All smiles for Hannah Hsu and pilot Amy Ross as they return to the terminal. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Finley Ingle, 11, is very excited to finally get a ride in a W10 Tail Wing home built plane, built by pilot Logan Ott’s grandfather. Finley said the W10 Tail Wing is his favorite airplane and he had done a lot of reading about it and to get to take a flight on it was a dream come true. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.comBy TINA ANDRES
Experimental Aircraft Association
There were big smiles on the faces of 39 children at the Young Eagles Flight Rally Saturday morning at the Los Alamos County Airport.
Seven pilots and their general aviation aircraft, along with eight ground crew from the local Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 691, volunteered their time and passion for aviation to provide free flights for children ages 8 to 17. They were supported by the Los Alamos Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol and the County Public Works Department to make the event a success.
There was a static aircraft display by the Civil Air Patrol as well as a flight simulator and an air-traffic control simulator available for all participants in the Terminal Building.
The flight path of the Young Eagles went around the community of White Rock and then headed north up the Rio Grande Valley to Little Black Mesa at a flight altitude of 8,500 feet. The flight then headed back to Los Alamos to the Barranca Mesa Water Tower then turned back to land at the Los Alamos County Airport.
All participants, more than half of which were girls, received a flight certificate and a pilot-signed logbook after their flights. In addition, they had great stories of their flight experience to tell their parents and friends.
If you missed this Young Eagles event, there will be another opportunity for a free flight for children ages 8 to 17 with EAA Chapter 179, Nov. 4 at the Double Eagle Airport in Albuquerque. More information is available at: https:////eaa179.org/young-eagles-program/
Kaity Burke with Corin Shay in the back, takes the controls as though she is ready to fly, but is only pretending as the passengers are not allowed to control the planes in flight. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Roger Smith helps Corin Shay adjust his head set. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Pilot Roger Smith gives his passengers a tour of the plane explaining the function of the various parts of the plane and the safety rules of the flight. From left, Elizabeth Shay, Corin Shay and Kaity Burke. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Amy Ross, pilot of her yellow plane ‘Big Bird’ talks to her passenger Hannah Hsu before take off. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
CAP Lt. Commander Annette Peters visits with attendees about the local CAP Squadron. The Cadets meet 6-8 p.m. each Monday at the airport and have 17 members ages 12-21. The Senior Squadron meets 6-7:30 p.m. each 3rd Tuesday and have 44 members. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
All smiles on the returning flight for Kaity Burke and pilot Roger Smith. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Future pilot Finley Ingle and pilot Logan Ott stand at the tail of the W10 Tail Wing after their flight. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
And finally they begin there taxi to the runway for take off. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Event coordinator, Tina Andres gives the pilots a briefing prior the start of the flights. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
A young participants checks out the information brochure of the event. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Barb Fox and Jan Martinez man the registration desk. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Registration begins as the participants arrive. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
