The Aero Experience is a celebration of Midwest Aviation and aerospace achievement. We invite you to join us as we tell the story of Midwest Aviation through first-hand, immersive media presentations. Check in with The Aero Experience frequently to see where we land, and then go out and have your own aero experiences!
Showing posts with label discovery flights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discovery flights. Show all posts
Elite Aviationhosted a youth discovery flight day on Saturday, May 23, at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Local area students flew with certified flight instructors in four Elite Aviation Cessna 172 fleet aircraft, each receiving a logbook with their flight time recorded by the instructor.
The event was sponsored by the Hugh J. White Tuskegee Airmen Chapter and Henderson "Karl" Smith of Henderson Aviation Resources. Smith is a USAF veteran and independent IT contractor who exudes enthusiasm for inspiring the next generation to explore careers in aviation. It was officially named the Tyrell Rhodes Discovery Flight Day in memory of a young man who embodied the spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen as he overcame adversity to earn the right to fly. Born with Cerebral Palsy, he was raised by his mother, a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant, and loved all things aviation. In 2012, he earned his pilot certificate through Able Flight. Tyrell Rhodes passed away of cancer in 2015, and Able Flight established the Tyrell Rhodes Memorial Scholarship the next year. His legacy continues through events like the one held last weekend.
The students and their families gathered in the Elite Aviation hangar Saturday morning in two groups (8:30 and 10:00) for their information sessions and flight assignments. Karl Smith opened the day with encouraging words about the opportunities available in aviation, including the upcoming Spirit of St. Louis Airshow and the summer camp.
The next presenter was Yolandea Wood, also a USAF veteran and President of the Hugh J. White St. Louis Chapter of the National Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. She is also the Director of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals St. Louis Ace Academy to be held June 22-27. The Ace Academy will provide a variety of interactive sessions to introduce the students to aviation fundamentals through hands-on projects and tours of Southwest Airlines, the Boeing Company and Scott AFB. Registration is currently open for the St. Louis Ace Academy through June 8.
Following the information session and safety briefing by Elite Aviation's Chief Pilot, Joshua Kelley, the students were assigned to their instructors and aircraft for the discovery flights. Due to the overcast skies, the flights consisted of extended patterns within sight of the airport. That was still plenty of time to give each rider a great flight experience.
The Aero Experience thanks everyone involved in the Tyrell Rhodes Discovery Flight Day, and we look forward to working with these organizations at other STEM aviation activities throughout the year.
Piston Aviation held a Grand Opening event at their third location, St. Charles County Regional Airport - Smartt Field, on Saturday, January 17. The new, fully renovated, flight training center is located in the previous Skylink Aviation hangar on the west apron. Piston Aviation has updated the facility to provide multiple training rooms, flight planning technology and offices for their chief pilot and visiting DPEs to better serve students during their training and check flights. Self-serve aviation fuel (AvGas) is available at this location. CFIs and fleet aircraft will be available there and at Piston Aviation's Creve Coeur Airport and St. Louis Regional Airport locations as needed to meet customer demand.
The Aero Experiencecoverage begins with a tour of the facility as shown in this short video captured previously and these photos from opening day. Piston Aviation staff greeted guests, served lunch and provided activities for the younger future pilots. Aircraft were positioned for discovery flights, some of which were delayed or rescheduled as a snow squall transited the area.
Saturday's Grand Opening event was held in typical Piston Aviation style, with food, fun, family and flying. Discovery flights were conducted in the pattern as weather conditions allowed in the Piper Cherokee and Cessna 172 fleet aircraft.
Piston Aviation provides flight training programs tailored to the needs of their customers, including the Accelerated Private Pilot course and flexible scheduling. Financing is also available. Students in the Purdue Global Professional Flight and Aviation Management Degree Programs may obtain their flight training through Piston Aviation in St. Louis. On-line scheduling and regular CFI communication make the training process flow smoothly.
We will continue our coverage of Piston Aviation's operations at St. Charles County Regional Airport - Smartt Field in future posts. We thank everyone who attended Saturday's Grand Opening event, and we hope to see you again soon at all three Piston Aviation locations!
The students and their families gathered in the Elite Aviation hangar Saturday morning in two groups (8:30 and 10:00) for their information sessions and flight assignments. Karl Smith opened the day with encouraging words about the opportunities available in aviation, including the upcoming Spirit of St. Louis Airshow and the summer camp.
