The Chattanooga Choo Choo Senior Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol supported the 2017 first annual Challenge Air Fly Day event at Wilson Air on Saturday.
Challenge Air, a nationwide non-profit organization, plans and facilitates Fly Day Events to change the perception of children with special needs through the gift of flight. By eliminating the belief that they are limited, the children can grow to their full potential. They are given the opportunity to find courage within themselves and build in areas where they lack self-esteem.
Furthermore, opening up more doors to possibilities by allowing the children to see if they can fly a plane, then they can do anything.
There were over 40 children and their family members, who received a flight from a local pilot that had volunteered their time and plane. Before a flight, the child and their family attended “Pilot Ground School”, where they learned about basic aviation safety and familiarization. After ground school, they met with their pilot and load team members, who assisted them down a red carpet towards the aircraft. After the flight, the children received their “Wings” and a Pilot Certificate. It was an exciting day for everyone, especially the children and their families. For many, it was the first time in a plane, nonetheless get to fly.
Among other activities offered, Civil Air Patrol conducted educational workshops for the children. CAP volunteer 2nd Lt Frank Fry offered simple science experiments and demonstrations that focused on aeronautical and weather applications. The children really enjoyed the hands on activities, including the drone and the paper airplanes.
Chattanooga Choo Choo Commander Maj. Kelly Williamson was the Flight Deck Boss, and provided the logistic oversight for the entire day. Maj. Kelly Williamson said, “It was a privilege to serve our community and country with the great volunteers of the Choo Choo Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol. Our squadron really showed their heart for others, by devoting their time for a successful, first ever, Challenge Air event in Chattanooga! Experiencing the joy of the 43 special needs co-pilots of Challenge Air gave us all special blessings and perspective on all that we have. Sharing the excitement of flying with these kids and their families is a memory that every pilot will never forget.”
This year’s Fly Event was such a huge success, that next year’s event is already in the planning stages and is expected to be twice as successful. For more information about the event and Challenge Air, visit www.challengeair.com.
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees.
CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program.
Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War II veterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.