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| By Carmelo Turdo |
Six high school students from the Ferguson-Florissant School District were inducted into the Red Tail Cadet Program Class of 2024 during a ceremony held on May 16 at Elite Aviation. The event marked the official start of the practical aviation and life skills training sessions that will 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. It is hoped that this program will be launched in cities across the country in the future.
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.
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 program participants and guests who gathered at Elite Aviation. Speakers included:
Tim Bounds, The Crossing Church Pastor of Teaching
Anthony Meyers, The Crossing Church Pastor of Community Development
John Tipton, Elite Aviation Vice President
Brandon Mann, The Mann Family Foundation
John Bales, Spirit of St. Louis Airport Director of Aviation
Dr. Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive
Matthew Gaikins, Red Tail Cadet Class of 2023, gave words of encouragement to the new class members.
The Red Tail Cadets were provided with a bag of aviation supplies and monogramed uniforms that will be used during flight training in the coming months. The cadets were then paired up with Certified Flight Instructors from Elite Aviation and escorted to an aircraft for a sunset 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 the Red Tail Cadet Program Class of 2024 progresses in their training.
