St. Louis University Hosts Aviation Summer Academy Students This Week

By Carmelo Turdo

St. Louis University's Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation hosted twenty junior and senior high school students from five states at their annual Aviation Summer Academy this week. The students were given an immersive experience within the St. Louis aviation community, including a tour of the Gulfstream Aerospace finishing facility, flights in the university's training fleet, an inside look at the aeronautical engineering process and introduction to the world of uncrewed aerial vehicles. The tuition-based program is inclusive of room, board and transportation to all field trip locations. 

The Aero Experience attended the keynote speaker luncheon on Thursday afternoon at the Center for Aviation Science, St. Louis Downtown Airport. Captain Lee Kinnebrew, Vice President of Flight Operations for Southwest Airlines, gave an engaging presentation about the capabilities and culture of Southwest Airlines, now the number one air carrier for flights to and from St. Louis-Lambert International Airport. Captain Kinnebrew saved most of his time for Q&A with the students, who asked informed and detailed questions about the airline industry and preparing for advanced levels of flight certification. He used illustrations from his 13,000 hours of flying and years of management experience to present a realistic, yet inspirational outlook for this generation of pilot candidates. Here we show some views of the lunch along with a group photo. Also included is a photo of Captain Kinnebrew with the Southwest Scholars, Lainie Poole, from Syracuse, NY and Roman Salazar, from Chicago, IL. Southwest Airlines sponsored the air transportation to and from St. Louis for these two students.

Following lunch, the students divided into groups for afternoon cross-country flights to Mount Vernon, IL and back to St. Louis in the university's Piper Archer and Seminole training aircraft. Here we feature the first wave of five aircraft taxiing before departure from St. Louis Downtown Airport at 1:30 P.M. One student flew in the front seat on the outbound leg, and the other on the return leg. Another group would repeat the cycle upon their return. 

The Aero Experience thanks St. Louis University, Southwest Airlines and everyone who contributed to making the Aviation Summer Academy a great experience for these dedicated and ambitious students. Special thanks to Amy Preis, St. Louis University School of Science and Engineering Outreach Coordinator, and Julie Hauser, The Hauser Group, Inc., for contributing content to this story.

Patrick McAlee Airshows ICAS Series, Part 2: Wednesday Visit to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience continues our week-long series coverage of Patrick McAlee Airshows - ExtremeFlight at ICAS 2019. The annual International Council of Air Shows Convention serves to celebrate the end of one air show season and confirm performer schedules for the next one. Throughout the week, we will feature updated information on Patrick McAlee's 2020 schedule and the Pitts S-1GT Blue Demon. We will also feature his appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, where he displayed his aircraft and visited with the crowds during the latter half of the week. 

In this edition, we feature views of Wednesday at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, with Patrick McAlee setting up his aircraft display and greeting a visitor just before the afternoon airshow began. We also feature scenes of WomenVenture, including the arrival of Natalia McAlee and other guests aboard the United Airlines Boeing Dreamliner. The participating women gathered for a noontime group photo, and the aircraft remained on display before departing later that evening. Also included here are representatives of Republic Airways, for whom Patrick McAlee flies, and Captain Tammie Jo Shults, former U.S. Naval Aviator and more recently known for safely landing her crippled Southwest Airlines jet in April of 2018.