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editor’s brie ng by Rebecca Groom Jacobs
2 • TWIN & TURBINE
July 2018
Aviation Tapestry
As EAA AirVenture approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many varying threads that bring more than half-a-million people together for the world’s “Greatest Aviation Celebration.” In particular, I wonder about the attending pilots who, for one week, are surrounded
by like-minded and passionate fellow pilots. Certainly, a unique setting given that only .002% of the U.S. population are active pilots. This leads to a question I often contemplate: what ultimately led the members of this miniscule group to become pilots – a family influence? A discovery flight? A school course? A longtime calling?
My husband falls into the latter category. Though he was raised without direct exposure to aviation or pilots, he saw airplanes in the sky and instinctively knew it was where he needed to be. My own story I feel is much more common in our industry; I was influenced by someone I knew. In my case, it was my family. I was born into an incredibly aviation-centric family; my father, mother, sister, uncle and grandfather are/were all pilots. I grew up in general aviation, regularly flying to family events and vacations. For me, aviation was a completely normal facet of life – but not a career path.
It would take until I worked toward my own pilot’s license eight years ago, essentially living at my local airport, Stearman Field (1K1), that I realized, “Oh! This is what it is all about.” Even after all of those years in the back of a Bonanza, it was as if I had crossed an invisible line. I suddenly understood the appeal. Perhaps more importantly, I learned that I myself was capable of flight. So, I changed my major (from animal science!) upon returning to college that Fall and never looked back.
The threads of backgrounds and stories that weave our pilot population tapestry is fascinating to me, but what can we do to strengthen it? To ensure its continual growth? How can we reach the next generation of pilots, drawing from those with no exposure or clear access to aviation? Or support those with a lack of means to pursue a pilot’s license? How can we positively influence not only our industry, but their lives? I learned of one model idea just recently.
Sean Tucker, aerobatic pilot and co-founder of the
Bob Hoover Academy, stands with two of the program’s students.
My sister Elizabeth Allenbaugh and I pose with actor and general aviation advocate Harrison Ford following his acceptance speech at the R.A. “Bob” Hoover Trophy Awards.
PHOTO OF COURTESY OF BOB HOOVER ACADEMY