2026 Year-to-Date General Aviation (and More!) Survey

By The Aero Experience Team

The Aero Experience looks back on 2026 year-to-date in this General Aviation (and More!) Survey. Here we present a variety of aircraft types encountered during our visits to airports while covering stories from around the Midwest. We hope you enjoy this review of our aviation community!

Red Tail Cadets Class VI Inducted in Ceremony at Spirit of St. Louis Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

Five high school students from the Ferguson-Florissant School District were inducted into the Red Tail Cadet Program Class VI during a ceremony held on June 4 at the SpiritJets hangar, Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The event marked the official start of the practical aviation and life skills training sessions held throughout the summer. The program provides a unique, intensive flight training course that is an integral part of their overall Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. 

The Red Tail Cadet Program Class VI seated L-R: Zariah Rouse, Cameron Carter, Rocko Smith, Joseph Renaud and London Hawkins

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 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 to pursue their goals while participating in the Red Tail Cadet Program.

The inspiration for the Red Tail Cadet Program came from an encounter half a world away from St. Louis. Anthony Meyers, The Crossing Church Pastor of Community Development, was on a mission trip to Africa. While he was there, he took a flight with two young pilots. He asked one of them, a native of Nairobi, Kenya, how he became a pilot and was inspired by his answer. In a region where most parents encourage their sons to become doctors, this young man had a different calling: he wanted to become a pilot. So, after high school graduation, his community raised the funds to send him to South Africa for pilot training. After Pastor Meyers returned, he consulted with the Ferguson-Florissant School District and the other sponsors and the Red Tail Cadet Program was born. 

During the induction ceremony, aviation industry executives and community leaders addressed the cadets and their guests gathered at SpiritJets. Speakers included:

Doug McCollum, CEO and Founder of SpiritJets

Anthony Meyers, The Crossing Church Pastor of Community Development

John Tipton, Elite Aviation Vice President 

John Bales, Spirit of St. Louis Airport Director of Aviation

 

Brandon Mann, The Mann Family Foundation 

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Greg "Boss" Wooldridge, USN Captain (RET), the only three-time leader of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. Several members of the current Blue Angels - Executive Officer Commander Chris Meek, Supply Officer Lt. Garrett Wiedle and Assistant Maintenance Officer Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jhulem Edejer - joined him and visited with the cadets and guests throughout the program.

The Red Tail Cadets were provided with aviation supplies and monogramed uniforms needed for their flight training in the coming months. They were then paired up with Elite Aviation Certified Flight Instructors and escorted to the aircraft for a flight around the local area.

The cadets will continue their flight training over the next several months, and The Aero Experience will have regular updates as Red Tail Cadet Program Class VI progresses through the summer.

Women In Aviation St. Louis Chapter Hosts Blue Angels STEM Program During Spirit of St. Louis Airshow Appearance

By Carmelo Turdo

Women with Wings, the St. Louis chapter of Women in Aviation International, hosted a "Girls in STEM: Meet the Blue Angels!" program Friday, June 5, at Creve Coeur Airport. The event coincided with the appearance of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels at the Spirit of St. Louis Airshow and STEM Expo last weekend, adding another excellent outreach opportunity for the local community to meet members of the Navy's elite demonstration team. "Girls in STEM" was held at the new Wings Industry Network hangar, and the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation provided their F-4 Phantom cockpit exhibit. 

After registration and seating of the guests, two members of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels were introduced by the Women with Wings Board of Directors: LCDR Natalia Luchetti, Maintenance Officer, and Petty Officer Masha Burger, Logistics Specialist First Class on the maintenance team. They both shared valuable insights into their careers, their motivation to join the U.S. Navy and their current responsibilities with the Blue Angels. The 90-minute session also included a meet-and-greet opportunity for all attendees.

LCDR Luchetti, a native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2001 as a Boatswain's Mate, taking on ship steering and refueling duties. While aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, she changed her career track to aviation maintenance, serving through the rank of Chief Petty Officer and later commissioned as an Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer in 2014. She currently manages the maintenance function for the Blue Angels fleet of 27 Super Hornets (7 per deployment) and the C-130J Super Hercules support aircraft, including troubleshooting issues with the aircraft during airshow performances. LCDR Luchetti is the first female Maintenance Officer in the 80-year history of the Blue Angels.

Petty Officer Masha Burger, from Kansas City, KS, is a Logistics Specialist First Class in the Logistics Department of the Blue Angels. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 27 following a stagnating career at Starbucks and went into the Logistics Specialist track. After eight years of service, including aircraft carrier duty, Petty Officer Burger's service excellence was recognized by her appointment to the elite Blue Angels.

Following their opening remarks, Commander Luchetti and Petty Officer Burger answered questions from the audience. Their presentation can be viewed on the accompanying video:

The Aero Experience thanks Women with Wings and all of the sponsors and attendees for making this outreach even so successful. See The Aero Experience coverage of the airshow in our previous post: U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Canadian Forces Snowbirds Headline Spirit of St. Louis Airshow and STEM Expo.