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Lakeland Aero Club’s 5th Trip to AirVenture
By Mike Zidziunas
Once again we are thrilled to be at Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This is the 5th time that teenage members of the Lakeland Aero Club have flown themselves across this great country in vintage airplanes to take part in aviation’s greatest celebration. This is the first visit to Airventure for all seven of these teens, proudly wearing black Aero Club shirts. For some, it is their first time out of the state of Florida.
Two young ladies grace our presence at Airventure this year. 19 year old Olivia Sullivan is a private pilot working on her instrument rating and will be attending UNO starting in August. 16 year old Katie Esker is a student at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy, an aviation themed high school, located on the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. Katie is the project leader on a Xenos motor glider project being built in the Lakeland Aero Club hangar. She has received a Redbird simulator installer certificate because of her work building and installing the Redbird FMX simulator at the Lakeland Aero Club headquarters. Katie wants to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. Our young male pilots are Layton Bracey, who soloed a glider when he was just 14. Now, at 18 years old, Layton flew the “Little Cub” (the club’s 1947 PA-11) here while taking a break from working on his commercial rating. The “Big Cub”, a 1953 Piper L-18C restored by club members and making its 3rd visit to Airventure, is flown by 18 year Private Pilot with an instrument rating, old Davis Benningfield. Layton, Davis, and myself are each flying with 14 year old future pilots: Kenny Gerace, Sebastian Piedra, and Bryan Cavalcanti, who will start glider training when we return to Lakeland. Finally, the last of the “kids” joining us on this adventure is John “Lites” Leenhouts, President of SUN ‘n FUN, flying with some of these young pilots in his vintage Piper.
To date, more than two dozen teens have flown themselves to Oshkosh for Airventure in airplanes older than their grandparents. Airplanes that they have restored and maintained themselves, under qualified supervision. They are all EAA members and participate in the annual general membership meeting during the convention. “You can’t miss us; we’ll be close to the front row.”
Lakeland Aero Club is a not for profit 501c3 aviation charity, committed to “Making tomorrow’s greatest aviators ..... Today.” The “Club” grew out of a very successful program, administered by SUN ‘n FUN and the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE). More than 125 teenagers have soloed an airplane, and 65 have received their Private Pilot Certificate before graduating from high school. So, in today’s world, what does a 17 year old Private Pilot, still in high school, do next? Lakeland Aero Club grew out of the need for these young pilots to have a place to grow into aviators. Out of all the forces that make up the fundamentals of flight, the one thing that makes an airplane fly is ... money. Lakeland Aero Club is entirely funded through donations and fundraising efforts. One of our most rewarding fundraising activities is hosting EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor during its Florida tour. For three years Lakeland Aero Club has worked closely with Cody Welch and the Tri-Motor team during the Ford’s visit to Lakeland. Club members are tasked with all of the responsibilities associated with the Tri-Motor operations during its stay in Lakeland. The funds generated from the Ford’s visit go towards annual trips to Oshkosh. The Ford Tri-Motor is an outstanding ambassador for EAA because it has grown participation in aviation by providing an opportunity to these teens. Not only to preserve the history of aviation, but also to use that experience to be able to participate in Airventure, and to enjoy “The Spirit of Aviation”.