviation-specific careers, there are many other related vocations involving skilled trades and support services such as finance, logistics, legal and administrative services necessary to manage an aviation business.

Donna Tipton, President of Elite Aviation, introduced the Red Tail Cadet Program now in its fifth year. Class Five will welcome six high school students from the Ferguson-Florissant School District at the induction ceremony to be held on June 5 at Elite Aviation. The event will mark the official start of the practical aviation and life skills training sessions to be held throughout the summer. The program provides an intensive flight training course that is an integral part of their overall Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. 

The Red Tail Cadet Program is a cooperative effort by the Ferguson-Florissant School District, The Crossing Church, Elite Aviation, Boeing and other sponsors to use aviation as a pathway to a STEM career. The program is named for the Red Tails of the 332nd Fighter Group, the first all-black military pilot unit that formed during World War II and popularly known today as the Tuskegee Airmen. The same drive and talent that made the Tuskegee Airmen legendary in war and in peace can be applied by these students in pursuit of their own future goals while participating in the Red Tail Cadet Program.

Following the information session, the students were assigned to an Elite Aviation instructor and aircraft for the discovery flight experience. Here we show a sample of the flights from both groups along with the static display aircraft available for the students and their families to examine with the help of flight student Amelia, who is ready for her Private Pilot check flight.

 

The Aero Experience thanks everyone involved in the Tyrell Rhodes Discovery Flight Day, and we look forward to working with these organizations at other STEM aviation activities throughout the year.