Aviation Education for Kids

[Chuck]

I have a 9 yr old son that is interested in aviation. He says that he wants
to become a pilot! :)

I am an A&P, but am not a pilot. I do have a cousin who is a pilot and we
have both gone up with him, so my son has experienced flying in both general
aviation aircraft (Piper) and commercial aircraft (Fokker 100 & 757). My
cousin just bought a glider, so hopefully my son (and myself!) will get to
experience this soon.

My question is, are there any good educational programs that my son could
get involved in to further expand his interest in aviation?

I have looked at the EAA website and have seen the Young Eagle and the Wild
Blue Wonders programs.

I'm sure that he would like to do the Young Eagle program, but like I said,
he has already flown before. Is there more to the Young Eagle program than
just a flight? He is too young for the WBW program.

Are there any other programs available locally (D/FW area)? What can I do
myself to help him? Websites? Literature?

From time to time, we go watch the planes at a local airport, which we both
enjoy. I have also taken him to the American Airlines museum and to the
Vintage Flying museum at Meacham Field.

Thanks...

Chuck

[Franklin Newton]

Hopefully you'll guide him to pursue both an A&P and a pilots certificate as
well, I would think RC model aircraft would be a help at his age.
"Chuck" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> I have a 9 yr old son that is interested in aviation. He says that he
wants
> to become a pilot! :)
>
> I am an A&P, but am not a pilot. I do have a cousin who is a pilot and we
> have both gone up with him, so my son has experienced flying in both
general
> aviation aircraft (Piper) and commercial aircraft (Fokker 100 & 757). My
> cousin just bought a glider, so hopefully my son (and myself!) will get to
> experience this soon.
>
> My question is, are there any good educational programs that my son could
> get involved in to further expand his interest in aviation?
>
> I have looked at the EAA website and have seen the Young Eagle and the
Wild
> Blue Wonders programs.
>
> I'm sure that he would like to do the Young Eagle program, but like I
said,
> he has already flown before. Is there more to the Young Eagle program than
> just a flight? He is too young for the WBW program.
>
> Are there any other programs available locally (D/FW area)? What can I do
> myself to help him? Websites? Literature?
>
> From time to time, we go watch the planes at a local airport, which we
both
> enjoy. I have also taken him to the American Airlines museum and to the
> Vintage Flying museum at Meacham Field.
>
> Thanks...
>
> Chuck
>
>

[Chuck]

"Franklin Newton" > wrote in message
link.net...
> Hopefully you'll guide him to pursue both an A&P and a pilots certificate
as
> well, I would think RC model aircraft would be a help at his age.

> "Chuck" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
> > I have a 9 yr old son that is interested in aviation. He says that he
> wants
> > to become a pilot! :)
> >

<snip>

That is something that we have also done. There is a very active RC strip
about 2 miles from our house. He enjoys going and watching them. We have
also gone to the base and he has climbed all over the F-18's.

[Steve P]

On 1/3/2004 2:07 PM after considerable forethought, Chuck wrote:

> I have a 9 yr old son that is interested in aviation. He says that he wants
> to become a pilot! :)
<SNIP>

My daughter expressed an interest when she was 10 and I got her a couple
of lessons. I think she logged a total of 9 hours over a summer and
spent a lot of time helping out at the FBO. I finished my PPL that same
summer and was able to keep her in an airplane and being my "co-pilot".
I kept her involved from the preflight, to changing frequencies, and
finding ground references. We flew to air museums, airshows, and just
some good ole father/daughter "$100 hamburger runs". She started doing
vfr flight planning and loved the charts, and the tsd calculations. I
helped steer her decision making process for science fairs and such for
aviation type projects. This with a few scattered lessons over the
years, and she set the goal of soloing on her 16th. Mission
accomplished and now she's finishing up her training to take her check
ride on her 17th birthday. I think an important key if for you to stay
involved even if you don't hold a PPL. Share what you know from the
A&P side and help him relate it to his flying. I personally checked
into the Young Eagles but didn't have much luck at my local airport so
had to be creative to keep providing new activities that would keep her
interest up when she couldn't fly as much as she wanted, not to mention
what my pocketbook could handle.

Good luck!

Steve P