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FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS - 6/18/2012) -- Officials at the
Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum held the annual "Become
a Pilot" family day June 16, in Chantilly, Va.
1st Lt. David Bishop, answers questions about the controls of a C-17 Globemaster III to Nicholas Kendall, 10, at Become a Pilot Day near Chantilly, Va., June 16, 2012. Become a Pilot Day is an annual event at the National Air and Space Museum, intended to introduce children to careers in aviation. Bishop is a C-17 pilot with the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Alexander W. Riedel |
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More than 45 aircraft were on display as the museum's Steven F.
Udvar-Hazy Center, including two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a C-17
Globemaster III, which had its cargo bay and flight deck opened to
the public.
In the C-17 and other aircraft, kids could climb
behind the controls, ask questions to experienced pilots and aircrew
and learn about what Capt. Anthony Bombaci, of the 305th Air
Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., calls '"the
best job in the Air Force."
"I really love flying this
aircraft," said Bombaci of the C-17. "So I like to share some of the
enjoyment I find in my job and hopefully motivate some of the kids
(to pursue a career in aviation)."
After guiding a young
visitor to the pilot's seat, Bombaci smiled. "I wanted this job
since I was about his age," he said. "So anytime I get the
opportunity to show somebody else what I do, that's awesome."
Nothing in the C-17, from the cargo bay to the flight deck, was
was off-limits. But while Bombaci's head was on a constant swivel to
prevent injuries to visitors and damage to his aircraft, he said he
is not worried; his crew has their eyes on everything, while they
guided the visitors and answered any inquiries.
"We get a lot
of really good questions," said Bombaci. "It's a great chance to
show people what we do." |
Bombaci himself is a frequent visitor to the museum, he
said, and could spend hours perusing the different aircraft.
"I'm like a little kid here," Bombaci said. "Even though I get to
do this for a living, I am all-smiles myself, checking it all out."
His feelings were shared by his crew.
"Events such as
this are one of my favorite things to do," said 1st Lt. David
Bishop, the C-17's co-pilot.
"It's nice to see people get excited
about what I do; it's one of the easiest things to talk about."
Bishop hoped that some of his enthusiasm for his profession may
inspire future generations.
For Kiron Khashnobisch, 12, the
event did just that.
"I liked the glass display," said Kiron,
speaking of the C-17's heads-up display. "It has different colors
and information, and it was really cool."
While Kiron is new
to aviation, others his age are already veterans of the flightline:
Cadets of the Virginia Civil Air Patrol, clad in battle dress
uniforms, assisted with flight-line security for the parked
aircraft.
"Today's events provide the cadets a good
experience of working with aircraft," said CAP 2nd Lt. Iain Ronis,
of the Leesburg Composite Squadron in Leesburg, Va. "What they get
to experience at events like this really exposes them to a wide
range of things that other kids typically may only read about --
here they get to go out to see, do, touch and feel aviation."
While the event hosted a wide variety of aircraft, including the
U.S. president's VH-3D Sea King helicopter, better known by its call
sign "Marine One," the C-17 was by far the biggest aircraft outside
the museum's hangar.
"The C-17 is hands-down the winner,"
said Margy Natalie, the museum's docent program manager and event
organizer. "Kids and parents love seeing and experiencing the
aircraft. It's big and it's cool. The CAP cadets just stopped in awe
when they saw it."
For Natalie, Become a Pilot Day is one of
the best ways to get children interested in aviation and technology.
"A lot of people simply don't know what it takes to become a
pilot," said Natalie. "With tighter security at airports, they also
don't have the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the
aircraft and personnel, so we try to highlight and offer all types
of aviation whether it's military or civilian -- we have
everything."
Planning the event that hosts an expected crowd
of more than 15,000 visitors, is a work of passion for Natalie, who
is a pilot herself. "We're the National Air and Space museum, so we
like airplanes -- I'm already thinking about next year," she said.
The museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in
Chantilly, Va., near Washington Dulles International Airport. The
museum is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25).
Admission is free, but there is a $15 fee for parking at the Udvar-Hazy
Center.
By USAF Airman 1st Class Alexander W. Riedel
Air Force News Service
Copyright 2012
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