Scouts Experience Flight at Weekend Aviation Camp

By Mark Nankivil

The Aero Experience continues our coverage of local aviation education events with a look at the Scout Aviation Camp held Saturday at Flight Park Airport in Millstadt, IL. Twenty-one Scouts from Troop 739 in Hazelwood, MO attended, with sixteen earning the Aviation Merit Badge from the day's efforts. The Scouts camped overnight on Friday and on Saturday morning received Young Eagles Flights using seven aircraft from EAA Chapter 64 owners/pilots, including a Cessna 172 from AeroCareers and one from Wings of Hope. Many of the pilots and class instructors have been involved in similar activities this week, and we thank them for their selfless support of aviation education.

Following the flights, Mark Nankivil, President of the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum (who also contributed a display of museum items) and Nick Turk served as Merit Badge Counselors for the merit badge instruction portion of the event. United Airlines Boeing 747/787 Captain Craig O'Mara discussed his flying career with the airline and as a crew member aboard NASA's SOFIA 747SP flying observatory. A crew from Survival Flight, based in Festus, MO flew in midday to talk with Scouts about careers in the medevac flight industry.

If your Scout Troop is interested in earning the Aviation Merit Badge, feel free to contact Bob McDaniel through AeroCareers or Mark Nankivil through the Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum. The Aero Experience thanks all involved for their continued work in the community to secure the future of Midwest Aviation.