Air Camp 2006
The first photos were
taken Tuesday August 1st... Photos were posted each day.
Thirty-one cadets applied and thirty-one showed up for each day.
Not one dropout from this group of aviators. From the smile on their
faces, all had a good time..
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Opening day before
the crowd came at the offices of Fly-Low Publications, minutes
later it was crowded with 9 to 14 year old aviators.. |
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| "Did
he say fold this, or fold this?" |
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Conner, airplane in hand, looking
for target........ |
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Notice the smile on Eliot... Is he really listening to
instructor Phil Cowger at left back? (Bobby Day Photo) |
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Totally Involved...... |
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| "Pied
Piper" photo by Bobby Day of Ralph McCormick in Gator bringing
the kids back to the airport from Armory. |
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Tony Benfer
instructing cadets |
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Day Two |
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The Jump - Sean
Cook and Jeff Slocum impressing the cadets on Wednesday.. What a
show... they loved it. |
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Jumper, Teri Mosley, from Skydive Ranch (www.skyranch.com)
in Siloam Springs demonstrating the position just as she jumps..
She stole the kids hearts with her talk and jump. Since
1/2 of our group is composed of young ladies... guess why they
loved her.. (Bobby Day photo) |
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| Five
planes lined up for the kids inspection. (Bobby Day photo) |
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| Yes
Sir... We're checking the bottom of the wing... Whew!
finally a shade! |
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| Andy
Berkemeyer instructing cadets on runway usage. |
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real hit of the day was the Skydive Ranch jump and Teri Mosley
captivated the group, as you can see. |
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| Local
newspaper photographer taking pictures at today's event...
Television coverage should happen on Friday. |
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one was GREAT... day two was FANTASTIC... what could
day three four and five hold? Throttle forward and let's
see... say tuned.. |
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Day
Three |
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Lyle Hawkins explaining the
mechanics of aviation. |
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Lyle Hawkins & De De Martin
discussing the engine. |
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Newton Skyles of the National
Weather Service of NLR. |
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Donnie Medford explains how he
built his RV-6 at his home. |
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Bailey in foreground looking for
who ever threw the plane.. Aaron in the background wondering
what time we eat.. Bobby Day left wondering why his machine
isn't clicking.... Sure all is well... this is an aviation
camp... :0) |
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After three days, I am getting
more respect for teachers who corral 30 kids each day for nine
months.... and I have only had them for three days...
I did learn that standing five feet from a jet engine is about
the same as being in a room with 31 kids talking at the same
time... I am beginning to prefer the jet engine..
hahaha.. I would have to rate day three a TEN. These
kids are just great and are big sponges, soaking up the aviation
information. Without doubt every one associated with this
camp will rate this week as one of our most gratifying. |
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Day
Four |
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| Ralph
McCormick (right) and Mike Duncan from KTHV.... |
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| I
told you Snoopy would fly in...... nice landing... |
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| Air
Evac of West Plains, MO, provided a great show with the Air Evac
helicopter... Randy Cockrum as PIC (Pilot In Command).. |
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| An
Ercoupe from Harrison owned and flown by Andy Anderson was a
huge hit at today's "Show and Tell". |
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| Homer
Ellis, Snoopy's passenger (?) from Fort Smith. |
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| David
Johnson from Pine Bluff/Country Aire Estates and his BT-13. |
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| You
think Bradley is intense in flight. Not so! He is
trying to stick his plane to the beams near the ceiling of the
Armory... Yep... Intense aviation. |
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Bailey trying to figure what to do with a chart plotter... |
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| Now,
Eric - Where did we tell you to place your name tag? |
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| If a
good day would be rated a 10.... this was a 20 day.
It was more like an air show at RUE than a normal day. We
had planes from Pine Bluff, Harrison, Fayetteville, Fort Smith,
Morrilton, Little Rock, and points in-between. More photos
of those will be posted tomorrow night...
It is hard to imagine that all
those pilots brought their historic and new aircraft this
distance at their cost to show the youth at the camp what
aviation is all about. My thanks to them... we'll
post their photos over the weekend. All that left is
flight for the kids.. That happens on Saturday... This has
been great for the kids and most satisfying for those of us
working with them.. Part of me hates to see it close..
I'll miss those guys and gals... |
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Day
Five, The Final Day |
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should be happy that the camp is over, I'm not. I will
miss those cadets... after a week of being pestered or
pestering them... It is going to be quite and lonely around the
hangar next week... Some may call it the empty nest
syndrome. Here are today's photos, Saturday August 5. |
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| One
tucker-out pilot (me) and Bailey, Mattie, and Bailey. |
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| Lyle
Hawkins and passengers Bradley, Jason, and Jacob. |
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| Tony
Benfer with Ashley, Sarah, and Brandon. |
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| Who
is that masked boy... and his log book? |
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| Hersh
Hargus filling in the log books for the cadets, their own
personal log book. |
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Anxious and excited parents watching their child go for a ride
with one of our experienced pilots. |
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Saturday's photos by Natalie McCormick |
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Well!!! What can I say
that I haven't said. We have grown attached to this
diverse group of young folks. Diverse in location, age,
and personalities... but singular in their love of aviation.
I have no doubt that more than half of these guys and gals will
become pilots. There is no way this seed we planted will
wilt and die. It will grow and grow.
This page has given you the
complexity of the air camp and of those who attended. Many
new friendships have been made, many new avenues have been taken
and that is what it is all about. It is all about the
kids.
Will there be another aviation
camp? Sure... in 2007. Watch this site and when a
new date is picked it will be posted. Out of the
two-thousand or so pilots who live and fly out of Arkansas, we
had the cream of the crop participate in this event. From
those who corralled kids, to those who flew in planes from
distant cities in AR, doing so just for the kids.. That is
aviation, a brotherhood of pilots who want to 'pay it forward'
and start getting our replacement pilots ready for when we
retire.
Our thanks to the parents who,
in some cases, drove a total of four hours per day just to get
the kid to the camp each day. From the smile on the kids
face, I bet the parent thinks it was worth it.. Our
thanks to all who have donate time, money, services to the
camp.
We'll see you next year with
another fantastic aviation camp...
God Bless... |
|
Ralph McCormick
ralph@arkansaspilots.org |
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Fly Arkansas
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This is
why our camp was such a success. |
| Tony Benfer, Bobby
Day, Lyle Hawkins, Dwight Talburt, Andy Berkemeyer, Hersh Hargus,
De De Martin, Ken Turner, Mark Frankum, Ralph & Sudie McCormick,
Homer Ellis, David Johnson, Hugh Pierce, Andy Anderson, Donnie
Medford, Randy Cockrum, Phil Cowger, Wolf Grulkey, Teri Mosley,
Paul Doherty, Mike Wyrick, Rickey Macky, John Knight, Ken
Johnson, Natalie McCormick, Arnold Bowden, Sean Cook, Jeff
Slocum, Erasmo (Eddie) Malacara, Ralph Bowen, Sid Brain, Mike
Shepard, Bill Shelton, |
| SkyVenture Aviation,
Central Flight Service, Fly-Low Publications, The Russellville
Airport Commission, Kiwanis Club of Russellville, New's Office
Supply, Skydive Ranch, Air Evac, Arkansas Dept of
Aeronautics, River Valley Pilots Association, National Guard
Armory (RUE), Maus Implement Company, |
| If I have failed
to mention someone, please forgive me. There were so many
involved, it is hard to remember. Thanks to all of you,
you have permitted us to 'plant the seed of flight' in
thirty-one youngsters. Bring a friend and help next year.
I know thirty-one kids who will come back and want to bring a
friend. |
| Throttle Forward
Ralph McCormick |
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