FoCA Students SOAR

CRIVITZ – Through a program sponsored by the Friends of the Crivitz Airport (FoCA), and coordinated by Peter Ogorek, several fortunate and deserving seventh grade students from the Crivitz area have been meeting this summer to learn about airplanes and general aviation, in a program entitled “FoCA Students SOAR.” Due to their interest in STEM studies and the recognition of their middle-school science teacher for their outstanding academic work, the following seventh grade students were invited to participate in this in-depth summer aviation program: Sawyer Beno, Cooper Nolan, Jason Tomaszewski and Carson Wolfe. Earlier this summer, the group met on one Saturday in April and one Saturday in May to learn about the National Airspace System and the physics of flight.

At the April session, the students learned about the different classes of airspace and the difference between controlled and uncontrolled airspace. With this new found knowledge, the students were well prepared to take and pass the online Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) TRUST exam. With their FAA TRUST certificates in-hand, the students are now legally permitted to fly radio-controlled airplanes, helicopters and drones in the National Airspace System.

Then, during the first couple of weeks of May, each student conducted independent research and prepared presentations about the forces of flight. At the group’s May meeting, each student presented their research project using hand-made visual aids to educate the other members of the class about each of their specific aviation topics. Also, each student created their own FAA model airplane registration, which will allow them to fly radio-controlled models as large as 55 pounds in the future. At the conclusion of the April and May classes, each student had an opportunity to try their hand at flying a radio-controlled model airplane flight simulator. This simulator training was used to prepare the students for flying a real model airplane at the first June session.

Saturday, June 7, turned out to be a perfect day for the students to expand on their summer aviation learning experience.

Approximately one mile west of the Crivitz airport, the students were provided with an opportunity to fly a real radio-controlled model airplane. Having studied for and passed the FAA TRUST exam in April, each student received instruction on how to configure the model and then launched the airplane, performed some training maneuvers and successfully landed back at the takeoff point. The group then listened to a presentation by a representative of PilotSmith, Inc. from Green Bay about how to train to become a licensed pilot. Finally, through the generosity of FoCA, each student was then gifted with a model airplane of their own to take home so that they can continue to refine their flying skills. FoCA would like to thank HobbyTown USA in West Allis for providing a discount on the model airplanes so that each student could receive one.

Finally, on Friday, June 27, as a part of the program offered through the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) of Oshkosh, the students were provided with a Young Eagles flight experience in a 1959 Colonial Skimmer seaplane. During the flight, each student was provided the opportunity to take the controls and fly the airplane under the watchful eye of their skilled pilot, Jeff Sheridan.

Sheridan flew his airplane into Crivitz from Minneapolis, Minn., in order to provide the rides. The group thanked Sheridan for his generosity in providing the flights in his unique and beautiful aircraft.

For the July session, the group will be taking a guided tour of the EAA AirVenture Convention and Airshow in Oshkosh.