The event was an opportunity for qualified participants to earn their aviation merit badges.
“This is an unbelievable program,” said Janet Britt of West End as she watched her 6-year-old Tiger Cub son, Ben, take off in one of 14 planes flown by volunteer pilots. “He would never have a chance to ride in a small plane and see all the instruments if it weren’t for this.”
“They are so excited, look at them,” says Sherry Hull of Whispering Pines. Her sons — Grayson, 9, and Jackson, 6 — had just climbed aboard their assigned planes. “This is so nice of the pilots and everyone involved to do this for the kids,” says Hull.
The day began with ground school. Volunteer pilot Colin Webster gave Scouts and their parents an overview of the history, mysteries and mechanics of flight.
Stuart Mathews of Kernersville brought two of his flight simulators to the event for the boys to try out.
“I’ve never seen a program like this one anywhere else in the state,” Mathews said. “I’ve been coming down here for three years to support this effort.”
Those in attendance also had a chance to learn about hot air ballooning from an Eagle Scout.
“I’ve always loved flying,” Zealand Shouse said.
Now a pilot, Shouse said his experiences in Scouting helped prepare him for his chosen career.
“I definitely feel that the Eagle Scout program was a basis for my maturity and laid the groundwork that made it possible for me to become a pilot,” he said.
After high school, Shouse will head to Daytona, Fla., to enter famed aviation school Embry Riddle in the fall of 2006. He plans to pursue his dream of becoming an aerospace engineer.
Shouse was exposed to flying at a very early age. He recalled spending his childhood in airports managed by his father, Mike, who organized Aviation Day. Shouse, who used to manage the Moore County Airport, enlisted his former employer as a sponsor.
“As part of their sponsorship, the airport allows us the use of this facility for the day, and makes sure all the pilots who’ve donated their time and aircraft return home with a full tank of gas,” he said.
Shouse said about 35 Scouts were on hand to earn their merit badges, but all ages of Scouts were encouraged to attend.
“The idea is to include any Scout who’s interested,” he said. “Cub Scouts are welcome.”
The younger boys get a trip in a plane around the Airport – while the older scouts were flown to the North Carolina Aviation Museum in Asheboro. Once there, they got a tour and talk, had some lunch, and then flew back to finish up the required paperwork.
“The whole day revolves around learning,” Shouse said.
In order for a Scout to earn the aviation merit badge, he has to attend the ground school, operate the simulator, interview a pilot and/or instructor, describe the World War II plane that the Confederate Air Force brought as part of its display, and write about the trip to the museum.
“Each Scout has to participate in the process, show initiative, and complete the task,” Shouse said. “By day’s end, the Scouts had learned some basic life skills – and more than a thing or two about flying.”
