Kids complete annual aviation camp

By Loretta Tackett Staff Writer

Finishing up a two-day adventure at the sixth annual aviation camp at the Pikeville/Pike County Regional Airport, 27 youngsters were flying high yesterday.

Area pilots donated their time, planes and gas for the Aviation Museum of Kentucky-sponsored camp, held in Pikeville for the sixth year.

“That doesn’t happen anywhere else,” Museum Director Sheila Miller said.

The museum in Lexington sponsors, plans and teaches camps at seven airports across the state. Breaking the Pike group into three squadrons — Eagle, Falcon and Nighthawk — the instructors taught the 10- to 15- year-olds from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

They learn things like flight planning, determining the distance between airports, and calculating how much time and fuel it takes to get there, while allowing for weather changes, said instructor Steven McKaig, with the museum.

“It’s not a baby-sitting camp, they actually work,” said Anna Reed.

The youngsters from Pike, Floyd, Johnson and other counties went into the sky on the second day, with each camper getting an half-hour of flight instruction.

“They actually get to fly a plane,” said Reed.

The campers picked up certificates to prove their aviation training with some receiving special recognition for their interest in various fields associated with flying.

“For many of these campers, they knew nothing about flying when they came here yesterday,” Miller said.

“I learned a lot of things,” said Blake Adkins of Island Creek. “Like how to read a navigation chart, and that you get a little queasy.”

“I’d never really been to aviation camp and thought it was interesting,” said Madison McCoy of Pikeville, who earned recognition for her interest in navigation.

Bringing son Cameron Wright of Pikeville to camp for a second year, Suzi Wright said, “He loves it.”

“I want to fly a plane like Michael Debourbon,” Cameron Wright said about his goals related to aviation.

Wes Wilson, of Willamson, got to fly to his home airport he said.

“I didn’t fly, but I sat in there,” said Alex Reed of Harold.

If nothing else, they will be better passengers when they fly, Miller said, as they will know the science of flight.

“We want you to do your best in life,” Miller told the campers before dismissal.

The pilots volunteering their time were Larry Short of Allen, and Kirk Wells and Rodney Smith of Pikeville. The hour and one-half flights went from Pikeville to Williamson Airport in Mingo County, West Virginia, to the Big Sandy Regional Airport in Martin County and back to Pikeville.

The kids attending the camp were Taz Zyck, Jacob Sword, Blake Adkins, Rachel Bailey, Rebekah Bailey, Katilyn Coleman, Vincent L. Myers, Austin Black, Chloe Hunt, Johnny Mullins, Alissa Moe, Mason Coleman, Cameron Wright, Tyler Reed, Danielle Justice, Brandon Hatfield, Sadie Norman, Austin Coleman, Bradley Brooks, Carew Bartley, Wes Wilson, Madison McCoy, Zan McCoy, Austin Little, Alex Reed, Miranda Finney and Michael Maggard.