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Tar River Composite Squadron Assists at EAA Young Eagles Event in Wilson

C/Amn Gabrielle Howell and C/Amn Nicole Reason with EAA pilot Donnie Boyette before taking the children up for their Young Eagles flight.
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C/Amn Gabrielle Howell and C/Amn Nicole Reason with EAA pilot Donnie Boyette before taking the children up for their Young Eagles flight. (Photo credit: 2d Lt Liz Dunster, CAP) (click image to view full size)
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By 2d Lt Liz Dunster, CAP
Public Affairs Officer, Tar River Composite Squadron (MER-NC-057)

11/1/2015–ELM CITY, NC–Tar River Composite Squadron was honored to be invited to assist at the Young Eagles event organized by Chapter 1047 of the Experimental Aircraft Association at the Wilson Industrial Airport (W03) on 31 October 2015.  Three senior members and seven cadets participated in the event, organized by Jamie Smith of EAA Chapter 1047.  Five EAA planes flew approximately 40 Young Eagles during the course of the day.

 
Squadron members arrived at W03 around 9:30 AM to help.  The clear blue skies were a welcome respite from the rain and overcast weather of the week.  2d Lt Nicholas Green assisted with capturing information about prospective Young Eagles and printing their certificate of flight. Maj Dalton Rackley assisted with checking children in and then walking them outside to wait for their flight.  Cadets, under the supervision of C/1st Lt Jarrett Moss, escorted children and parents to and from the aircraft safely, and ensured that no-one was on the flight line when planes were taxiing for take-off or coming in after landing.  Moss said that he, “learned a lot of valuable things,” that, “helped him on the flight line,” during his experience as a Blue Beret at Oshkosh in July 2015.
 
It was wonderful to see the joy and enthusiasm of many of the youngsters who were there.  An 8 year old girl, after her first flight, was heard begging her family and the EAA pilots for more flying.  The pilots cooperated and ensured that she got another flight.  Another family drove from Raleigh to bring their children flying after seeing the event advertised on Facebook.  The ear-to-ear grins on the faces of the newly minted Young Eagles said it all!   
 
The cadets were also enthusiastic about planes and flying!  C/Amn Travis Jackson said he, “really enjoyed it,” while C/Amn Nicole Reason described it as, “a great experience,” and, “a lot of fun.”  C/TSgt Richard Green said it, “gives us another opportunity to fly and be around airplanes!”  At the end of the day, EAA pilots took our cadets flying, and then our senior members were also invited to fly along with the rest of the ground crew, which was wonderful.
 
Jamie Smith, EAA Chapter 1047 Young Eagles organizer, thanked the squadron for its help, and Chapter President, Keith Daughety, said it was, “great to have them [the cadets] involved in this activity.”  Squadron Aerospace Education Officer 2d Lt Nicholas Green said, “The most gratifying part of the event was seeing the excited grins on the face of each Young Eagle as they came in from their flights to receive their ‘first flight’ certificates from EAA.  It is extremely generous of the EAA pilots to donate both their time and the use of their personal airplanes to allow these children to experience flight.”
 
Tar River Composite Squadron meets on Thursdays from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Rocky Mount - Wilson Regional Airport.