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Milwaukee, Wis. – July 7, 2006 – “Ever since I can remember, I have had a fascination with aircraft and flying. I got my first experience in flying when I was 13, through my EAA Young Eagles flight. During that first adventure, the pilot gave me the controls and let me fly the plane for a while. That experience really opened me up to the world of flying; I don't have any pilots in my family and had never met a pilot before. Previous to the flight I thought that the process of becoming a pilot was an extremely hard thing to do, and that the training was very intense and selective. From this experience I found out that becoming a pilot was a possibility, closer than I had imagined it to be, and definitely worthwhile. I made up my mind that I wanted to pursue becoming a pilot.
That same summer, I attended the Experimental Aircraft Association's Air Academy Camp in Oshkosh. At this Aviation Camp, I learned the principles of flight and took part in hands-on aviation-related activities. We did everything from making model airfoils to building miniature parachutes. I was able to meet peers who, like me, also had some experience in flying, and were pursing careers in aviation. I was also given an opportunity to take a flight lesson. During the lesson, I was able to see what flying lessons were like. The instructor demonstrated and let me practice maneuvers.
The next two summers I volunteered at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. I helped by directing ground traffic at North Point Aircraft Parking. It is quite a sight to see. There are literally thousands of aircraft; everything from World War II P-51 Mustangs to Cessna 172s coming and going during the convention. While I was there I attended a few seminars. Bud Anderson, a famous WWII pilot/ace, who spoke about his experiences flying during the War, held one seminar. One of the things that really caught my attention was that he, just like many other famous pilots, started out by earning his private pilot's license, and had to find a way to pay for lessons.
For the past two years I have been a member EAA Chapter 18, a local club that deals extensively with homebuilt aircraft and flying. I volunteered at the Chapter's Young Eagles rallies by helping to organize the paperwork for the kids waiting to fly. During the past year, I was elected as a Board Member within the Chapter.
When I turned 15-years old I started taking a few flight lessons but ran out of money faster than I could fly. A few months after my 16th birthday, I received a scholarship from EAA for $3,000 toward flight training. One of the biggest milestones for me was the day I flew solo, which I know I will never forget.
In the future, I plan to pursue a career as a professional pilot and hopefully one day be the captain of a Boeing 747or even become an F-15 pilot.
I know that without the Young Eagles program and that first experience of flight, I would never be where I am today. I’m really grateful for the program and hopefully one day soon I too will be able to fly Young Eagles, giving others a chance to experience the love of flight.”
--Andy Jaskie
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At Timmerman Airport in Milwaukee, Wis., Andy Jaskie shakes the hand of his instructor following his first solo flight.
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