Young Eagles Soar on Sunny Sunday Afternoon at St. Louis Downtown Airport

By Mark Nankivil

EAA Chapter 64 and the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum teamed up to provide Young Eagle flights for members of a local Scout troop on Sunday afternoon. The Scouts and their pilots met at the museum, located right off the west apron at St. Louis Downtown Airport, before taking to the air on one of the few fair weather days experienced this spring. EAA Chapter 64 Young Eagles Coordinator, Bob McDaniel, flew some Scouts in his Cessna 172 and Young Eagles pilot John Schaefer flew one at a time in his Cessna O-1 Bird Dog. The Scouts saw the St. Louis riverfront and surrounding Metro East IL area  from the air during their 15-20 minute flight.

The Experimental Aircraft Association offers Young Eagle flights as a first flight experience to youth 8-17 years of age. Flights are provided through local chapters, and following the flight Young Eagles receive EAA Student Membership, Sporty's Learn to Fly Course and first lesson benefits. Flight scholarships are also available. Click on the above link for more details on how to schedule a Young Eagle flight in your area.

 

The Scouts and museum visitors were treated to seeing the Missouri Commemorative Air Force Wing's aircraft on the apron. The Grumman (General Motors) TBM Avenger and North American B-25J Mitchell, Show Me, are taking refuge from the now flooded St. Charles County Airport where they are regularly based. Other aircraft seen during their visit are also featured below.

Young Eagle Flights Highlight of Belleville Area Schools Aviation Summer Camp

By Carmelo Turdo

Middle schoolers from several Belleville, IL area school districts took to the skies Friday morning during the final day of this week's Aviation Summer Camp. Member pilots Bob McDaniel, Mike Lotz and Tom Murrell from EAA Chapter 64 donated their time and aircraft to provide Young Eagle Flights to 18 students from St. Louis Downtown Airport. The students were flown in one of two Cessna 172 Skyhawks, or in the unique two-place Ercoupe 415-E, over the St. Louis area. When not flying, the students and their families learned first-hand about pilot training and aircraft structures from the exhibits in the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum. 

The Aviation Summer Camp was held at Harmony-Emge School June 25-29, with a field trip to the Southwestern Illinois College Aviation Program in addition to St. Louis Downtown Airport. The program is funded through grants from Scott AFB and four local school districts, and is one of eight STEM summer camps and three Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy camps available for students entering 3rd through 8th grades.     

Some of the campers can be seen below as they take their Young Eagle Flights, the aircraft parked conveniently in front of the museum, and a group who stayed for a post-flight review session.

 

The Aero Experience thanks all those involved in providing the Aviation Summer Camp for these students, especially event organizer Amanda Downard, Keith Mueller at SWIC, Laura O'Brien from Women With Wings, EAA Chapter 64 Young Eagles Coordinator Bob McDaniel and the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum.

Teachers Aviation Career Day Introduces Educators to Aviation STEM Resources

By Carmelo Turdo

The Midwest Aviation Community again showed support for STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics) education and aviation career development by participating in Teachers Aviation Career Day at Mid America Airport in Mascoutah, IL Tuesday.  The event provided area K-12 educators with a first-hand look at available area aviation service providers and resources that add value to the STEM curricula many school districts are developing.  According to Keith Mueller, representing Southwestern Illinois College and a key organizer, there were 160 schools from 13 counties in the St. Louis and Metro East Illinois area scheduled to be represented by the attendees, and it is hoped that this event will spark enhanced communication among educators and the aviation community.

The exhibits were arranged on both floors of the Mid America Airport terminal, and several aircraft arrived and parked on the apron.  The exhibitors represented all aspects of aviation, including commercial airlines, military careers, flying schools and college aviation programs, advocacy groups, educational non-profit organizations and even camera drone operators.  Having the event at an airport, with the aircraft present, emphasized the point that aviation services and careers are important to everyday life, and that the skills needed to participate in aviation as a vocation are within the grasp of those students who participate in STEM programs.  

The Aero Experience is pleased to congratulate the organizers and educators for participating in this great aviation community outreach event, and we will support future efforts to encourage on-going communication between the Midwest Aviation community and area school districts.  We have prepared this photo essay showing some of the exhibitors and the aircraft on display, and encourage those who could not attend this event to seek out information about the role aviation can play in your STEM programs.

Overhead view of a portion of the lower level exhibit hall

Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis

CineFly

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 64

Federal Aviation Administration

Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum

Greater St. Louis Flight Instructors Association

Ninety-Nines and Women With Wings

Southern Illinois University

Southwestern Illinois College

Sparta Aero Services

Trans States Airlines

Transportation Security Administration

Wings of Hope

Yield Enhancement Service

Aircraft were parked on the apron behind the terminal, representing various aviation groups and aircraft types.  Educators visited with the pilots and became familiar with various flying opportunities available in the St. Louis and Metro East Illinois area.

General layout of the apron:

General Aviation aircraft used by the State of Illinois, Southern Illinois University Flight Program, and Mr. Bob McDaniel's personal aircraft that has flown many Young Eagles with Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 64:

Vans Aircraft RV-7A built and flown by Mr. Larry Frey:

Cessna 182 used by the Civil Air Patrol:

Cirrus SR20 used by the Parks College of St. Louis University Flight Program:

Piper Cherokee Representing Sparta Aero Services:

Pitts S-2A Special used for teaching aerobatic flight by Bi-Plane Training: 

Bell Helicopter Textron 206 Long Ranger used for medical air transport by Survival Flight:

Special thanks to the organizers, exhibitors, attending educators, and Mid America Airport for making this Midwest Aviation outreach event a great success.  The Aero Experience will continue to promote and participate in events and programs that will encourage the development of aviation themes in STEM education.