Checklist for success
By Heather Robillard
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Flabob Flyer. This
Aeronca 65AC Chief arrived at its sparkling condition at the hands
of high school students like Anthony Ward and Andrew Blaize, both
17, just two of the local students who restored the Chief as part of
a project sponsored by EAA Chapter 1 and advisors like Roger Farnes.
To cap the project, the students flew the Chief to EAA AirVenture
Oshkosh 2006. Photo by Dave Higdon |
All pilots know a
successful checklist is priceless. Like any good checklist, it must
contain a list of items to be noted or remembered in order to provide a
clear path to a specific goal. The Thomas Wathen Foundation, Flabob
Airport, and EAA Chapter One, located in Riverside, California, have an
impressive checklist. This week, representatives from all three will be
on hand, to bask in the glow of their success.
Their goal? To encourage,
teach, and inspire teenagers through aviation. More precisely, to do so
by rebuilding an airplane.
The airplane? A 1941
Aeronca Super Chief.
The small group of 24
teenagers who worked on the project was EAA Young Eagles first, and then
Young Eagles volunteers, and finally asked to take part in the fledgling
project. For the last 5-1/2 years, the Young Eagles, who are lovingly
called the "Aeronca kids," have been working every Saturday,
except once a month to do their Young Eagles volunteering, patiently
rebuilding the Aeronca.
It all began when the
Thomas Wathen Foundation provided the plane, Flabob Airport provided a
hangar and EAA Chapter One provided the Young Eagles. Together they’ve
built more than an airplanethey’ve built kids.
"Parents of the
Aeronca kids reported positive changes in attitude, respect, and
improved confidence. There was more improvement than hoped for in
skills, organization, and work ethic. You could see there was an
improvement in self-esteem because of a sense of accomplishment,"
notes Dr. Peterson.
Inspire kids through
aviation…check!
"My favorite part
was working with people and learning different things about aviation. It
(the Aeronca) caused me to work harder and do it right the first time,
so I didn’t have to do it over again," said Andrew Blaize who
along with Anthony Ward were the only two Aeronca kids selected to make
the trip to this year’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Both of the
17-year-old boys have begun the application process for college; Andrew
Blaize wants to major in Aeronautical Engineering and Anthony Ward in
Aeronautical Science.
Restore Airplane…check!
The 1941 Aeronca Super
Chief needed to be rebuilt from the ground up. "Its stringers were
rusted, the tires were useless, the fabric was rippedwith big
holes in it, and all the wood was rotted," said John Lyon, Trustee
and Secretary of the Thomas Wathen Foundation. "It took 1-1/2 years
to rebuild the wings. The airplane on a whole is better than new
now."
The Aeronca kids did it
all. In fact, the rules for the adults were clear: "Don’t touch
the airplane!" laughs Anthony. The hardest part of rebuilding the
airplane was "the measurements getting them perfect," he
added.
"The amount of
detail, you have to get it just right or do it over again" Andrew
adds.
Originally the plan was
to rebuild the Aeronca in time for AirVenture 2003. The Aeronca kids in
this project weren’t the only ones learning. "Patience,"
laughs Dr. Peterson. "We originally began this project thinking we’d
fly it to AirVenture in 2003. When we finally let go of that deadline we
realized when it was done, it was done. Then we’d fly it to
AirVenture."
Have kids fly the
restored airplane to Oshkosh…check!
The Aeronca project began
in 2000 and was officially completed July 5, 2006, with a successful
first flight. Both Anthony and Andrew have flown the plane, giving it a
thumbs up. On July 19th, the pair left Flabob Airport (R1R) at 7 a.m.
for Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for their first journey to AirVenture.
They took turns flying
the Aeronca along with two experienced pilots, Hal Nemer and Ron
Caraway. The four rotated between the Aeronca and Tom Wathen’s Ercoupe
so both boys could log all the flight time. Two Cessna 150s and a ground
support vehicle followed along throughout the trip.
With excitement-soaked
voices, Anthony and Andrew can’t wait to see "Everything!"
For the Aeronca kids who
have moved on to college, the Aeronca kids at home, EAA Chapter One
members or anyone else who would like to check the Aeronca’s flight to
AirVenture, visit the EAA Chapter One website: www.eaach1.org.
Make sure to stop by the Red Barn in the
Vintage area this week where the beautiful blue and yellow 1941 Aeronca
Super Chief (NC33712) will be parked, and visit with the remarkable
"Aeronca kids" Anthony and Andrew.
