YOUNG EAGLES: New EAA Chapter 1685 opening doors in aviation for Baldwin High students
May 8—Imagine being in a classroom and wondering what it would be like to someday fly in an airplane.
Well, for several students at Baldwin High School, that dream is now a reality. They got to go flying in small planes at Baldwin County Regional Airport last month.
It's all part of the new Experimental Aircraft Association Baldwin County Chapter 1685's way of introducing youngsters and teens to the exciting world of aviation.
"It's opening up a brand new world for so many local youngsters and teens, and we couldn't be more proud to be part of it all," said Kalina Milani, president of the new EAA Chapter 1685.
Last month, a pair of students at Baldwin High School got an opportunity to fly in an airplane for the first time.
"It was so exciting," recalled Peter Parham, a senior. "It was very cool, honestly. I got to see my house from the plane and all of Milledgeville from up in the air. Everything is really small from that high up."
Parham said he has encouraged several of his friends at school to get involved in the EAA Chapter 1685 Young Eagles Program.
"It's really a lot of fun," he said, noting he has been involved in the aviation program at the high school and learned a lot about aviation by learning to fly a drone.
"That class has been extremely helpful to me," Parham said.
He said he already knew a lot about what the pilot was saying over his radio when he flew in the plane.
"I understood exactly what he was doing," Parham said.
Parham also thinks he knows what sort of career he wants to get into after graduation from college.
"I'm likely going to choose something in the field of aviation," Parham said. "I want to study aeronautical engineering."
After graduation, Parham plans to attend either Middle Georgia State or Kennesaw University and then after two years transfer to Purdue University.
Parham was joined onboard the flight by fellow student Travion Williams, a freshman at Baldwin High School.
"I was a little nervous when we first left the runway because it was my first time flying," Williams said. "But as we got up in the air, I started getting used to it and really liked it."
One of the most exciting aspects of flying was the pilot allowing him to take the controls for a little while.
"That was really a lot of fun," Williams said. "Everything looks so pretty when you are in the air. You get to see so many things that you've never seen before."
Williams said it truly opened up a new world for him and he would encourage any teen to get involved in the Young Eagles Program.
Williams, who plays baseball and football for BHS, said he hopes to become an engineer someday.
One of the pilots on the Young Eagles Day at the local airport was Tom Osborne, who served as the fixed base operator at the Baldwin County Regional Airport for nearly 18 years.
"Our kids are our future, and to be able to participate in maybe shaping their future is just overwhelming," Osborne said, noting it's also "very" emotional.
Osborne, who also is a member of the EAA Chapter 1685, said he flew five members of the Young Eagles.
"They really all enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it I think as much as they did," said Osborne.
Osborne said when he managed the airport it was a much smaller airport than it is today.
"We have Jim Wolfgang (airport advisory committee chair), the newer county commissioners and our county manager to thank for all of what we now have at our airport because the previous administration was not as interested in the airport," Osborne said. "They just wanted a caretaker, and I was the caretaker."
He said he's proud to be a member of the airport advisory committee because so many positive things are going on at the local airport.
"It's very exciting to be part of all of this, and to see so many young lives being changed with what they are learning through the Young Eagles Program."
