Area youth are invited are invited to Saturday’s event at the Pearson Field Education Center
VANCOUVER — On Saturday (May 26), youth ages 8-17 will have the opportunity to climb into the cockpit and experience flight from a pilot’s perspective on Open Cockpit Day at Pearson Field Education Center (PFEC).
Airplane rides are free and are provided by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 105’s Young Eagles Program. Founded in 1992, the Young Eagles Program has dedicated 25 years to giving youth their first ride in an airplane.
“Open Cockpit Day sparks interest in STEM and opens young people’s eyes to the many career opportunities in and around aviation” says PFEC Director Chris Griffin. “My introduction to flight was a very special day. Flying gave me a view of the world I had never had. To experience that level of freedom and actually control an aircraft in flight was life changing and inspired me to become a pilot.”
Flights begin at 10 a.m., weather permitting. Flights are first-come first-served, with registration beginning on site at 9:30 a.m., no pre-registration available. Parents or legal guardians must be present.
This has become Pearson Field’s most popular event – families should arrive early to register their children as slots fill up quickly.
“The weather looks to be perfect for a day of aviation fun with temperatures of 79 degrees predicted” says PFEC’s Aviation Program Coordinator Deborah Barton. “Flights book fast, so don’t be late.”
While waiting for your flight, those in attendance can explore STEM through aviation at Pearson Field Education Center’s weekly Open Saturday. Activities include the flight simulator lab, vertical wind table, glider building, tinker-maker space, and historic airplanes and collections on display.
Pearson Field Education Center (PFEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit program of The Historic Trust with a mission to inspire youth to pursue education and careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields through aviation, while instilling an appreciation for the people, events, and innovations of historic Pearson Field.
PFEC builds on 112 years of rich aviation and cultural history at Pearson Field, the oldest continuously operating airfield in the Pacific Northwest, to deliver experiential, aviation-based science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs for young people kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12). Learn more at pearsonfieldeducation.org.
The Historic Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, celebration, and preservation of the Southwest Washington community’s history. Learn more at www.thehistorictrust.org.
