Flying at 2,000 feet over the Okanagan Valley seventeen-year-old Kaden Katelnikoff had what might best be termed as a career epiphany.
害羞草研究所淚t was just awesome, got to fly the plane it was so responsive, you go one way and it just tips and it害羞草研究所檚 pretty cool to look down and know that you害羞草研究所檙e flying,害羞草研究所� said the Penticton teen after getting out of Paul Townson害羞草研究所檚 RV 8 home-built, single-engine airplane Sunday at the Penticton Regional Airport. 害羞草研究所淚t was my first time in a small plane and it really puts things into perspective. What I liked most about flying was just being up there being alone and flying.
害羞草研究所淵eah, I want to be a pilot.害羞草研究所�
Russell Skidmore, 11, of Okanagan Falls also got a free ride that morning as part of the annual Canadian Owners and Pilots Association COPA for Kids program.
害羞草研究所淚t was a little bumpy, but it was an awesome ride, I really liked it, I was in a small plane before but it was a long time ago and I don害羞草研究所檛 really remember it, but this was fun,害羞草研究所� he said after exiting veteran pilot Dave McElroy害羞草研究所檚 RV aircraft. 害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know if I want to be a pilot, maybe.害羞草研究所�
McElroy, the current president of the Kelowna and District Flying Club which is having it害羞草研究所檚 own COPA day in June, has plenty of air miles under his belt.
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In 2014 he flew a Piper Comanche around the world which raised over $150,000 for two charities and this year he and two other pilots did the Give Hope Wings sojourn to South America raising over a half-million dollars for charity.
害羞草研究所淲hat could be more fun than flying on a day like this, young people, introducing them to aviation, the joy of flight, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 get any better than this,害羞草研究所� said McElroy who previously received the prestigious Norton Griffiths Challenge Trophy from the Royal Aero Club in London for 害羞草研究所渙utstanding feats of courage, tenacity and imagination.害羞草研究所�
He added: 害羞草研究所淛ust seeing the smiles on the faces, they vary some are shy this one害羞草研究所檚 (new passenger Hayden Wild) is not so shy. I think she害羞草研究所檚 going to be great, I like the ones that talk and ask questions.害羞草研究所�
All the pilots and ground crew donate their time and cover costs just to give their young ride alongs the experience of flight with the hopes they too will one day find their passion in the skies.
At the end of the two hours Penticton Flying Club president Ron Johnson tallied up the numbers.
害羞草研究所淲e had a total of 108 kids who got to fly today. It was really a great day for everyone,害羞草研究所� he said.
