Even overused words like “awesome” have a place. That singular word was the description of choice among participants of the Young Eagles day on a recent Saturday morning at Wood County Airport.

The event organizers – the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapters of Mineola and Sulphur Springs – hoped that the moisture-laden air would yet hold out and allow for a full flight day. To everyone’s relief, it did, providing opportunity for 76 young aviation enthusiasts to experience their first flight in a small aircraft.

The flights launched south out of Collins Field, climbed to 1,300 feet and arced back to the north over TX 37.  The flights made a big racetrack to the northwest over Lake Fork before returning for recovery. The skies were partly cloudy, but enough sunlight broke through to provide for excellent aerial observation. 

The value of the experience was evident in the eyes of the young first-time flyers. While no wild celebrations were noted upon landing, there was definitely a light of wonder in the eyes of the youngsters upon hopping back out of the aircraft, post-flight. And that, according to those staging the event, was exactly the intent.

Aviation is a serious business and for that very reason, the staging of a Young Eagles day requires significant planning and detailed execution.   

Pre-registration was recommended, although organizers did accept walk-ins. As one would expect, parents or guardians were required to sign an agreement to waive liability, assume risk and indemnify. Each pilot was also required to certify their licensure, currency in their aircraft type, possession of passenger liability insurance, and airworthiness of their aircraft.  

As in any flight training, ground school for the young fliers preceded their flights. Six youngsters at a time were given an overview on the three dimensions of flight, basic instrumentation, communications and safety. Stan Spencer and Doug Linneberger used props and personal interaction to connect with the eager aviators. The information was just enough to pique interest and provide understanding for the forces which enable flight.

Spencer and Linneberger also took time to describe the exhaustive maintenance regimen which small aircraft undergo. This was obviously appreciated by the parents attending the session with their children. 

Once ground school was complete, the youngsters awaited their airplanes. Cadets of the Tyler Squadron Civil Air Patrol served as flight-line escorts, managing entry to and exit from the flight line.

The pilots greeted their passengers at the aircraft. A brief description of the airplane was provided, and the youngsters were safely seated, with headsets on. Moments later, they were flying.

As Lupita Wisener related, “Of course we couldn’t do this without our volunteer pilots and their well-maintained aircraft.” EAA members Larry Bradshaw, Gerald Brewer, Jimmy Chadwick, Jim Ivy, Larry Lenamon II, Ben Scarborough and John Wisdom gave their time and resources to pilot their aircraft for the day.

One aspect of the event was very clear. There was certainly a bond shared when the Young Eagles had that post-flight handshake with their pilots. 

Families had come from as close as Alba and Yantis to as far away as Mabank to participate in the program. Dylan Teel of Saltillo still had the bright light in his eyes as he stood next to his father Daniel for a photo just after completing his flight. 

Many folks had a hand in the day’s success. The Mineola and Sulphur Springs chapters of the EAA co-sponsored the event, as the Sulphur Springs’ Young Eagles day scheduled earlier in the spring had been canceled on account of weather.

Captain Ken Swisher of the Tyler Civil Air Patrol and his charges put in attentive work controlling the flight line, while the Wood County Airport facilities shone once again as a top-shelf airfield.   

The next major aviation event in the area will be a fly-in of Cessna 150-type aircraft to Wisener Field on Monday, July 4. The event will also celebrate the 105th anniversary of Wisener Field.