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Joplin, MO– October 18, 2007 – Sunday, October 7 2007 was one of those weather frustration days! Will it clear enough for EAA Chapter 463 (Joplin, MO) Young Eagle flights or will our Fall Young Eagles be post phoned until next weekend?
With a wait and see attitude, the safety briefing was held. Joetta Waide and Caroll Knotts began the paperwork of registering the parents and kids optimistic to show up in spite of the gloomy rain showers.
Jim Belcher (Young Eagles Coordinator) and Bill Knotts started the pre-flight classes using a static Cessna 150. Shortly afterwards the first group was ready, the rain stopped and the low clouds lifted. Then the first flights got underway!
Except for one more rain shower delay, flights went almost continuously until after 5 p.m.
Civil Air Patrol Squadrons from Missouri and Oklahoma Wings provided three seniors and about 12 cadets who provided flight line escorts for the 44 Young Eagles. Many favorable comments were received about the cadet's participation and their professionalism in setting an example for the Young Eagles.
The 44 Young Eagles were flown by Don Kwasa using Norman Ruth's Cessna 172; Paul Dolph (463 V.P.) in his classic '58 Cessna 172; Mark Tyrrell with his Mooney; Al Smith (EAA 734) with his Cessna 150; Phil Belcher (President) with his Cessna 150 and Ray Weeks with his Cessna 150.
One 10-year old boy described his first flight in a general aviation aircraft as "Awesome!"
An older CAP cadet was overheard to remark to another cadet, "I thought about it before, but this cinches it - I am going to learn to fly and become a pilot!”
Submitted by Bill Knotts, EAA Chapter 463
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