Lillian Fuller had her first flight in an airplane in September and that’s all it took for her to decide she wants to get her pilot’s licence.
The 14-year-old Chatham girl was one of 165 local youth who took part in the Discover Aviation event hosted by the Canadian Owners and Pilot Association (COPA) Flight 203 at the Chatham-Kent Municipal Airport.
The free event included ground school training, lunch, a gift – and the best part – a ride in an airplane flown by local pilots.
“It was an amazing experience and I got to see very cool views from the plane,” Fuller said.
She added her pilot Jim, even let her fly the plane.
The aim of Discovery Aviation is to foster an interest in flying.
Judging by the influx of 25 new members that have joined 294 Chatham-Kent Air Cadet Squadron this year, it is working.
Squadron commander Greg Eskritt said COPA offers free airplane rides to youth and “the next thing you know, we have all these kids saying they want to join the cadets, because they enjoyed the experience with COPA and the flying.”
The 294 CK Air Cadet Squadron was set up at the Discovery Aviation event and Fuller joined up on the spot.
“I was so amazed by everything that happened and I just couldn’t wait to join,” she said.
Eskritt said the air cadets program, which is free to boys and girls age 12 to 18, runs every Monday night.
Cadets can pursue learning to fly gliders or work on getting their pilot’s license, he said. There also are cadets who do survival training and others learn marksmanship, he added.
Fuller is enjoying her experience being an air cadet.
“It’s been great, I look forward to coming here every week.”
Local COPA members stopped by the Col. Ernest Martin Ansell Armory in Chatham Monday night to make $500 donation to the cadets.
COPA Flight 203 president Pat Brady was ecstatic to learn the Discovery Aviation program has had such an impact.
“I’m blown away,” Brady said, “and so pleased.
“This was beyond our expectation,” he added. “We were hoping for a couple of kids to join up.”
Brady said COPA does outreach programs to “plant the aviation seeds for the future, because without any pilots coming up behind us, it’s done, it ends with us.
“We don’t want it to end with us, we want it to continue well into the future,” he added.
Working together with the cadets is “an obvious symbiotic relationship, because they provide a clear path to aviation, a career in aviation,” Brady said.
He is glad young people have the opportunity to be part of a local air cadet program, citing the fact Canada’s favorite astronaut Chris Hadfield was in the air cadets.
In addressing the cadets, Brady said they are not only learning about flying but also learning good life skills.
“You’re setting a good path into growing into fine adults.”