IYED Report, EAA Chapter 850
Chapter 850 goes beyond the traditional flight

Gwinn, Mich. – August 14, 2006 – Saturday, June 10^th began as a crisp, clear morning at Sawyer International Airport in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Having held a Young Eagles Flight Rally just two weeks prior, chapter members were now busy preparing for the start of our second annual Lake Superior EAA Chapter 850 Air Academy Day.

The idea for this event came about during a chapter meeting early last year while our pilots and ground volunteers were reflecting back on past Young Eagles events. We have certainly put smiles on so many kids’ faces over the years and we even have one of our former Young Eagles now attending Embry Riddle University, but what about the others? As we continued our discussion it became clear that we have given the kids only a brief glimpse of but one facet of aviation. What about those who would aspire to be an Air Traffic Controller, Aircraft Mechanic or Avionics Technician? All this pointed towards the need for a more in-depth, wide-ranging course on “everything aviation” for those kids who have shown a genuine interest.

With this in mind, we put together a one day course consisting of nine events beginning with a Young Eagles flight and continuing with a navigation class, control tower tour, avionics repair class, aircraft maintenance shop tour, ATC exercise using R/C models, aviation museum tour, F-106 fighter restoration hangar tour and finally a balsa glider competition.

Total participation was limited to 20 kids so that the class sizes allowed for one-on-one time with the instructors. The kids were divided into five person groups or “Flights” so that each would be doing a different activity simultaneously. Each group was assigned an escort whose job it was to guide their group through each of the activities and keep them on a timeline. Shuttle drivers were used to transport the groups to and from the various locations.

Here are some of the class highlights:

Navigation Class: Each child was issued a sectional chart and plotted a short cross-country flight with guidance from one of our professional pilots.

Avionics Repair: The director of our local avionics repair shop performed a bench test of a VOR receiver.

ATC Exercise using R/C Models: A mock runway and rectangular pattern was setup using traffic cones and each child had to “fly” their R/C truck around the pattern while facing the opposite direction and taking directions from the second child who was acting as the air traffic controller and watching the truck.

Each year our Chapter sponsors a child to attend the EAA Air Academy in Oshkosh and we have found that our one-day event is the perfect means by which to single out the most deserving child for this terrific experience.

Of course, it takes that EAA “Can-Do” spirit and dedication from all of our volunteers to make an event like this a reality (as all of you other chapters know). My thanks to Greg Durand for coordinating this event and to all of our volunteers.

Submitted by Ted Kirkpatrick, EAA Chapter 850 President

Chapter 850 volunteers with the new Young Eagles of IYED at Sawyer
International Airport.

Young Eagles set up their R/C cars for the ATC exercise.

Two new Young Eagles with pilot Fred Benzie following their flight.

Lynn Sykes, Chapter Secretary and Newsletter Editor, presents a certificate to one of the new Young Eagles.

Chapter President Ted Kirkpatrick presents two new Young Eagles with their certificates following their flight.

Instructor Ralph Bennett assists a new Young Eagle during his ground school session.

Scott Schulz teaching the avionics repair class.

On their tour of the control tower, Young Eagles listen to (adults left to right) Juanita Johnson, Civil Air Patrol leader, Greg Durand, Event Coordinator, and Larry Johnson, along with tower personnel.