Scouts take flight at aviation merit badge weekend, get hands-on with aircraft

A special event held every four years by the members of the EAA Chapter 1027 based in New Philadelphia at the Harry Clever Field takes area Scouts to the next level with their popular aviation program. And that level can be as high as thousands of feet in the air.

The aviation program covered topics like aircraft components, pre-flight inspections, and instrument functions. Volunteers, including pilots and mechanics, led the sessions. More than 70 scouts participated and camped at the airport for the weekend.

EAA stands for Experimental Aircraft Association. It is part of an international organization for aviation enthusiasts that supports the building, flying, and restoration of recreational aircraft. The local Chapter 1027 of the EAA also raises funds to support those interested in becoming a pilot to help address the shortage in the field.

There were so many interesting things to learn but for most Scouts including Remy Clark, a member of the Sugarcreek Scouting group, taking a plane ride was his favorite activity.

“I think it was interesting,” Clark said.

The plane ride was an experience he’ll never forget.

“I was in the front of the plane that we flew today, so I got to steer it and make it go up,” Clark said. 

The event was fun for all the Scouts.

“Flying in a plane is probably the best part of it,” Elijah Krueger, a member of Troop 35 in North Canton, said. “It was a little scary, a little upsetting. But then once you're in there, it’s just so much fun looking down."

Krueger had flown on commercial airline planes before; this was his first time flying in a smaller light aircraft.

A career in aviation was something Krueger hadn’t thought about before. He admitted he didn’t know much about aviation previously.

"After today, I'm definitely more interested in it,” Krueger said.

Those completing the activities for the weekend will receive an aviation merit badge.

Popular stations at the event included the Cleveland Clinic Critical Care helicopter and a plane used by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The Scouts also learned about the forces that act on aircraft flight, preflight inspections, uses of aircraft, career opportunities, functions of various instruments, how control surfaces are used to takeoff and do other maneuvers and much more. 

OSHP Trooper Ben Miller talked about the plane, his job, and answered questions from the Scouts. The plane he flies can operate anywhere in Ohio.

“For any of our specialty units, you have to be a trooper first, which means you still have to go through a six month academy, you still have to get commissioned, and then you have to go to your initial post for up to two years, and then after that, you're considered past probation and then you can apply for specialty positions if there's openings,” Miller said.

He has been flying since 2015 but joined the current OSHP aviation section as a pilot a little over a year ago.

Glenn Davis of Gnadenhutten provided detailed instructions on how to properly inspect a plane before a flight.

“Most of the time, nothing needs fixing, but it's just one of those things that if you don't check it, there's a chance that something's going to go wrong,” Davis said. “So, you check it before you go.”

Regular maintenance is important too because not all issues can be found by the pilot. 

“You want to make sure that everything is safe. And if it's not, then you just have to wait to get your mechanic to look at it,” Davis said.

Davis recommends going through a detailed check.

“It’s a safety factor and it’s especially a good idea if you've got multiple people flying the aircraft, because you don't know what they did,” Davis said.

The Scouts were grateful to all the volunteers at the event who shared their knowledge, experiences and their personal aircraft as they helped them better understand aviation, gain knowledge and possibly a career.