Video Game to Left Seat

Video Game

to Left Seat

My name is Haden Bourland and I am a senior at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, MS. My interest in flying started when I was about four years old. There was a video game, Aces of WW2, at the pizza place in town that I loved to play when we would go there. I was so little that sitting in the “cockpit”, my feet didn’t even touch the floor and I had to sit up on the edge of the seat to reach the controls. My mom said people would stand around behind me and watch me fly. It wasn’t even a game that you could win tickets for, you just got to fly, which was fine with me. It was that same year that I got to go to my first airshow, at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. That was the first time I got to see the Thunderbirds fly. We have been to airshows just about every year since then.

When I was in Kindergarten I got to meet three of the original Tuskegee Airmen from WW2. They were Lt. Col. Leo Gray, Lt. Col. Herbert Carter, and Col. Charles McGee. They came to the African American Military Museum which is in downtown Hattiesburg. There was a local artist there also that had painted a picture of their three planes and was selling prints of it. My parents bought a print and each pilot autographed their plane and I got my picture made with each of them. I actually met three great aviators that flew “Redtails” and were a part of the “Greatest Generation”! At the time I thought that was pretty cool, but I now realize how special that really was. Colonel Charles McGee, now Brigadier General Charles McGee, was promoted to Brigadier General in December 2019 shortly after his 100th birthday. From what I have read about him, he has flown more combat missions in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam than any other Air Force pilot. And he is also an Eagle Scout. How cool is that!

When I was in first grade, I joined Cub Scouts. Each year we got to spend the night on the U.S.S. Alabama, which at the time was the greatest thing ever. But when I crossed over to Boy Scouts, we got to go camping and go to the Blue Angels Homecoming airshow every year. That was awesome! While visiting the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, I heard about the National Flight Academy. It is a camp you can go to for a week in the summer.

One of my fellow Eagle Scouts, Chad Filbey, who already had his private pilot’s license at the time, and had already attended the camp, encouraged me to go. I went and I’m glad I did. It was like living on an aircraft carrier for a week, complete with all the sounds of planes landing on deck day and night. You’re assigned to a squadron and even given a call sign. Mine was “Talon” because

My name is Haden Bourland and I am a senior at When I was in first grade, I joined Cub Scouts. Each I’m an Eagle Scout. We flew simulators on mock Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, MS. My year we got to spend the night on the U.S.S. Alabama, missions, which included night traps on the aircraft interest in flying started when I was about four years which at the time was the greatest thing ever. But carrier. That part was the most fun but also the old. There was a video game, Aces of WW2, at the when I crossed over to Boy Scouts, we got to go most challenging. We also got to go see the Blue pizza place in town that I loved to play when we would camping and go to the Blue Angels Homecoming Angels practice. I had a blast and made friends go there. I was so little that sitting in the “cockpit”, airshow every year. That was awesome! While visiting with people from as close as Florida to as far as my feet didn’t even touch the floor and I had to sit the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Alaska. up on the edge of the seat to reach the controls. My I heard about the National Flight Academy. It is a mom said people would stand around behind me and camp you can go to for a week in the summer. Since my friend Chad already had his pilot’s license watch me fly. It wasn’t even a game that you could and knew I was interested in flying, he invited my win tickets for, you just got to fly, which was fine with One of my fellow Eagle Scouts, Chad Filbey, mom and I to go fly with him. I think the first time me. It was that same year that I got to go to my first who already had his private pilot’s license at we flew with him we flew all over Hattiesburg. airshow, at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. That was the first the time, and had already attended the We flew over my school, over my house, over our time I got to see the Thunderbirds fly. We have been camp, encouraged me to go. I went friend’s houses, everywhere. It was so cool! When to airshows just about every year since then. and I’m glad I did. It was like living you fly in a big jet like you do when you’re going on an aircraft carrier for a week, on vacation, you fly so high that you don’t really When I was in Kindergarten I got to meet three of complete with all the sounds get to see all the cool stuff that you do from a the original Tuskegee Airmen from WW2. They were of planes landing on deck much lower altitude. The second time he took us Lt. Col. Leo Gray, Lt. Col. Herbert Carter, and Col. day and night. You’re flying, we flew from Hattiesburg – Laurel to Stennis Charles McGee. They came to the African American assigned to a squadron (Bay St. Louis, MS). Military Museum which is in downtown Hattiesburg. and even given a There was a local artist there also that had painted call sign. That was a longer flight and he showed me the a picture of their three planes and was selling prints basics of what a “cross country flight” is all about. of it. My parents bought a print and each pilot We went flying with him one more time and after autographed their plane and I got my picture made that I decided I wanted to become a pilot. He with each of them. I actually met three great aviators gave me the name of his instructor, Mr. Ronnie that flew “Redtails” and were a part of the “Greatest Bishop, and I started lessons shortly thereafter. Generation”! At the time I thought that was pretty cool, but I now realize how special that really was. I now have almost 30 hours and was about to solo Colonel Charles McGee, now Brigadier General Charles when Covid-19 started. I was able to fly three McGee, was promoted to Brigadier General in cross country trips before we had to stop. The December 2019 shortly after his 100th birthday. first was to Meridian, MS. It was a nighttime From what I have read about him, he has flight which was neat because we landed flown more combat missions in WW2, at night at an airport I had never Korea, and Vietnam than any been to before. The second other Air Force pilot. And was to Natchez, MS. It he is also an Eagle was a daytime flight. Scout. How cool is that! We flew over the Mississippi River and also the Emerald Mound which I had been to before on a field trip for school. It was cool to see it from the air. On the third cross country, we flew from HattiesburgLaurel to Ocean Spring, MS, then turned and flew the coastline all the way to Bay St. Louis, landed at Stennis, then back to Hattiesburg-Laurel. That was probably the longest flight so far. When we were flying over Bay St. Louis we were able to see the faint outline of the tall buildings in New Orleans. That was a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to be able to see New Orleans from there. I hope to start back flying again soon and hopefully get my private pilot’s license before I graduate in May. I plan to attend Delta State University in the Fall of 2021 and major in Flight Operations.

toVideo Game Left Seat Mine was “Talon” because I’m an Eagle Scout. We flew simulators on mock missions, which included night traps on the aircraft carrier. That part was the most fun but also the most challenging. We also got to go see the Blue Angels practice. I had a blast and made friends with people from as close as Florida to as far as Alaska. Since my friend Chad already had his pilot’s license and knew I was interested in flying, he invited my mom and I to go fly with him. I think the first time we flew with him we flew all over Hattiesburg. We flew over my school, over my house, over our friend’s houses, everywhere. It was so cool! When you fly in a big jet like you do when wanted to become a pilot. He gave me the name of his instructor, Mr. Ronnie Bishop, and I started lessons shortly thereafter. I now have almost 30 hours and was about to solo when Covid-19 started. I was able to fly three cross country trips before we had to stop. The first was to Meridian, MS. It was a nighttime flight which was neat because we landed at night at an airport I had never been to before. The second was to Natchez, MS. It was a daytime flight. We flew over the Mississippi River and also the Emerald Mound which I had been to before on a field trip for school. It was cool to see it from you’re going on vacation, you fly so high that you the air. On the third cross country, we flew from don’t really get to see all the cool stuff that you Hattiesburg-Laurel to Ocean Spring, MS, then do from a much lower altitude. The second time he turned and flew the coastline all the way to Bay

My name is Haden Bourland downtown Hattiesburg. greatest thing ever. But took us flying, we flew from Hattiesburg – Laurel St. Louis, landed at Stennis, then back to and I am a senior at to Stennis (BaySt. Louis, MS). There was a local artist there when I crossed over to Hattiesburg-Laurel. That was probably the longest

Presbyterian Christian School in also that had painted a Boy Scouts, we got to go flight so far. When we were flying over Bay St.

Hattiesburg, MS. My interest in That was a longer flight and picture of their three planes camping and go to the Louis we were able to see the faint outline of the flying started when I was about he showed me the basics and was selling prints of it. Blue Angels Homecoming tall buildings in New Orleans. That was a surprise. four years old. There was a of what a “cross country My parents bought a print airshow every year. That I wasn’t expecting to be able to see New Orleans video game, Aces of WW2, at flight” is all about. We and each pilot autographed from there. was awesome! While the pizza place in town that I went flying with him their plane and I got my visiting the National Naval I hope to start back flying again soon and loved to play when we would one more time picture made with each of Aviation Museum at NAS hopefully get my private pilot’s license go there. I was so little that and after that them. I actually met three Pensacola, I heard about the before I graduate in May. I plan to attend sitting in the “cockpit”, my feet I decided I great aviators that flew National Flight Academy. It Delta State University in the Fall of didn’t even touch the floor and “Redtails” and were a part of is a camp you can go to for a 2021 and major in Flight Operations.

I had to sit up on the edge of the “Greatest Generation”! week in the summer. the seat to reach the controls. At the time I thought that

My mom said people would was pretty cool, but I now One of my fellow Eagle stand around behind me and realize how special that Scouts, Chad Filbey, who watch me fly. It wasn’t even really was. Colonel Charles already had his private a game that you could win McGee, now Brigadier pilot’s license at the tickets for, you just got to fly, General Charles McGee, time, and had already which was fine with me. It was was promoted to Brigadier attended the camp, that same year that I got to go General in December 2019 encouraged me to my first airshow, at Keesler shortly after his 100th to go. I went

AFB in Biloxi, MS. That was birthday. From what I have and I’m the first time I got to see the read about him, he has flown glad I Thunderbirds fly. We have more combat missions in did. It been to airshows just about WW2, Korea, and Vietnam was like every year since then. than any other Air Force living on pilot. And he is also an an aircraft

When I was in Kindergarten Eagle Scout. How cool is carrier for a

I got to meet three of the that! week, complete original Tuskegee Airmen from with all the sounds of

WW2. They were Lt. Col. Leo When I was in first grade, planes landing on deck

Gray, Lt. Col. Herbert Carter, I joined Cub Scouts. Each day and night. You’re and Col. Charles McGee. They year we got to spend the assigned to a squadron came to the African American night on the U.S.S. Alabama, and even given a call sign.

Military Museum which is in which at the time was the Mine was “Talon” because

I’m an Eagle Scout. We flew simulators on mock missions, which included night traps on the aircraft carrier. That part was the most fun but also the most challenging. We also got to go see the Blue Angels practice. I had a blast and made friends with people from as close as Florida to as far as Alaska.

the Mississippi River and also the Emerald Mound which I had been to before on a field trip for school. It was cool to see it from the air. On the third cross country, we flew from HattiesburgLaurel to Ocean Spring, MS, then turned and flew the coastline all the way to Bay St. Louis, landed at Stennis, then back to Hattiesburg-Laurel. That was probably the longest flight so far. When we were Since my friend Chad already had his pilot’s license flying over Bay St. Louis we were able to see the and knew I was interested in flying, he invited my faint outline of the tall buildings in New Orleans. mom and I to go fly with him. I think the first time That was a surprise. I wasn’t expecting to be able we flew with him we flew all over Hattiesburg. to see New Orleans from there. We flew over my school, over my house, over our friend’s houses, everywhere. It was so cool! When I hope to start back flying again soon you fly in a big jet like you do when you’re going and hopefully get my private pilot’s on vacation, you fly so high that you don’t really license before I graduate in May. Lt. Col. Leo Gray Lt. Col. Herbert CarterCol. Charles McGee get to see all the cool stuff that you do from a I plan to attend Delta State much lower altitude. The second time he took us University in the Fall of flying, we flew from Hattiesburg – Laurel to Stennis 2021 and major in Flight (Bay St. Louis, MS). Operations.

That was a longer flight and he showed me the basics of what a “cross country flight” is all about. We went flying with him one more time and after that I decided I wanted to become a pilot. He gave me the name of his instructor, Mr. Ronnie Bishop, and I started lessons shortly thereafter.

I now have almost 30 hours and was about to solo when Covid-19 started. I was able to fly three cross country trips before we had to stop. The first was to Meridian, MS. It was a nighttime flight which was neat because we landed at night at an airport I had never been to before. The second was to Natchez, MS. It was a daytime flight.

We flew over