Youngsters Take to the Skies Above Moore

Pilot Jim Murray with Savannah Norton during a recent Young Eagles event

As of Saturday, December 3, 2011

Young Eagles weren’t piloting the aircraft, but hundreds of prospective young pilots were circling the skies above Moore County Saturday — with licensed pilots at the controls.

Once again, local pilots provided full day of free aerial tours to young people from the Moore County Airport, under sponsorship of the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter (EAA).

“We typically get 100 kids per event, but every year it gets bigger,” said Jim Murray, Young Eagles project coordinator. “A year ago, we flew 181 kids in one day. This time we’re shooting to fly at least 200 kids in a single day. If we can do it, it will be a huge success and shows the interest young people have for the adventure of flying.”

In fact, the local chapter may well be breaking records, according to pilot Mike Jones.

The latest report from the EAA shows that since the local program was initiated, probably in the late 1990s, the chapter has made 2,957 flights from the Moore County Airport.

The Young Eagles Fly-In began at 9 a.m. and ran until 3 p.m. at the Moore County Airport and was open to youngsters ages 8-17 years.

The chapter sponsors a Young Eagle event twice a year at the local airport and smaller events in other counties at other times in the year. For many of the youngsters, it is their first airplane ride.

“Flying is a wonderful sport and possibly a gateway to a great career,” said Roland Gilliam, chapter president.

Gilliam said the goal is to introduce young people “to the fun and excitement of flying, and perhaps get them involved in a great career in aviation, engineering, meteorology, or some other aspect of the aerospace industry.”

Because of the size of the Moore County event, other community organizations provide support.

Pinecrest High School Junior Air Force ROTC cadets staffed the welcome desk and handled the paperwork that matches passengers to pilots. The Airport Authority contributed fuel, and Boy Scout Troop 810 provideds burgers and hot dogs for lunch. All of the pilots are volunteers and donate their time and their aircraft just for the love of flying.

“The flying is exhilarating,” said Ed Watters, one of the volunteer pilots. “Once the kids are on the plane, I try to explain some details of flying, do some sightseeing and make a perfect landing. It’s always exciting with the kids on board.”

Watters flies a shiny Piper four-seat airplane.

“The kids are the best part of the day,” agreed Murray, who flies a rugged Maule airplane. “They all comment on the swimming pools they see, and the size of the forests that surround Moore County.”

The most popular sight-seeing spots are Pinecrest High School, Walmart and McDonald’s.

“There’s something about spotting the red roof on the Pizza Hut that gets everybody excited,” Murray said.

The latest report from the EAA includes a list of volunteer pilots, including several who have provided the most significant service.

At the top of the list is Barbara Harris-Para, of Whispering Pines, who has made a whopping 340 flights. Also on the list are: Mike Jones, of Southern Pines, 290 flights; Richard Rigsby, of Salisbury, 133; Chuck Peterson, 179, and Ed Watters, 152, both of Pinehurst; Murray, of Lakeview, 299; US Airways Capt. Jim Zazas, 228, Gilliam, 115, and Bob Preddy, 56, all of Carthage; and Don Bennett of Cameron, 264.

“While everybody has worked hard and contributed greatly to this effort, it’s particularly noteworthy to see folks like Jim Murray and Bob Preddy, who fly two-seat airplanes. That’s a lot of take-offs and landings when you’re doing them one kid at a time,” Mike Jones said.

The EAA sponsors the overall Young Eagles program and operates the EAA Air Academy in Oshkosh, Wis., every summer. If a local chapter flies as many as 500 youngsters during a year, two local students may be sent free of charge to the Air Academy for a week on an EAA scholarship.

“My week in Oshkosh has been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” said Alexis Cooper, a Pinecrest High student who attended the academy this past summer. “I met over 50 other teens from all over the world who love aviation as much as I do. I’ve built friendships that I know will last a lifetime.”

“I really appreciated the credits the chapter donated to send me to Oshkosh,” said Dakota Morris, of West Montgomery High School and an EAA Academy graduate. “It was a great opportunity to experience different cultures and learn about aviation.”

The EAA was founded in 1953 in Milwaukee, and the initial focus was on home-built airplanes. The organization later expanded to include antiques, classics, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft, ultralights, helicopters and contemporary manufactured aircraft. The Young Eagles program was launched in 1992.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at florence@thepilot.com.

More like this story

The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago

Hey Jim, Great picture. Glad to see that you are still scaring the death out of young children haha, No this program is great and we are trully lucky to have a man like James Murray in our community. I have been fortunate to know Jim for a very long time and for a while even resided in his house( How he put up with me I still have not the foggiest Idea.)

Ps. Ill bring back your gas can tomorrow lol

Bflat 1 year, 5 months ago

Jim, good to see you doing things you enjoy, for a really good cause while flying the friendly skies. Invite me and I'll do the aerial photos. :))

fugitiveguy 1 year, 5 months ago

If I were a kid would sure be there. Sounds like a great program. I salute all who are making this happen.

Toda 1 year, 5 months ago

I remember well my first airplane flight my dad paid for when pilots were providing kids with a short flight . This is a great idea.

I have to wonder though if the Airport Board Authority will use these flights in their factual numbers of flights in and out of the Poorer County Airport for another power point in support of more spending and borrowing form our tax dollars. As it stands now $231,000. as of June 30 th has been committed fund balance by the Moore County Board of Commissioners. They can be unfunded that money since the airport appears on paper and their power point presentation to be thriving. How many times a year does Pinehurst (CCA) sponsor a major tournament? Anyone who would like to see the Power Point Presentation, send me an email: toda1@mindspring.com

OldPilot 1 year, 5 months ago

A bunch of pilots donating their time and airplanes. The Airport Authority (no "Board") among others supports the effort. Toda on the other hand comes across as a person who would complain if he had nothing to complain about.

FredKorb 1 year, 5 months ago

We, the Taxpayers to Stop Airport Waste, have reason to repeat our slogan: "We like our airport, but we like it just the way it is." I'm writing this today (Saturday), not far from the MCAirport, and hearing a storm of planes overhead. As a former pilot and aircraft owner, this is a symphony to my ears. I can almost hear the laughter of the kids getting a free flight, courtesy of local pilots. Before resettling here 15 years ago I watched my airport on Long Island grow from a grass strip cut out of a potato field to a major commercial terminus. My little hobby grew in tandem, from a single-engine two-seater to a twin-engine monster carrying the whole family. I recall taking kids into the sky for the first time, just like we're seeing at our MCAirport today. But heed Toda's remarks. The MCAirport should not be allowed to become something it was never meant to be, at a cost taxpayers should not be made to bear. As our Long Island airport expanded I saw what it was doing FOR our communities, but also what it was doing TO the Eastern end of Long Island... strip malls and the like. Don't let this happen to Moore County. Fifty million dollars should not be wasted to erode the quality of life we, both old-timers and transplants have come to enjoy. Fred Korb, T-SAW chairman

Toda 1 year, 5 months ago

"OldPilot 23 hours, 48 minutes ago" I made nice compliments about the program. Apparently OP, you are one of the owners of an aircraft parked on one of my spaces...they are owned by the people of Poorer County....Interestingly, you compare voicing an opinion with complaining. Check out Websters Collegiate Dictionary for a better understanding.

OldPilot 1 year, 5 months ago

Toad and Fred Korb: two Grinches! If the Moore County Airport counts the Young Eagles flights as "operations" what of it. A takeoff is a takeoff, a landing is a landing. Moore County owns the airport, it's operated and operated well by the Moore County Airport Authority. The airport is an important part of the infrastructure of Moore County. If you don't like those facts and/or disagree with the relatively minimal tax dollars Moore County expends on it's airport that's your problem. I disagree with some spending decisions made by Moore County on programs, services and/or infrastructure I don't need and will never use, but I don't spend my whole life complaining. If you are concerned about "strip malls" being built around the airport where the heck were you when the Tyler's Ridge project was being discussed? I was at those meetings. Fred Korb wasn't, or if he was he didn't say a word or file anything in opposition to the development. I case you have forgotten the owner/pilots based at the Moore County Airport pay for the hangars and tiedown spaces they rent, and maintenance and fuel they buy, plus personal property taxes on their airplanes, in addition to real property taxes!

Toda 1 year, 5 months ago

"If the Moore County Airport counts the Young Eagles flights as "operations" what of it"

Obviously you haven't seen the latest and greatest Power Point Presentation by none other than the Airport Authority. They present ALL landings and takeoffs as one way of supporting their quest for more runway and more money. Unless you are looking inward as opposed to outward, it's difficult to see the big spenders for the Flights overhead going to RDU. Hey, Pinehurst Resorts has shuttles running to and from RDU everyday when they have guests. Don't be so quick to jump, until all your weapons are loaded. If in fact they are so independent, then why not sell them the airport and then they can be even more independent without our tax dollars. O' but wait, who appoints members to the Airport Authority? The Commissioners of course. If we vote those out who support the Airport then we can start all over again with a clean slate.