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Sydney Brown of Imperial gives a thumbs up during Aviation Day at the Imperial County Airport on Saturday. Sydney is sitting in a 1943 North American Navy SNJ-5 trainer used during World War II. Behind her, also giving a thumbs up, is Jack Draper. |
IMPERIAL — El Centro resident Matthew Garcia, 8, showed up late to Aviation Day last year, but this year he and his family went to Imperial County Airport early Saturday morning so Matthew could fly for the first time in his life.
“I feel good,” said Matthew moments before he got on the single-engine plane. “I’ll see people like little tiny ants,” he said and then left to the runway to get a safety briefing from pilot and El Centro resident James Piper.
Soon after, Matthew, along his friends Alyse and Kermit Thompson, ages 12 and 10 respectively, were up in the air.
Like the Garcias and the Thompsons, hundreds of other families gathered at the Imperial County Airport to celebrate the third annual Aviation Day in which children ages 8 to 17 got to fly over Imperial County for free.
Aside of encouraging children to be part of the aviation industry, the event is also a way to introduce the county airport to citizens, said Aviation Day chairman Jennifer Donatt.
“From the county airport you can fly to anywhere in the world,” she said.
Supervisor Michael Kelley was in charge of the opening and gave a short speech before Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter presented a certificate of recognition to Imperial City Councilman Geoff Dale on behalf of Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez.
Dale then took over the microphone and hosted the occasion throughout the morning, telling the audience details about the 20 aircrafts on display.
Meanwhile, the Central Union High School Band played songs by The Beatles and songs from other famous artists for more than an hour.
“I like it (the event),” said El Centro resident and band member Celeste Rodriguez. “There are a lot of people that look like they are having a good time,” she said after she was done playing.
Matthew and his friends were some of those having a good time back on land after their 20-minute flight.
“It was awesome. I saw little streams,” Matthew said.
“I flew the plane,” said Alyse Thompson, adding that maybe in the future she’ll take flying lessons.
For the pilot it was equally enjoyable. “This makes flying worthwhile,” Piper said. “I wish we had these events when I was young.”
About 120 children flew around the county throughout the morning, said Donatt, but the trips had to be halted because there were only four planes.
Pilots volunteered from places like Nevada and Riverside, and some ran into engine problems, Donatt said.
Yet, the problem was short-lived because two extra planes came from Riverside, giving 30 more children the opportunity to fly.
Sometimes children also don’t get to fly because they get here late, said president of the Chapter 1 Young Eagles Jerry Cortez.
His association sponsored the event, Cortez said, adding that in January there could be a similar event to “make it up” to those children that didn’t get to fly.
“I feel good,” said Matthew moments before he got on the single-engine plane. “I’ll see people like little tiny ants,” he said and then left to the runway to get a safety briefing from pilot and El Centro resident James Piper.
Soon after, Matthew, along his friends Alyse and Kermit Thompson, ages 12 and 10 respectively, were up in the air.
Like the Garcias and the Thompsons, hundreds of other families gathered at the Imperial County Airport to celebrate the third annual Aviation Day in which children ages 8 to 17 got to fly over Imperial County for free.
Aside of encouraging children to be part of the aviation industry, the event is also a way to introduce the county airport to citizens, said Aviation Day chairman Jennifer Donatt.
“From the county airport you can fly to anywhere in the world,” she said.
Supervisor Michael Kelley was in charge of the opening and gave a short speech before Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter presented a certificate of recognition to Imperial City Councilman Geoff Dale on behalf of Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez.
Dale then took over the microphone and hosted the occasion throughout the morning, telling the audience details about the 20 aircrafts on display.
Meanwhile, the Central Union High School Band played songs by The Beatles and songs from other famous artists for more than an hour.
“I like it (the event),” said El Centro resident and band member Celeste Rodriguez. “There are a lot of people that look like they are having a good time,” she said after she was done playing.
Matthew and his friends were some of those having a good time back on land after their 20-minute flight.
“It was awesome. I saw little streams,” Matthew said.
“I flew the plane,” said Alyse Thompson, adding that maybe in the future she’ll take flying lessons.
For the pilot it was equally enjoyable. “This makes flying worthwhile,” Piper said. “I wish we had these events when I was young.”
About 120 children flew around the county throughout the morning, said Donatt, but the trips had to be halted because there were only four planes.
Pilots volunteered from places like Nevada and Riverside, and some ran into engine problems, Donatt said.
Yet, the problem was short-lived because two extra planes came from Riverside, giving 30 more children the opportunity to fly.
Sometimes children also don’t get to fly because they get here late, said president of the Chapter 1 Young Eagles Jerry Cortez.
His association sponsored the event, Cortez said, adding that in January there could be a similar event to “make it up” to those children that didn’t get to fly.
