Intro to Flight Sessions 12 and 13 Begin Eight-Week Journey Into Practical STEM Education

By Carmelo Turdo

The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation hosted Sessions 12 and 13 of their Intro to Flight Program March 9 at Creve Coeur Airport. Each class of the eight-week session, led by Ground School Instructor Dave Kleinschmidt, covers a different aspect of flight through academic instruction and practical experience on state-of-the-art virtual reality flight simulators. The final class of each session features a written test and a scored flight pattern exercise flown on the V/R flight simulators. The session point leader is presented with a Top Gun Challenge Award, and all program graduates are eligible for a flight training scholarship from one of the program sponsors, Piston Aviation.

Here we feature the class photos and the students flying the simulators assisted by local pilots Anthony Tornabene and Billy Miller.

The Foundation’s V/R flight simulation lab provides a realistic flight experience, allowing the Intro to Flight Program participants to fly together in real time, at their own airport and with the actual weather conditions experienced that day. This use of the latest technology also provides a fair way to grade their Top Gun Challenge performance using the software's scoring system. 
 
Value-added activities include: inspirational talks by local pilots and aviation industry experts; pre-flight inspection and cockpit orientation in a general aviation aircraft; visits to the Piston Aviation flight training and maintenance hangars; Young Eagle and Discovery flight opportunities.

The Foundation relies on the financial generosity of sponsors and donors so that individual cost is never a prerequisite for youth to participate in activities provided by the Foundation. The Foundation seeks further financial and staffingsupport to continue and expand the scope and effectiveness of the current and future STEM aviation programs. 

Intro to Flight Sessions 10 and 11 Students Graduate, Earn Top Gun Challenge Awards

By Carmelo Turdo

The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation (GYAF) held their Intro to Flight Program graduation Saturday at Creve Coeur Airport. Sessions 10 and 11 students met for their final classes and received their certificates of completion from Foundation President, Joe Steimann.  

Last week's class from each session featured a final exam - a scored flight pattern exercise on the V/R flight simulators. The point leaders from each session were presented with a Top Gun Challenge award. Intro to Flight Program graduates are eligible for a flight training scholarship from one of the program sponsors, Piston Aviation.

The GYAF V/R flight simulation lab is especially valuable for providing a realistic flight experience, allowing the Intro to Flight Program participants to fly together in real time, at their own airport and with the actual weather conditions experienced that day. This use of the latest technology also provides a fair way to grade their Top Gun Challenge performance using the software's scoring system. 

Sessions 12 and 13 will begin March 9. Contact the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation for openings in future sessions. 

Intro to Flight Class Students Learn Flight Navigation, Practice for Top Gun Challenge

By Carmelo Turdo

The current Intro to Flight Class students learned the basics of flight navigation in week 7 of the 8-week course at the Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation. Instructor Dave Kleinschmidt walked them through the process of plotting courses from Creve Coeur Airport to other airports in Missouri and Illinois on aeronautical charts. The students also practiced their flights on the V/R flight simulators in preparation for next week's Top Gun Challenge and graduation. 

The GYAF V/R flight simulation lab is especially valuable for providing a realistic flight experience, allowing the Intro to Flight Program participants to fly together in real time, at their own airport and with the actual weather conditions experienced that day. This use of the latest technology also provides a fair way to grade their Top Gun Challenge performance using the software's scoring system. 

Nearly one hundred students have completed the Intro to Flight Program over the last year, and demand for available seats in future classes continues to grow. The Foundation is seeking support for expanding the program from 8 students to 20 or more per class to better serve our high school and early college students interested in pursuing an aviation career. Please contact the Foundation for information about sponsoring a class in the upcoming session to help the program grow in the coming year.

Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation Holds First Graduation for Intro to Flight Program

By Carmelo Turdo

The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation (GYAF) held the week eight session and first graduation for the Intro to Flight Program on Saturday at Creve Coeur Airport. Participants in the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions met together to complete their final class and other special activities planned for the day. 

Week eight contained a final exam-type challenge - a Creve Coeur Airport scored flight pattern exercise - on the V/R flight simulators. Each of the two session point leaders was awarded a flight bag, donated by St. Charles Flying Service, containing training materials and equipment needed for Private Pilot training. All graduates received certificates of completion and flight training scholarships from Intro to Flight Program sponsor, Piston Aviation.

Throughout the morning, Intro to Flight Program participants from the two Saturday sessions were joined by those from the current Sunday session for Young Eagle Flights given by members of EAA Chapter 32 who volunteered their time and aircraft to make the day extra special. The flights were completed by around noon just as a weather front moved into the area and, not coincidentally, when the pizza arrived for lunch!

The GYAF V/R flight simulation lab is especially valuable for providing a realistic flight experience, allowing the Intro to Flight Program participants to fly together in real time, at their own airport and with the actual weather conditions experienced that day. This use of the latest technology also provides a fair way to grade flying performance using the software's scoring system. 

The GYAF has formed a great partnership with EAA Chapter 32, based at St. Charles County Airport. EAA Chapter 32 coordinates the Young Eagle Program that provides flights in general aviation aircraft to youth aged 8-17 at no charge to the riders. GYAF hosts Young Eagle flights each October and at Youth Aviation Day, held biennially in June (this year on June 3).

EAA Chapter 32 provided five aircraft and pilots along with a ground crew and registration staff to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all involved. The planes were ready for takeoff by 9:30 A.M. and flights were completed in time for lunch. 

The graduation ceremony was held in the GYAF hangar outside of the V/R flight simulation lab, with the iconic F-4 Phantom cockpit as our backdrop. Certificates of completion were awarded to the two Saturday sessions who completed the full eight-week course. The graduates also received a scholarship towards flight training at Piston Aviation as a benefit of participating in the program. Here we include the class photos along with individual presentations given by Meghen Ord of Piston Aviation. Congratulations to the flight bag winners, Nolan Schneider and Brian Conley.

The Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation thanks the GYAF volunteers, EAA Chapter 32, class instructors, St. Charles Flying Service, Piston Aviation and everyone who contributed to making the Intro to Flight Program a great success. The GYAF continues to take registrations for future Intro to Flight Program sessions and also offers a discount on Discovery Flights with Piston Aviation. Check the GYAF website regularly for future programs and events.

A video of the day's activities can be seen below: