ACE Academy campers get hands-on flight experience

GILFORD — The first ACE Academy concluded a week-long camp at Laconia Airport with nine area youths experiencing aviation events first-hand.

The camp was co-sponsored by the Aviation & Aerospace Education Center at Winnipesaukee (WinnAero) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Focus of the camp was promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through hands-on, real world aviation activities.

Under the direction of Dan Caron, camp director, assisted by technology educator Christine Landry, the youths built model aircraft and rockets to learn the principles of flight and flew aboard a NHANG KC-135R tanker aircraft as it refueled F-16 fighter jets over New York state.

Other highlights included tours of the FAA control tower at Manchester Airport and the tower at Pease Air National Guard Base plus guided tours of the Pease crash-rescue facility and opportunities to “fly” flight simulators at a local computer facility.

Also on the agenda were guest speakers ranging from three Air Force pilots who flew combat missions during the Vietnam war; John Dickinson (F-4 pilot), Steve Selig (B-52 pilot) and Don Morrissey (helicopter pilot) plus Carol Niewola, a New Hampshire Department of Transportation civil engineer and Lt. Col. Pat Testerman from the Air Force ROTC unit at UNH.

Gena Adams, a certified flight instructor in both light aircraft and jets representing Sky Bright Aviation at Laconia Airport took each of the youths for an individual flight over the Lakes Region. With a certified flight instructor, each youth was able to log flying time at the controls of the aircraft and have their flying time credited with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) of Oshkosh, WI. under the Young Eagles recognition program.

EAA’s involvement in the camp was facilitated by retired airline pilot and WinnAero Board member, Bob McCulla. McCulla also taught the campers the basics of air navigation.

WinnAero founder, Bill Seed, declared the first ACE Academy an “unqualified success."

He said that there were many thanks owed, to the NHANG, the FAA, Hyslop’s Computer Center, Civil Air Patrol, the Aviation Association of NH, the Granite State Airport Managers’ Association and the Diane K. Kline Memorial Scholarship Program for scholarships, the EAA, the Air Force Association and Lee Avery of Sky Bright Aviation.

"Most of all, however, we want to thank the Laconia Airport Authority and the Airport Manager Diane Cooper. Without the authority’s 100% support and Diane’s hard work, this ACE Academy would never have happened," said Seed.

PHOTO CAPTION'

Proudly wearing their ACE Academy shirts, the first class poses for a graduation picture with their instructors. Front left to right: Matt Niskala (Gilford), Guyatri Subedi (Laconia), Garrett Pitt ( Laconia), Tyler Reid (Center Harbor), Ganga Timsina (Laconia), Flight Instructor Gena Adams. Rear left to right: Instructor Dan Caron, Hassan Sapry (Laconia), Brendan Drew (Plymouth), Patrick Welch (Center Harbor), Justin Thomas (Laconia), Instructor Christine Landry. (Courtesy photo)