Youth Flight Experience

In 2016 Youth Flight Experience was started to give kids the opportunity to experience aviation. If only for just a short period of time the kids get to soar above the earth, an opportunity that is not readily available for many kids. In Texas there is a high school where kids get to do more than just fly in an airplane for a few minutes each year. The kids at this high school actually get to build real airplanes! Then they get to fly them! How cool is that! As part of a stem... program at the school kids get to build an actual airplane. Once the airplane is completed it is sold and the proceeds are used to purchase components for another airplane and the process starts all over. This program gives kids a chance to learn many different science, math and engineering skills that are used in the everyday world. Here is an interview of two of the aviation program students and a couple of their teachers telling about this awesome program. I hope you will take a few minutes to check out this video of such a great program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS6Y1tRB7n4

Volunteers rock!! A lot of kids had a great time at this year’s Youth Flight Experience and it would not have happened without a lot of volunteers taking time o...ut of their weekend to make this a successful event! There were over twenty people that took part in making this a time to remember for 48 kids. Some of the volunteers not only took time out of their weekend, they flew down from Locust Grove Ga. just south of Atlanta to be a part of the day. I would highlight the volunteers of the day. Will Hammond was kind enough to open the airport terminal building on his day off. Being able to use the building made for a much better experience for everyone. Scott Downing and John Croley brought out their airplanes for static display. Neesa and Ken Williams, Gary and Sue helped out by checking in the kids and making sure they got aboard the correct airplanes and situated safely in the seats. They also kept people safe by insuring the area around the airplanes were clear when starting the airplane engines. Of course we can’t forget the coolest principal in Ben Hill County. Mr. Ben Webb, principal of Ben Hill Elementary used his own airplane fly kids around. Some of those kids were some of his own elementary school students. Two pilots from Middle Georgia College Aviation program in Eastman brought one of their planes down for static display and to talk with kids and their families. We also had five pilots from Locust Grove, Ga flew down to be a part of the event. Kerbi Mueller, Jeanel Wehner, Donna Carrillo, Axa Simon, all members of The 99’s (an organization of female pilots) came to participate. Also, Kerbi’s husband Jeff Mueller came along to fly a few kids in their experimental airplane. Of course we can’t forget Alison Sapp, Barry Peavy and the Community Bank’s Junior Board of Directors. They did a great job of making the whole experience for the kids just a little bit better. By presenting the kids with commemorative Youth Flight Experience t-shirts from Community Bank and having snacks and drinks for the kids they elevated the whole experience for the kids. Next time you see any of these volunteers please give them a great big thank you!

A few of our area youth having a great day at this years Youth Flight Experience event!