| You
never know when your unique mix of skills and talents will come together
in the right place and the right time. For me, July 10-20, 2003 was literally
the Wright place and the Wright time.
I was chosen from
a number of applicants as one of three staff members for a Girl Scouting
event in Dayton, Ohio, home of the Wright brothers and headquarters for
the bicentennial celebration of aviation. The Girl Scout wider opportunity,
"An Aviation Celebration," sponsored by the Buckeye Trails Council,
brought 24 girls from all over the nation to Dayton for this week-long
adventure. The common theme binding these highly motivated teens, ages
14-17, was their desire to learn more about flying.
Part of my responsibility
was to teach the girls the principles of flight, the aerodynamics of aircraft,
the basics of navigation, and the joy of flying. My recounts of flying
in two Powder Puff Derby's added a humorous touch to the technical "flight
schools" held in the evenings, which prepared the girls for the next
day's events. I was joined by my mother and previous pilot, Bebe Ragaz,
from Marion, North Carolina and an astronomer, Kim Kryjeck, from Chicago
to lead and mentor the girls during the week-long event.
Highlights of the
trip included a full day at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base where they meandered through four hangars of vintage and modern
aircraft. The girls received a treat that day with a rare tour of the
presidential planes including FDR's Columbine and Harry Truman's
Independence.
Later that week,
they were thrilled at the Dayton Air Show as they watched the Navy Blue
Angels, the Canadian Snowbirds, and the Air Force Thunderbirds. The girls
were special guests of the air show sponsors, Vantegon, and collected
a number of pilot's autographs between flights.
Those girls who
wanted actual flying time were not disappointed. Early in the week they
spent some time in the GAT II, a flight simulator at Sinclair College
in Dayton. Later that week, they were taken for a ride in private aircraft
as part of the Young Eagles program. Those lucky enough to be sitting
next to the pilot |
|
 Bebe
Ragaz and Susan Brockley, adult staff for a wider opportunity, anxiously
wait for Girl Scout participants to arrive in Dayton so they can greet
them.
got
some "hands-on" experience when they were allowed to temporarily
take control of the plane while in flight.
Dayton
was host to a first-ever blimp meet, and four blimps made the trip:
the Goodyear, Saturn, MetLife, and Fuji blimps. The girls received a
special treat when three of the four blimps took off and circled the
field prior to departing to their home bases.
Of
course, the event would not be complete without traditional Girl Scout
things such as campfires and s'mores, singing, flag ceremonies, and
Scout's Own. The girls exchanged SWAPS, small items representative of
their home state or Girl Scout council.
After
a week, I returned to Houston tired, but pleased to bring my flying
experience to the young crop of future pilots. My parting advice to
them: "Follow your dreams, study, work hard, and have some fun
along the way. You do not know what opportunities await you later in
life." |