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WINGS FOR GIRLS Girl Scouts Spread Their Wings in Flight School Program    Photos by William Riemers   July 14, 2008.  Thirteen girls from the Woodland Girl Scout Council became Young Eagles during a one-day flight school offered Thursday, July 10 at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport. The educational program, sponsored by Am I High Aviation, LLC, featured lessons on aerodynamics, engines, flight instruments, airport operations, weather, and navigation.  The experience paralleled actual pilot training.   After all of the girls completed the stations, they were qualified to take flight on a 20 minute airplane ride as part of the EAA Young Eagles program. At the end of the day, they were awarded a Young Eagles Certificate and an official FAA logbook compliments of the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI).  An enthusiastic group of girls boarded a bus for home after the day’s activities. Area pilots Jeremy Beaudry, Ryan Vechinski, Dan Stoil, Jim Johnson, John Thompson, Susana Gorski, Terese Barta, and Dave Pringle volunteered their time in teaching the lessons and/or providing the air rides.  Former F4 Fighter  pilot William Riemers also served as official photographer that day. “I like to show girls that they can become pilots; it’s not just a man’s world,” explained pilot John Thompson, on why he participated in the program. The Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to welcome young people into the world of aviation. Chuck Yeager, the founder of the Young Eagles Program, flew combat in World War II and Vietnam, was an Air Force test pilot and is probably best known for being the first man to break the sound barrier.  The real purpose of the program is to orient children to flying and teach them the principles of flight. In 2007, John A. Teipen, Program Director for the Young Eagles Flight Education Program, expanded the Young Eagles flight training by adding a Flight Education section that includes learning stations that offer guided, hands-on educational opportunities to young people. Teipen sums it up by saying, "What young people can hope to get from the program are the discipline, the responsibilities, their own personal performance levels, goal setting, and of course, the accomplishments. Those are the things that those of us who have been in aviation long enough, love so much about it." Am I High Aviation, LLC has been providing ground and flight instruction to the Stevens Point area since 2004.  Owners John Thompson and Wanda Zuege have over 17 years of combined flight instruction experience and both are certified as Master Flight Instructors by NAFI.  They offer Young Eagles flight education programs to various youth organizations on request.  For more information, visit their website at www.amihighaviation.com.

AM I HIGH? Middle School Students Train to Become Pilots   KidVenture was sponsored by Am I High Aviation, LLC.  Certified Flight Instructors,  Wanda Zuege and John Thompson provide professional accelerated flight and ground instruction.      SIGN UP TODAY for your FREE 6-month AOPA trial membership with unlimited online resources, live support, career information, 6 issues of Flight Training and more – all the help you need to make the best decisions. No risk. Guaranteed.  Compliments of Am I High Aviation, LLC.         Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  Saturday, November 10.  Kerry Johnson, Coordinator for the Education Talent Search, a federally-funded pre-college program through the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, bussed  22 middle school students to the Stevens Point Municipal Airport for an experience of a lifetime - to attend a day of flight education and training.  "Our goal is to provide students with new and influential experiences designed to help them think about their future as early as middle school.  We've had students interested in becoming pilots for the military or commercial airline companies, so we wanted to give them a head start and experience what the field of aviation is all about."         Wanda Zuege, Master Flight Instructor with Am I High Aviation, LLC, sponsored and coordinated the local KidVenture Flight Education event.  Together with the valuable efforts of volunteer pilots and aviation enthusiasts, the middle school students completed an experience that paralleled actual pilot training which included learning about aerodynamics, navigation, weather, airplane engines and airplane instruments.  At the end of the day, they were awarded a Certificate of Completion and an official FAA logbook - compliments of the National Association of Flight Instructors.  Students who completed all educational stations will be able to "take flight" on a 20 minute Young Eagles airplane ride scheduled to be included in future events!           The Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to welcome young people into the world of aviation. Chuck Yeager, the founder of the Young Eagles Program, flew combat in World War II and Vietnam, was an Air Force test pilot and is probably best known for being the first man to break the sound barrier.  "... the real purpose of the program is to orient children to flying and teach them the principles of flight.           In 2007, John A. Teipen, Program Director for the Young Eagles Flight Education Program, expanded the Young Eagles flight training by adding a Flight Education section that includes learning stations that offer guided, hands-on educational opportunities to young people.  The education experience then culminates in a Young Eagles flight or a Young Eagles flight lesson on an FAA-certified Basic-ATD (aviation training device) simulator; both experiences are  logged and their Instructor-endorsed time counts towards their FAA Private Pilot License. "What young people can hope to get from the program are the disciplines, the responsibilities, their own personal performance levels, goal setting, and of course, the accomplishments. Those are the things that those of us who have been in aviation long enough, love so much about it."        KidVenture was a success thanks to Kerry Johnson who propelled the idea;  the middle school students for their desires;  the teachers that volunteered to accompany them; John Teipen for guidance in coordinating the event;  Mike Pinney, Airport Manager, for approving the airport tour; the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point for the use of their classrooms, the National Association of Flight Instructors for donating the FAA Logbooks;  Terese Barta and John Thompson for their indefatigable energy level and passion for teaching;  and especially to the pilots and volunteers that passed on their wonder of flight to eager young eagles as this event would not have been possible without them:  John Thompson - Airport Environment Educator, Charlie Stephenson - twin tour and Q&As about pilot careers, Loren and Emily Thurier - Preflight Educators, Jeramy Beaudry - All purpose handy guy to have around, Dennis Valcq - graciously assisted where needed, Susana Gorski - Navigation Educator, Terese Barta - Weather Educator, Eric Roeske - Aerodynamics Educator, Paul Bell - Airplane Instruments Educator, Ryan Vechinski - Engines & Props Educator, William Riemers - Official Photographer, Renee and Alex Beckland - graciously assisted where needed,  and Pete Kopecko for the Grazzi gift certificates towards our volunteer debriefing at the end of the day.        TESTIMONIALS: Williiam Riemers, Official Photographer.  Great effort by everyone last Saturday.  I particularly complement each station instructor--I listened intently to everyone and I don't think the presentations could have been better.    Ryan Vechinsky, Engine & Props Educator .  Wanda, the website looks GREAT!  I know the kids had an awesome time - I can especially see that in the pictures from the airport.  ...  If you ever need help again doing something like that, give me a call!    Susana Gorski, Navigator Educator .  Hi Wanda, Thanks and great job to you too.