Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/339662
2 Vol.3 No.7 / July 2014 TOWER FREQUENCY On the cover: Ed Marreno f ies his Acey Deucy following it's rebuild. (Photography by Jim Koepnick) Photography by Jason Toney Kids and the WOW Factor Fostering youth participation in aviation starts with an attention-grabber BY JACK J. PELTON OUR MISSION IS TO preserve and promote all forms of personal and private aviation. It's a big job. And the most fundamental task in preserving private aviation for the future is to attract the next generation to fl ying. EAA's Young Eagles program leads all of aviation in intro- ducing youngsters to the joy of fl ight. Soon we will have given 2 million young people an airplane ride. But the Young Eagles program is actually the second step in attracting kids. The fi rst job is to get their attention. With social media, television, and movies all competing for young peoples' often short attention spans we need something that really stands out. Something that delivers the WOW fac- tor to grab a kid's attention. And that's a primary reason we devote so much ef ort to the air show at our annual fl y-in and convention at Oshkosh. Pilots of every experience level can enjoy an air show and be impressed by the flying skill of the performers. But to grab kids' attention we need a show that is loud, fast, and thrilling to watch. We've put on those shows for decades here at Oshkosh, but this year for the first time the Air Force Thunderbirds will perform in our show Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. When it comes to WOW, nothing beats the Thunderbirds or the Navy's Blue Angels. Flying in close formation in front- line jet fi ghters just can't be beat for high-speed action and thrills. It's been that way since the early 1950s when the jet teams were formed. None of this is news to the Air Force and Navy. They cre- ated and support the teams primarily as a recruiting tool. They know an air show by the teams is one of the best ways to get young people's attention and interest in joining the service. We want to attract the same group to all types of fl ying. The reason the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels haven't fl own at Oshkosh before is because our air show aerobatic "box" hasn't been large enough. Because the jets fl y faster than pro- peller airplanes more airspace, and space on the ground, needs to be protected. Businesses and residences to the east of Runway 18/36 at Oshkosh are located in the larger aerobatic box needed for the jet show. I'm happy to say that the nearby businesses and homeowners have been pleased to cooperate so the Thunderbirds can fl y. The jets also require more of a safety buf er on the show side, the west side of Runway 18/36. The required safety zone from the runway centerline to the closest spectators is typi- cally called the "burn line," and all of us will need to move back to the west several feet on the days when the Thunderbirds fl y. We won't need to move airplanes that are tied down near the runway, but people won't be able to be in the fi rst couple rows of parked airplanes during the show. It has been a big project for the EAA staf and volunteers to work out the details to bring the Thunderbirds to Oshkosh, and we very much appreciate the cooperation of our neighbors who live and work close to the airport. I think the ef ort is absolutely vital. If we don't succeed in enticing the next generation to join us in our love of flying and personal aviation, all will be lost. The average age of people who fly and participate in private aviation goes up each year. The Thunderbirds can't solve this problem by themselves, but they will add new excitement to our air show, and EAA supports all air shows across the country where attendance remains strong. Nothing grabs the attention of young people faster than an exciting air show, and this year Oshkosh promises to bring the most WOW ever. E A A E X P _ J u l y 1 4 . i n d d 2 EAAEXP_July14.indd 2 7 / 1 / 1 4 9 : 5 1 A M 7/1/14 9:51 AM