St. Louis Area Youth Take Discovery Flights at Elite Aviation

By Carmelo Turdo

Elite Aviation hosted a youth discovery flight day on Saturday, May 23, at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Local area students flew with certified flight instructors in four Elite Aviation Cessna 172 fleet aircraft, each receiving a logbook with their flight time recorded by the instructor. 

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 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, including the upcoming Spirit of St. Louis Airshow and the summer camp.

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 22-27. 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, the Boeing Company and Scott AFB. Registration is currently open for the St. Louis Ace Academy through June 8.

Following the information session and safety briefing by Elite Aviation's Chief Pilot, Joshua Kelley, the students were assigned to their instructors and aircraft for the discovery flights. Due to the overcast skies, the flights consisted of extended patterns within sight of the airport. That was still plenty of time to give each rider a great flight experience.

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.