- location: Boise, Idaho
- Date: Friday, July 01, 2005
- Time: 03:16:40 PM
Journey_Update
Phase I is complete! The Eagle Flight team touched down this afternoon at 2:53pm and officaly closed the books for Phase I.
We awoke this morning in Eugene, Oregon to low clouds and mountain fog. We arrived at the airport at 6:30am, checked weather again and climbed aboard our Cessna 172.
Once airborne we climbed to 2000 feet above ground level, which was just enough to stay out of the cloud layer above, and skirted north for approx. 50 miles before we were able to climb out. Once we were able to climb to our cruising altitude the fog rolled in again and we stayed VFR on top, above the fog. We could see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier at the same time and we were able to shoot some great photographs.
We landed at Wenatchee, Washington 20 minutes early and the EAA was there with two young men and a young woman waiting for their Young Eagle flights. After preflighting the aircraft with them, I flew each one over the Columbia River and the town of Wenatchee, then returned to the airport. These were the last three Young Eagle participants for Phase I of the Eagle Flight Project.
We took off at 11am and headed towards Boise, Idaho, the starting point for the entire journey. We landed 7 minutes early and were welcomed by friends and family.
The journey was an incredible success. We will be sending out the July newsletter on the 15th and have the trip details posted there. Check back soon to see the final pictures from Phase I!
Thank you to everyone who participated this summer and we look forward to next years journey around the world.
Sincerely,
Jared A. Aicher and the Eagle Flight team
- location: Eugene, Oregon
- Date: Thursday, June 30, 2005
- Time: 09:33:17 PM
Journey_Update
The flight from Sacramento Executive Airport to Reno Stead Airport, home of the Reno Air Races, was one of my favorite thus far. I awoke at 5:30am this morning (my body is still on eastern time!) and headed to the airport. Our taxi showed up 15 minutes late, but we ended up rushing through the Sacramento morning traffic and getting to the airport early enough to get out on time.
After preflighting the aircraft, we lifted off and headed east towards the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After climbing to 9,500 feet, we leveled off and flew above the mountain peaks, mountain lakes and over the canyons. The views were incredible and once we passed Truckee, California and Lake Tahoe we started our descent into Reno.
We arrived 10 minutes early, parked the plane, and met up with the local EAA members. Five young men arrived for Young Eagle flights, but we were scheduled to fly three. No other pilots were available to help with the other youth, so I flew all five and we had a great time.
We finished up in Reno and started our 300 mile journey north to Eugene, Oregon. Our route took us up the Sierra Nevada range to the southern end of the Cascades. We passed Lassen Volcano, Mount Shasta, Crater Lake and the Three Sisters. What an absolutely beautiful flight!
Eagle Flight Manager Kerry Widmer is originaly from Eugene, Oregon and her family is still from the area. Cole, a young man from the Eugene area, and I flew over the area for 30 minutes and had a great time. I hope his flight might inspire him to follow his dreams.
Tomorrow we head to Wenatchee, Washington and back to Boise, Idaho. It's hard to believe I've been gone for 33 days and have visited 44 of the lower 48 United States! Please check back tomorrow for the final journal entry for the 2005 Phase I journey.
Jared Aicher and the Eagle Flight team
- location: Sacramento, California
- Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2005
- Time: 08:42:18 PM
Journey_Update
After an incredibly long day of flying, we made it into Sacramento, California tonight about 5:30pm pacific time.
We began the day at 6:30am in Show Low, Arizona with a beautiful clear sky and no wind! However, the children didn't make it back to the airport this morning due to car arrangements.
We took off at 7am and headed west over central Arizona. One of the largest fires ever recorded in Arizona is currently burning just north of Phoenix and the smoke was incredible. The smoke plume began at Payson, Arizona and didn't end until Prescott, Arizona and streched as far north as we could see. With the high temperatures, high winds and fuel from this springs rains, I beleive Arizona is in for a long summer.
As we were passing over Prescott, the team from Utah Valley State College diverted to the airport to have a mechanical issue looked at on the Diamond Star aircraft they are flying. It looks as if they may be there for a short time while parts are sent in and replaced. We hope the team will be able to catch up with us soon!
After we crossed the state line into California from Arizona, we refueled in Needles and then headed west again. We flew just south of Edwards Airforce Base and then turned north to Bakersfield, Californina where were fueled again and streched our legs.
Once in the plane again, we continued northward to Salinas, Californina. Heavy fog was in the area this morning, but it began clearing out by noon. As we approached the airport from the east, you could still see the marine fog layer over Monterey Bay.
Once on the ground, we were greeted by local members from the EAA and Salinas Flyers Club. Two young women and a young man were waiting for rides, so we preflighted the aircraft, loaded up, and we were off!
It was a cool, coastal afternoon and everyone had a great time. We were scheduled to overnite in Salinas, but the fog was forecast to move back in this evening and hang around until mid morning tomorrow. We decided to fly north to Sacramento where the conditions are forecast to be beautiful tomorrow morning, allowing us to arrive at our first destination on time.
Tomorrow we head to Reno, Nevada and Eugene, Oregon, leaving only one day after that! What a journey-
Jared and the Eagle Flight Team
- location: Show Low, Arizona
- Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2005
- Time: 09:14:37 PM
Journey_Update
We arrived at the airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 7:50 this morning and kids were already in line for Young Eagle rides. Several members from the local EAA were present, including ground crew and pilots. I flew three children and then loaded the plane and headed for Show Low, Arizona.
When we arrived, the winds were picking up and they continued picking up through out the day. By the time the young aviation enthusiasts arrived and we were ready to fly, the winds had exceded what I felt were safe, so I rescheduled the rides for tomorrow morning when the winds will be light and variable.
After we finish the rides in the morning we head west to Salinas, California and will fly the youth waiting for us there.
Hope all is well!
Jared and the Eagle Flight team
- location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Date: Monday, June 27, 2005
- Time: 08:19:16 PM
Journey_Update
For the first time in a few weeks, I walked out of our hotel this morning and saw clear skies above! No more haze, just he moon and a few stars giving way to the morning sun. The wind was still blowing, but I would take the wind any day over the haze found in the southern states.
We got to the airport, preflighted our planes and headed south to Texas.
Amarillo was our first stop of the day. When we arrived, 20+ youth were waiting for our team as well as members from the local EAA chapter. I walked the entire group around the plane explaining why pilots always preflight their aircraft. Afterwards, myself and several other pilots flew the young aviation enthusiasts. I flew three scouts over downtown Amarillo and then prepared for our next destination.
Our next scheduled stop was Pueblo, Colorado. We had been trying to reach our EAA contact there for two days to confirm everything and no one ever returned our phone call. We tried to call one more time and then moved on to New Mexico.
We had originaly scheduled to stop in Los Alamos, NM tonight, but the temperatures were high on top of being very turbulent in the afternoon hours. We decided to do the rides at Los Alamos after I complete the rides in Albuquerque tomorrow morning.
Once finished at Los Alamos, we will head to Show Low, Arizona and overnight there after flying the children.
Stay tuned as the Eagle Flight's Phase I mission winds down, setting the stage for next year's Phase II global journey.
Jared and the Eagle Flight team
- location: Garden City, Kansas
- Date: Sunday, June 26, 2005
- Time: 07:26:09 PM
Journey_Update
We woke up this morning at 5:15, ate breakfast, and headed to the Jefferson City, MO airport. The sun was rising in the mist to the east when we arrived and the capitol building was beginning to shine across the river. It was a
beautiful site!
After pre-flighting the two aircraft, we checked the weather and it was forecast to be hazy the entire way to Rogers, Arkansas with visibilities between 3-4 miles. Another typical summer day in the mid and southern United States! We climbed into the sky and headed southwest flying directly over Springfield, MO and arrived right on time into Rogers, Arkansas.
Two Civil Air Patrol cadets were waiting there with their senior officer and were ready to fly. I flew each of them around a nearby lake and returned to the airport after a short flight. The visibility was so poor, we only flew about one thousand feet above ground level and enjoyed the views below.
Our next stop was Stillwater, Oklahoma where one 17 year old young woman was waiting with her grandfather and several of the local EAA members. I flew with her for a short time and returned to the airport due to the bumpy skies. It was her first flight in a small aircraft and she did great!
The Eagle Flight team then headed northwest to Garden City, Kansas. Our route took us directly over Enid, Oklahoma where some of the most damaging tornadoes form each year. The terrain is incredibly flat and you can see for what seems miles! We had a 10-13 knot tail wind the entire way, allowing us to arrive 15 minutes early into Garden City.
The winds were 22 knots gusting to 28 when we arrived! After landing, we pulled up to the hangar where the local EAA members were waiting for us and were greeted by Mary Shortridge. She coordinated our stop in Garden City and did an incredible job. The Garden City EAA chapter held their first Young Eagle rally this morning in conjunction with our arrival and flew over 50 children through out the day! I flew two of the 50 children, one who had never flown before, and one who had flown once before on an airline. After the Young Eagle flights, members of the Garden City EAA chapter prepared an
incredible dinner for everyone! Kansas fed beef steaks, potatoes, salad, beans and dessert were waiting for all. This was by far the best meal I have had since I left Boise over a month ago! Thank you so much to everyone from Garden City, Kansas. On top of the incredible meal, Mary offered us her daughters car to get around town, and the Garden City Plaza Inn donated two rooms for the Eagle Flight crew as well as the team from Utah Valley State College. Thank you to all!
Tomorrow we continue west throughout Texas, Colorado and New Mexico as our trip begins to wind down. It's been incredible so far and I look forward to the final week. Clear skies to all!
Jared and The Eagle Flight team
- location: Jefferson City, Missouri
- Date: Saturday, June 25, 2005
- Time: 07:04:19 PM
Journey_Update
What a great day! We woke up this morning in Tennessee and the visibility was still very low, but it lifted enough by departure time to let us to get on our way. (New pictures being posted soon!)
We arrived a few minutes late into Owensboro, Kentucky and were informed once we landed that the local EAA chapter didn't have any children available for us to fly. With that, the crew from UVSC and the Eagle Flight team boarded our planes and headed for Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
We arrived about 15 minutes early and the local EAA chapter and the children were there waiting for us. I walked the two young men and a young woman around the plane while the temperatures soared into the 90s. Two of the children had never flown before, which is always a treat! I flew them all over their home town and then we all had pizza, which was donated by the Mt. Vernon EAA chapter. Thank you! After lunch we loaded up once again and headed west to Jefferson City, Missouri.
Four youth from the Aviation Explorers group were waiting for rides along with members from the local EAA. They had all flown before, and some had even taken flight lessons. I took each one up and a few of them did most of the flying! These teens are well on their way to earning their private pilot certificates!
Tomorrow we head to Rogers, Arkansas, Stillwater, Oklahoma and Garden City, Kansas. The weather is looking great for tomorrow and we are looking forward to getting to some clear skies. Have a great weekend and come and meet the Eagle Flight team and the crew from UVSC if we are stopping near you!
Jared Aicher
- location: Cookeville, Tennessee
- Date: Friday, June 24, 2005
- Time: 07:09:14 PM
Journey_Update
Hello everyone! It's been a hectic couple of days here in the deep south. Our Cessna 172 came out of it's 100 hour inspection about 7pm last night. We were scheduled to stop in Pell City, Alabama yesterday but had to reschedule that stop for today due to the maintenance procedure the rudder had to go through the last few days.
Once airborne last night, we were only able to fly about an hour due to the extremely poor visibility with the humidity and haze trapped in the area. Visibilities were down to 2 miles, so we landed in Chattanooga, Tennessee and overnighted there. We woke up at 5:15 this morning to try to get an early start but, once again, poor visibilities and IFR conditions were present, delaying us until almost 10:30 this morning. Once we made it into Pell City, Alabama we parked the plane and the Local EAA contact, Tommy Thompson, was there to greet us and then he introduced us to the children I was going to be flying. One of the young men had flown a few times and one had never flown before. What a great combo!
Both children enjoyed their flights, however the flights were close to the airport due to poor visiblity in the area.
After lunch at Sammies Touch and Go cafe at the Pell City airport, which was great by the way, we taxied down to the FBO and checked the weather. We were scheduled to go to Macon, Mississippi from Pell City and then on to Pineville, Louisiana. The weather was still marginal between Alabama and Louisiana and were forecast to be IFR (visibility under 3 miles and less a 1000 foot ceiling) tomorrow morning. Due to the long flight from Pineville, LA to Owensboro, Kentucky tomorrow, and the poor visibility and IFR conditions forecast for the region, we decided to cancel MS and LA to position ourselves in Owensboro, Kentucky. This will allow us to be on time for our scheduled stops tomorrow and not have to cancel any of those cities due to extremely delayed arrivals. Despite us being unable to reach Louisiana, the EAA members in Pineville had several pilots on hand and were able to get the children up in the skies there!
Once we left Pell City, Alabama we began heading north to Owensboro, Kentucky. We headed east to the Georgia state line to divert around several thunderstorms beginning to form on the Alabama and Tennessee border. We were able to fly as far Cookeville, Tennessee, located in the north central part of the state, before a thunderstorm cell and IFR conditions halted our northward movement. We landed, grabbed some food and I'm off to bed shortly. Dealing with weather issues, high temperatures (in the 90s), and high humidity has a tendency to drain you!
Tomorrow we will visit Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. As we head north and west through the weekend, the visibility will improve, the humidity levels will start to decrease and the terrain will start to climb once again through the rocky mountains. Our team has been very lucky to see the United States from only a few thousand feet above the ground, not to mention all the great children and people we have met along the way, despite the weather. It's hard to believe I will be back in Boise, Idaho a week from today!
Cross your fingers for better weather conditions tomorrow and we look forward to see you soon!
Jared and The Eagle Flight Team
- location: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2005
- Time: 04:08:13 PM
Journey_Update
It's Wednesday evening and the Eagle Flight crew is waiting patiently here in Knoxville, TN for the 100 hour inspection to wrap up on our Cessna 172.
When we arrived at the airport at 8:30 this morning, the maintenance crew assigned to our plane informed us that the 172's rudder had an issue that needed to be addressed before the inspection could be completed - expected finish time: noon tomorrow. With that, we checked into a hotel near the Knoxville airport, and we will head back to the airport tomorrow for an early afternoon take off.
Once airborne, we will head to Rome, Georgia to make up for our original stop in Vidalia, Georgia, which was canceled on June 6 due to a family emergency with the children that were slated to fly that day. We rescheduled the rides in Vidalia for June 16, but when we landed there, we were informed that the local EAA chapter was unable to find any children for us to fly that day. I called the Eagle Flight logistics coordinator, Stacey Commer, upon arrival in Knoxville and told her about our situation. She immediately sent out requests to all of the EAA chapters in northern Georgia to see if they might be able to help us out and find three children that might like a FREE airplane ride. Three EAA chapters offered their assistance from our search area. The Rome, Georgia EAA chapter was chosen for its ideal location, which was directly under our route of flight, and were also the first to respond.
Once we have completed the rides in Rome, GA we will head west to Pell City, AL and officially begin the second half of Phase I.
The second crew from Utah Valley State College arrived in Ft. Myers, Florida on Monday night and started their journey north to meet us at the rendezvous point in Pell City, Alabama. They will be promoting UVSC's Global Aviation Degree Program as well as the EAA's Aeroscholars Program. If your city happens to be one of our scheduled stops, and you want to learn more about pursuing a career in aviation, you won't want to miss the opportunity to meet the Eagle Flight crew or the team from UVSC!
The weather is looking great along our route for the next week, and we are anxious to get back in the air! Hope to see you soon!
Jared and the Eagle Flight Team
- location: Greeneville, Tennessee
- Date: Friday, June 17, 2005
- Time: 07:31:44 AM
Journey_Update
Hello everyone! We finally made it out of Florida and back to Tennessee last night. We were due to stop in Greeneville, TN two weeks ago, but had to reschedule due to severe thunderstorms in the area.
We left Titusville, Florida yesterday morning after the fog lifted and made it out just before severe thunderstorms dominated the entire Florida peninsula once again. Once we crossed the Florida/Georgia border, the skies cleared up, and it was blue skies into Vidalia, Georgia. We refueled there, grabbed some lunch, and continued on to Greeneville, TN. As we headed north, we crossed over the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina before descending into Greeneville, TN.
Once on the ground, we met local EAA member Ted Hensley and he introduced us to 5 Mennonite children, ages 8-16, and I flew each one over the surrounding hills as the sun set into the western horizon. Eastern Tennessee is beautiful!
I am heading down to Knoxville, TN this morning to have the 100 hour inspection completed on the Cessna 172. The inspection was to be completed in Ft. Myers, FL, but we were 27 hours shy of reaching the 100 hour mark, due to circumnavigating around North Dakota, Tennessee and Georgia two weeks ago due to weather. We will be in Knoxville, TN for the next five days while the inspection is completed.
Next Wednesday, we will begin the second half of Phase I in Pell City, Alabama on schedule! To date we have only canceled the one stop in Mandan, North Dakota and our Caribbean route due to the tropical storms in the area.
I hope to see you at one of our stops during the second half of phase I. Until next week, clear skies!
Jared
- location: Titusville, Florida
- Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2005
- Time: 06:43:01 PM
Journey_Update
Hello from the Space Coast of Florida! The Eagle Flight crew arrived in Titusville, Florida yesterday to visit the Kennedy Space Center and learn more about their education program geared towards young adults.
Upon arrival, the Eagle Flight crew boarded a bus that took us to a restricted area where an observation deck was located a couple of miles away from the main visitors center. On the way out to the observation deck, the NASA driver informed us that we were extremely lucky to be there today. At approx. 1 a.m. last night, the space shuttle Discovery began it's 3 mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39B. Usually, about two weeks before launch, the space shuttle makes it's way to one of two launching pads on an enormous platform that travels at only 1mph and takes nearly 8 hours! (NASA currently has a launch date of July 12 for the return to space.) Once parked, we climbed to the top of the observation platform and there it was. It was standing there in the distance only three miles away, attached to it's two solid rocket boosters and the orange external fuel tank. What an incredible sight!
I remember staying home from school when I was in the 5th grade to watch the first space shuttle launch. I sat there on the couch all morning watching and waiting, just like some people watching the pregame program before the
Superbowl. When it finally lifted off, I was breathless. Everything I grew up wanting to do, and see, and experience was happening right before my eyes. What a lucky group of people those astronauts were and still are.
Everything I do to this day is in the spirit of discovery and exploration and I hope the Eagle Flight project can instill that same spirit in the next generation of young scientists, aviators and astronauts we encounter each day on this journey.
One final note to the young people out there. I was told by a NASA official today that the first person who will be stepping foot on Mars is alive, somewhere on Earth today and between the ages of 6 and 16 years. So keep those grades up and never lose sight of your dreams.
Go NASA!
Jared Aicher
- location: Fort Myers, Florida
- Date: Sunday, June 12, 2005
- Time: 02:56:34 PM
Journey_Update
It's Sunday afternoon here in Fort Myers, Florida and Tropical storm Arlene is now nothing more than a rain event in the eastern United States. Friday afternoon was extremely wet here in Fort Myers, Florida with almost 5 inches of rain falling. Kerry and I headed to the Captiva Island coast to film and photograph the storm as it passed through our area and we were able to get some great footage. Some of the still photos will be posted down below with the National Young Eagle Day photos I sent in today. The storm footage will be profiled in our documentary on the trip itself.
Yesterday was National Young Eagles Day and the local EAA chapter members, as well as the Eagle Flight team had been watching the weather very closely due to the recent weather in the area. The skies were still very overcast when we arrived at the airport yesterday morning and we were all hoping for clear skies. As the morning went on, the clouds lifted and we were able to fly 21 children throughout the day. The Page Field fire department was on hand to show the children how the fire trucks operate, raffle prizes were awarded to the children and hot dogs were available to all. What a great day! The weather cleared just in time for our event and the world of aviation was introduced to a great group of young individuals from Florida.
Kenny Downing and Dustin Berlin of Utah Valley State College both headed back to Utah yesterday afternoon and their half of the trip came to an end. They hangared the UVSC Diamond Star aircraft here in Fort Myers, Florida and the second team from UVSC will arrive early next week. They will meet Kerry and I in Pell City, Alabama next week and we will all begin the second half of Phase I. I want to thank both Kenny and Dustin for their help and I look forward to the second team arriving.
After following the weather closely for the last few days, we have been forced to cancel our trip through the northern part of the
Caribbean. The region has been, and still is quite unstable. Thunderstorms are forecast to dominate the area for the next week and a half and we can't risk being stranded in the Caribbean due to weather. We have witnessed first hand how fast Tropical storm Arlene formed and will not take any chances of another system forming while we are in the islands. We were disappointed that were unable to visit some of the great children and locations, but
safety always comes first. I hope to make it up to the Caribbean next year on the world trip.
We will begin the journey north tomorrow and head for Vidalia, Georgia and Greeneville, Tennessee. Both of these cities were postponed last week due to severe thunderstorms in the region.
Thank you all for checking in and we look forward to beginning the second half of Phase I!
Jared and the Eagle Flight team
- location: Fort Myers, Florida
- Date: Friday, June 10, 2005
- Time: 05:11:04 AM
Journey_Update
It's Friday morning here in Fort Myers, Florida and tropical storm Arlene is just off the northwest coast of Cuba. The current sustained wind speeds in the center region of Arlene is 55 MPH, so an increase of only 15 MPH will turn Arlene into a minimal hurricane. The majority of the rain and thunderstorms will be concentrated on the eastern side of the storm which will put them directly over western Florida. 3-5 inches of rain are expected during the next 24 hours in our area and we are currently under a flood watch. A tornado warning is currently in affect two counties south of us and the weather service announced that more tornadoes are possible this afternoon in southwest and western Florida as the storm moves north.
We are still planning on holding our Young Eagles event tomorrow, even if we can't fly. Several aviation related companies will be on hand to answer questions the young enthusiasts might have. Thanks for checking in on the team and we look forward to seeing you at one of our stops soon!
Hoping for the skies to clear soon!
Jared and The Eagle Flight team
- location: Fort Myers, Florida
- Date: Wednesday, June 08, 2005
- Time: 02:47:25 PM
Journey_Update
Hello everyone from south western Florida! Stacey and I left Savannah, Georgia early yesterday afternoon and arrived in Clear Water Florida at 3pm yesterday afternoon. Project manager Kerry Widmer flew into Tampa International Airport from Boise, Idaho last night and we discussed how the first half of the trip went as well as plans for the second half of the trip. Of 31 scheduled stops during the first half of Phase I, we have made it to 27 states. Both Mandan, North Dakota and Spruce Creek, Florida were cancelled due to poor weather conditions and Vidalia, Georgia and Greeneville, Tennessee were rescheduled due to weather. This weekend we will make our Florida Young Eagle Flights in Fort Myers.
This morning, Stacey's half of the trip ended and she headed back for Saskatoon, Canada. Stacey handled all the ground logistics and much more during the first half of Phase I. Thank you so much Stacey!
During the second half of the trip, Kerry will handle the logistics and much more as well. Kerry and I took off this morning for Fort Myers, Florida. We flew the western coast of Florida enjoying the smooth air the morning had to offer. In the distance we could see the typical early afternoon thunderstorms beginning to build over central Florida. Local EAA members were there to greet us when we landed and we dropped the Cessna 172 off for it's 100 hour
maintenance inspection.
This Friday Kerry and I will help the local EAA members begin preparing for Saturday's national Young Eagle Day. They are planning on having a few warbirds on display and several pilots to help get the children into the air.
The biggest news that we are currently following is located off the coast of Honduras. A low pressure system became the first tropical depression of the year and may become the first tropical storm of the year as early as tomorrow afternoon. Right now the depression is predicted to move north out of the western Caribbean towards the Louisiana and Alabama coastline, but as we all know, things can change rapidly with these systems. We will keep you posted on the conditions and any changes.
Until next time, have a great week!
Jared and The Eagle Flight Team
- location: Savannah, Georgia
- Date: Monday, June 06, 2005
- Time: 07:16:23 PM
Journey_Update
We have officially entered the region of thunderstorms and low visibility. The states of North Carolina and South Carolina were mostly IFR this morning until 10am, and when it did clear off, the thunderstorms began to build.
Stacey and I took off at 11am and headed four our first stop of the day, which was Columbia, South Carolina. The crew from Utah Valley State College remained in North Carolina today waiting for weather to clear along the rest of the route. The flight was smooth and we made it into Columbia, SC about 12:10pm. We were there a few minutes earlier than planned, so I was able to check weather along the rest of the route for the day. Once our group arrived, I gave the young aviators a preflight inspection lesson and began the flights. On the second flight, I took up a young woman who had never flown before. Her mother was lucky enough to join us, but not in our aircraft. One of the local EAA members, James Clark put her in his RV6 and flew beside us, filming the young
woman's first adventure in the air. What a great time for mother and daughter! After flying the final young woman in Columbia, I checked the forecast and the thunderstorms had really began to build in Georgia and in northern Florida.
We received a phone call this morning as we were heading to the airport in North Carolina from our EAA contact in Vidalia, Georgia. He informed us that the children we were scheduled to fly today had to leave on a family emergency to Phoenix, Arizona. We felt bad but it worked out in the long run - severe thunderstorms with tops up to 45,000 feet went through the Vidalia area and produced golf ball sized hail. We rescheduled our Georgia stop for June 22 and we look forward to seeing everyone in Vidalia soon.
Our last stop of the day was to be Spruce Creek, Florida. Due to the severe weather in northern Florida and along our route, we were unable to leave Columbia until almost 6:30pm tonight. We decided that it would be best to cancel the Spruce Creek stop and try and get as far south as we could by night fall. Once in the air, the route to the south cleared up and we had a smooth ride down to Savannah, Georgia, where we are overnighting. Tomorrow Stacey and I will head to Tampa, Florida and pick up Kerry Widmer, the Eagle Flight project manager. Stacey will be flying back to Saskatoon, Canada on Wednesday morning and Kerry will handle the ground coordination for the remainder of the trip. Stacey has done a wonderful job on the first half of the trip and I appreciate all she has done for the Eagle Flight.
We will be taking a break for a few days while the Cessna 172 I am flying will undergo it's 100 hour inspection in Fort Meyers, Florida, and we prepare for National Young Eagles Day scheduled for June 11 in Ft. Meyers. Until then, enjoy the new pictures that are being posted of the first half of the trip.
Sincerely,
Jared A. Aicher
- location: Smithfield, North Carolina
- Date: Sunday, June 05, 2005
- Time: 04:14:09 PM
Journey_Update
Hello everyone! The Eagle Flight crew is now in Smithfield, North Carolina and only one day away from finishing the first half of Phase I. We have been incredibly lucky weather wise thus far, but have had some delays over the past couple of days. We took off out of St. Mary's County, Maryland this morning and had to divert to an airport outside of Richmond, Virginia due to low clouds and reduced visibility along our route and destination.
After a couple of hours the clouds began to lift and our two teams headed for Franklin, Virginia. Once on the ground, Stacey gathered the children and the flights began. I flew three children there, including one who had never flown before. I find it so rewarding to take someone on their first flight! The people were great in Franklin and I hope I can make it back again next summer. I would like to thank the airport manager, Jimmy Gray for purchasing our lunches and offering to pay for our fuel. By the time we were ready to headout to Greeneville, Tennessee the cumulus clouds were building fast overhead and we knew there was a chance of getting there and being stuck due to thunderstorms. I made the decision to bypass Greeneville, TN today and head straight for our last stop of the day, which was Smithfield/Apex, North Carolina. We will head back to Greeneville on June 22-23 to make the day up and get the get children into the air.
When we arrived in Smithfield, NC the local EAA chapter had a group of eager young aviators in a flight ground school learning about airplanes and the way they work. When they finished, they brought the children out and handed each pilot a group of children to fly. Five pilots, including myself handled 7 children and they each had a great time. Thank you to everyone in Smithfield for helping out today!
Kenny Downing and Dustin Berlin from Utah Valley State College and Stacey Commer, the Eagle Flight logistics coordinator have been photographing and filming any and everything. I will be posting more pictures over the next couple of days, so be sure and check back soon!
Jared and the entire Eagle Flight Team
- location: St. Mary's County, Maryland
- Date: Saturday, June 04, 2005
- Time: 08:02:24 PM
Journey_Update
Weather again delayed the Eagle Flight crew today. I woke up at 5:30am in Hartford, Connecticut and began checking the weather along our route this morning. I knew the forecast was calling for low clouds and rain over New York City and Long Island, which was directly over our planned flight path. It was forecast to remain in the area until late morning and early afternoon while the system slowly pushed off shore. By about 11:30am, an area started to clear to the west of New York City and over northern New Jersey. We loaded the airplanes and we were off to Hammonton, New Jersey!
We followed a route that took us just south of West Point and along the western edge of New York City. We crossed the Hudson River, after which Stacey and I could see the New York skyline in the distance, including the Empire State Building. What a great sight New York City is from the air! As we descended into Hammonton, we flew over the dense Pine Barrens region of New Jersey. The trees were incredibly thick and are home to many protected animal species. When we landed the local EAA chapter was awaiting our arrival and had a couple of airplanes on display, a hot dog stand and even a chance for the local Young Eagles to win a remote controlled airplane. I flew one young man who was getting ready to take his Private Pilot check ride in a couple of weeks.
Once we finished up in Hammonton we headed west to Wilmington, Delaware. The clouds were still low but we managed to view the Philidelphia skyline about 25 miles off of our right wing. Several members of the Wilmington EAA chapter were waiting while some of the local EAA pilots were already flying Young Eagles, and had been for a good portion of the afternoon. I flew a young man there who did most of the flying for me. He amazed me! I gave him the controls right after take off and he flew like someone who had already taken several flight lessons. As we came around on the final approach, he took us in to about 25 feet above the ground, where I took the controls and let him follow the landing with me, right down to the ground. When it was all said and done, he told me he liked to fly the simulators. I would like to thank Hugh Horning with the Wilmington, Delaware EAA chapter for helping put the event together, and for coming out today on his 56th wedding anniversary.
Congratulations Hugh!
We took off for our final destination around 5pm and the weather was finally clearing to the south. As we continued south to St. Mary's County, Maryland, we followed the Chesapeake Bay and flew within 35 miles of Washington D.C. The scenery was absolutely breath taking as the sun reflected off the water. Sailboats, yachts, and cargo ships made there way up the bay. After we landed, two young brothers were waiting along with Sid Wood with the local EAA chapter. I flew each of the brothers over the bay and they both walked away with smiles on there faces.
That's what this whole trip is all about.
The weather is looking good for tomorrows flights and we should arrive as scheduled. I will try to have the next set of pictures posted soon. Until next time, clear skies!
Jared and the Eagle Flight team-
- location: Hartford, Connecticut
- Date: Friday, June 03, 2005
- Time: 07:20:44 PM
Journey_Update
I was at the Biddeford, Maine airport at 6am this morning to prepare the aircraft for
today's flights, as well as fly the two young men I delayed last night due to high winds. The air was smooth and the sun was rising above the Atlantic to the east. What a beautiful sight! Both young men had to be at school by 7:20am so I gave them each quick tour over their home town.
Dense fog had settled into the coastal regions to the south which delayed our arrival into Plymouth, Massachusetts by almost an hour and a half. At 9am we finally left Maine and headed south along a path that took us along the eastern seaboard just west of Kennebunkport, Maine and just 15 miles off the Boston coastline. As we descended into Plymouth, we could see Cape Cod off to the east as it curved towards the north. I flew two young men and a young woman from the Plymouth airport over the nearby harbor. Our route took us right over the Mayflower, which is still docked there, as well as the actual island that the Mayflower landed on so many years ago.
Our second stop of the day was North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Chief Eagle Heart as well as three youth from the Seaconke Wampanoag Reservation were there waiting for our team when we arrived. I flew all three of the young enthusiasts over Narragarsett Bay south of Providence, Rhode Island. Two of the kids took the controls and actually flew the plane! I would like to thank the Seaconke Wampanoag people who came out and thank you for the feather. I will keep it always.
The final stop of the day was Hartford, Connecticut. I flew two more Young Eagles over the Connecticut River and surrounding hills. After the flights, both Dustin Berlin of Utah Valley State College, and I dropped our planes off to have routine 50 hour inspections completed on our aircraft.
We have been gone almost a full week and I've personally flown 51 young aviation enthusiasts and we are in state number 20. The weather through New Jersey, Delaware and
Maryland tomorrow is forecast to be less than perfect, but we are all hoping for clear skies.
Thank you to everyone who has traveled to see us and to all the EAA people who keep bringing us lunch - you are all great!
Jared
- location: Biddeford, Maine
- Date: Thursday, June 02, 2005
- Time: 03:25:42 PM
Journey_Update
After three weeks of unpleasant weather in the north eastern United States, the weather finally pushed off the coast. This allowed the Eagle Flight team to land and introduce the world of aviation to the young men and woman of the region.
Our first stop today was almost an hour and a half late due to heavy fog in central New York. We diverted to Utica, New York, refuled and waited for the fog to lift. We finally made it into Rutland, Vermont and I was able to take one young woman up for a ride over her home town. Thank you to the local EAA chapter in Rutland for filling the Eagle Flight's aircraft and for lunch!
We then headed to Lebanon, New Hampshire where a young man and two young women were waiting for Young Eagle flights. None of the young enthusiasts had flown before and I flew them above the incredible mountains found throughout the region. Jennifer, the youngest girl to receive a ride, commented that the cars looked like toys and that she was no longer afraid of flying. That made me smile and realize how wonderful the world of aviation is.
Our final destination of the day was Biddeford, Maine. The weather was great and we could see the Atlantic Ocean as we
descended into the area. The wind was gusting off the shore and made for some tricky landings. I delayed the last two rides until tomorrow morning, hoping for better conditions. We have now flown as far east as our journey will allow and will now head south down the eastern seaboard.
Hoping for clear skies and a smooth ride -
Jared
- location: Ithaca, New York
- Date: Wednesday, June 01, 2005
- Time: 06:35:32 PM
Journey_Update
Another successful day for the Eagle Flight! We arrived in Ithaca, New York this evening about 15 minutes late.
We departed Athens, Ohio at 7am and under clear skies and flew east over the
Appalachian Mountains into Petersburg, West Virginia. We arrived there a few minutes early and I flew one young woman over her home town which was nestled in a beautiful green valley surrounded by the
Appalachians.
From there we departed for Indiana, Pennsylvania, where we also arrived a few minutes early. A large crowd was awaiting our group and they even had lunch waiting for us! The local EAA chapters have been so helpful throughout the trip. I flew three young women there today over the gently rolling hills that are found throughout Pennsylvania. The local EAA chapter also bought our fuel in Indiana, PA. THANK YOU!
Our last stop of the day was Ithaca, New York. I flew two young men and a young woman over the Finger Lakes of north central New York, which was absolutely beautiful.
We are now in day five of our journey and we have only canceled one stop out of 15 due to weather. The weather is predicted to be sunny over our route through Vermont and New Hampshire tomorrow and on into Maine tomorrow afternoon.
I would like to thank the Holiday Inn in Ithaca, NY for the gift basket and complimentary rooms they donated to the Eagle Flight crew for our nights stay.
Thanks for checking in!
Jared
- location: Athens, OH
- Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2005
- Time: 10:25:15 PM
Journey_Update
Today began very early for the Eagle Flight team. We awoke at 3:45 am and lifted off from the Oshkosh, WI airport by 5:30 am. We flew south along the coast of Lake Michigan and watched the sun rise over Chicago, IL. The Sears Tower was only 2 or 3 miles off of our right wing!
Our first stop was great. We landed at Riverview Airport in Jenisen, Michigan and I gave three rides to some great kids, two brothers and a sister. Thanks to Linda, care taker for the Riverview Airport for refueling the Eagle Flight aircraft at no charge and for the great hats!
Our second stop was Fort Wayne, IN- home of the second EAA chapter ever formed! We arrived an hour early, due to Indiana not participating in daylight savings time. I flew another set of three brothers there.
The last stop of the day was at Athens, Ohio.... By far, one of the most scenic places I have visited in a long time. Our EAA hosts, Glenn and Mary Cline were outstanding and showed us the campus of Ohio University and took the team out for a great dinner. I flew two young men in Athens who have been friends since kindergarten. What a treat it is to have young men and women enjoying the world of aviation. I'm honored to have this opportunity to work with these young people, Utah Valley State College and my great team, Stacey Commer and Kerry Widmer.
Isolated thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow afternoon in New York and we hope to arrive there before they develop. So far the weather gods have been smiling on the Eagle Flight Team.
Thanks for checking in and we hope to see you soon.
Jared
- location: Oshkosh, WI
- Date: Monday, May 30, 2005
- Time: 09:55:19 PM
Journey_Update
Day 3 and on schedule! Over the last few days I have been checking the weather often.... As many of you know, the weather around the United States has been less than friendly. I counted 9 low pressure systems over the United States this morning - which equates to bad weather!
There was a small gap of partly cloudy skies directly over our flight route, while storms were found to the north and south. We were able to make every stop today, which included Norfolk, NE, Rushford, MN and Oshkosh, WI. I flew three children at each stop and it turned out to be a great day.
When we arrived at Norfolk, NE a large crowd of people were waiting for the Eagle Flight to arrive and the local EAA chapter had breakfast waiting for the eager young aviators. The three children I flew woke up at 6am and had their parents drive them an hour to the airport. I hope it was worth the efforts, because it was great for me to see the smiles. The entire Eagle Flight crew would like to thank everyone who came out today to all of our stops.
Until tomorrow, clear skies!
- location: Sioux City, Iowa
- Date: Sunday, May 29, 2005
- Time: 10:39:08 PM
Journey_Update
Due to weather, we had to cancel our first stop of the day in Mandan, ND- sending us through a limited corridor to reach Sioux Falls, SD. We arrived on time this afternoon and gave 3 children a ride with the Eagle Flight. With only a short additional 50 min. flight to Sioux City, Iowa, we were able to give 2 additional youth their intro flight. Today we covered over 650 miles, departing by 4 am and spending the first 5 hours of the day in the plane to reach our first destination. We were able to fly over Devils Tower for some great shots today. The weather will be a challenge over the next few days, chance of rain in NE and MN, but clear in WI! Thanks for checking in!
Jared & “The Team”
- location: Billings, MT
- Date: Saturday, May 28, 2005
- Time: 09:44:11 PM
Journey_Update
Hello everyone! I am proud to be reporting from Billings, Montana on Saturday night May 28. We arrived 10 minutes early into our final destination of the day and had great weather the entire way.
Our first stop was Idaho Falls, Idaho where 46 Young Eagles were flown with the help of the Idaho Falls EAA pilots and ground crew.
We arrived at our second stop after flying over the heart of Yellowstone National Park where some of the high mountain lakes were still frozen solid! We landed at Cody, Wyoming at approx. 1:30 and flew three more Young Eagles there.
Our final stop of the day was at Billings, Montana. A few thunderstorms were beginning to form in the area, but we able to fly an additional two children there.
Our first day has been great and we look forward to the days ahead.
Clear skies!
Jared
- location: Boise, Idaho
- Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2005
- Time: 10:37:49 AM
Journey_Update
Hello everyone! The 2005 Phase I aircraft has officially arrived in Boise, Idaho and ready for the journey after two days of non-stop flying and an open house in Provo, Utah.
I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday night, May 22 and arrived at approx. 2:40 a.m. Monday morning on America West Airlines. After a couple hours of sleep and a quick check out by West Mesa Aviation in the Cessna 172, I took off and flew 4.1 hours to Provo, Utah.
On Monday night, May 23, the Utah Valley State College Aviation Department held a
barbeque for friends and faculty at the UVSC hangar. I was able to take four youth on Discovery Flights as the sun was setting over Utah Lake.
On Tuesday morning, the UVSC Global Aviation Degree Program's logo was placed on the Cessna's cowling and I lifted off about 12:15 p.m. and headed back to Boise. After a 3.2 hour flight and fighting a 22 knot head wind, which was directly at my nose, I arrived back in Boise at 3:30 p.m.
For the next three days, I will be finishing the final flight plans, organizing the weight and balance for the aircraft and getting plenty of REST!
Please check back on May 28th as we begin our journey across the United States. Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing many of you soon.
Sincerely,
Jared A. Aicher
