Even though there were cross winds in the air on June 26 at the Geauga County Airport in Middlefield, community members were eager to get out and witness the chapter’s first flight of the summer. 5 from the Experimental Aircraft Association.

“We have a significant crosswind today and that will make it more difficult for smaller, lighter planes to use our runway,” said Tim Connor, event president. “Bigger and heavier planes will be there.”

In addition to the activities and exhibits for young people at the air event, children between the ages of 8 and 17 had the opportunity to take airplane rides, which may make them more interested in aviation. and perhaps to pursue a career there, Connor mentioned.

“Whether it’s flying as a pilot or working in maintenance or air traffic control, there are a lot of interesting and well-paying jobs,” said Connor. “I’m interested in seeing people, especially young people, more interested in aviation.”

Connor’s hobbyist-built GlaStar was on display at the event, something he had built himself. The GlaStar uses an automotive engine and doesn’t have a round dial, Connor said, and it’s as technically advanced as an airplane can be.

“I’m a home builder and that’s one of the other things that we try to promote,” Connor said. “People who want to build their own aircraft – we have the ability to teach them how. “

For Maria and Lee Coble, letting their children experience an airplane flight was “a great opportunity.”

“I thought it was wonderful that they were doing this,” said Maria. “As soon as I saw it on Facebook, I signed up the kids right away. Community is big – communities big and small.”

“It’s amazing,” Lee repeated. “Something small like this can lead to bigger opportunities or thoughts down the road, so you never know what might come of it.”

In addition to the plane trips, the children were able to tour the various youth stations at the airport.

“Every time they reach an objective at a station, they get a stamp on their passport,” said Sherry Niederkorn, coordinator of the youth station. “Station 1 is a labeled plane and they have to name the parts. Station 2 identifies the instruments in a cockpit. My husband made this invention. Station 3 – they have word searches, puzzles, mazes and all. type of coloring pages to do with aviation. “

The event was an opportunity for EAA Chapter 5 to encourage young people to get interested in airplanes and learn various things about aviation, Sherry said.

“People come from all over. A lot of people are eager to go and they love airplanes,” said Sherry.

Along with Sherry was Tim Niederkorn, who was helping with the flight simulator as part of the youth activities at the event.

“The simulator is a lot harder than driving the real thing,” Tim said. “These simulators don’t give any physical feedback. From a local perspective, the importance of this is to educate people in the community about the airport and the value of having a small airport like this, and things going on there. “

The demand for opportunities in aviation is high, despite the shock absorber that was put on because of the coronavirus, Tim said. Yet things are picking up where they left off.

“We’re giving an exhibition on this,” Tim said. “It’s a community event and we want the community to feel that the airport is something of value in their area.”