Everyone has dreams when they are young that seem too far out of their reach of reality, but for today’s youth, the dream of flying high in the sky is within reach.
The Aviation Explorers is an aviation program with posts across the nation. The goal is to teach participants everything they need to know in order to become pilots and have an aviation-based career. Finally, a dream is within reach for today’s thriving and creative youth.
The Aviation Explorers is an exciting program anyone between the ages of 14 and 20 years old, with a passion for aviation, can join. The programs provide lots of hands-on activities and trips whereby participants can gain lots of experience for future careers in aviation, while promoting the growth and development of the new generation.
In the fall, they have Family Fun Day, with a picnic and plane rides for parents and siblings. Every July, the members of the program can go to AirVenture, in Wisconsin, for a week of camping out at the Explorer Base Camp and volunteer a couple of hours each day. It is a fun-filled week that members come back from having gained a unique and helpful experience they will never forget.
Through the program, participants learn maintenance and ground school. Ground school includes basic aerodynamics, instruments, engine and systems, weather, navigation, charts and publications. Also addressed are radio communications, air traffic control and airspace, cross-country flight planning, airports, Federal Aviation Regulations and much more.
The program also teaches various aspects of maintenance, including wheel and tire maintenance, fabric-covered flight surfaces, interior reupholstering, stripping and painting. In addition, participants learn changing oil and filters, riveting and drilling out rivets, compression checks and servicing oleo struts. These are only some of the things learned.
The program is very thorough and committed to teaching every member the foundations of flying, as well as exposing them to other possible careers in aviation. Of course, there also is the opportunity to obtain a private pilot’s license.
To take part in this amazing opportunity, here are some things potential members should know. They meet three Saturdays out of the month, from September through May, when participants will learn everything there is to know about aviation.
There are some fees, as well. The Boy Scouts of America dues are $35 per year, annual repairs assessment is $50, uniform shirts are $70, and flying time is $95 per hour of engine time. It may seem like a lot, but the experience and help it will give participants when they are ready for jobs in aviation will be well worth the investment.
If you want to help out the Aviation Explorers, look no further. The Aviation Explorers are having a fundraiser. Their goal is to raise $30,000 for a new airplane. Their current plane, a Piper Cherokee, is 50 years old and needs some repairs, so they can continue to teach and give hands-on experience to members. It’s a great way if people don’t want to join the program but still want to support the inspiration they are giving to the new generation.
Help keep pilot training available to our future pilots by participating in the fundraiser or donating. It costs only $25 per person for a catered Mexican dinner. Included is a wine and beer cash bar. There also will be many entertaining events, such as live auctions, 50/50 raffles, live entertainment and a silent auction.
Some of the prizes are gift cards to local restaurants, a ride-along with the Mesa Police Department helicopter, a movie basket, a spin lesson in a J3 piper cub, an ACT/SAT college prep class, a ride in a Cobra attack helicopter and more.
The live entertainment includes Jeff Senour, who is living out his pursuit of two dreams at once—a pilot by day and a rocker by night. The fundraiser will take place at the Wings of Flight hangar, located at Falcon Field Airport, on Saturday, April 13, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Attending or donating to this fundraiser will help the Aviation Explorer Post 352 grow and continue to provide top-notch instruction to our new generation of pilots.
If you would like to help these future pilots, please contact Stacey Kinkel at (602) 574-1475 for tickets or further questions. Help keep the new generation soaring to new heights to reach their dreams.