VANCOUVER, Wash. — It was a day of special flights at Pearson Field Airport in Vancouver this weekend and a learning experience for kids who may not otherwise get the chance to fly.
Getting into a small aircraft, many kids for the first time, starting with the basics like getting properly buckled in.
But there is much more to the Red Tailed Hawks Flying Club's aviation camp for kids.
"The Red Tailed Hawks is here to introduce youth to the world of aviation," said Jesse Hayes, president of the Washinton chapter of Red Tailed Hawks Flying Club. "We get them excited about the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) that they're learning in school, we give them practical applications of that, we also ground them in aviation history and at the end of the cycle we help them learn to fly, if that's what they want to do."
The flying club started up 10 years ago in Mukilteo, Washington as a chapter of Black Pilots of America. Its goal is to reach kids in communities where being a pilot may only be a dream, to provide opportunity to go with it.
Jaylen Palmer grew up in Portland in a historically Black neighborhood. Now he is an accomplished pilot at the age of 19.
"When I first got introduced to aviation with the Red Tailed Hawks it was around fifth grade, so about these kids' age, and I’ve stuck with it ever since," Palmer said. "So I think that once you recognize your opportunity in life, that just gives you something to be motivated about and it kind of drives your work ethic from there."
That determination earned the young man a commercial pilots license, instrument rating and a flight instructor certification. Palmer is now a student cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. And he is giving back, flying kids up for their opportunities.
50 kids took part in the aviation day camp at Pearson Field, culminating in getting a hands-on flying experience.
"It was a lot different than what I was previously expecting because flying a plane on a simulator is definitely a lot different than when you're in the plane," said one camp attendee named Nicholas. "You feel everything moving around and stuff."
Palmer said the entire experience teaches the kids important lessons, whether they become pilots or not.
"So they'll learn the basics of aerodynamics, how the plane flies, how to fly the plane with the yoke and everything," Palmer said. "Then they get to go in the air and see the city from the air, which is a really cool experience as well. So it's all just about opportunity today."