A Pilot Pilgrimage

Aside from usually great flying weather, July has come to mean one
thing to most every pilot: Oshkosh.  This annual event that started as
a get-together for pilots interested in building their own private
aircraft has transformed into THE aviation event of the year for
anyone that has (or dreams of having) their own wings.  Pilots from
across the country, and many from around the world, are descending on
Oshkosh, Wisconsin this week to share their love of aviation.  I’ve
known many pilots that plan their entire year to make sure they can
make it to at least some portion of this week-long event, with most
planning to fly themselves to Wisconsin.

While the focus of Oshkosh is and will always be private aviation, the
event has also attracted the business jet and commercial aircraft
builders, making it truly a one-stop shop for every aspect of
piloting.  The massive display grounds and aircraft parking areas at
the airport make it quite easy to forget that there are daily air show
displays going on overhead and I can guarantee that one week is
certainly not enough time to take in all that Oshkosh has to offer.

Moreover, Oshkosh and its sponsor (the Experimental Aircraft
Association) are both strong reminders that the joys of flying do not
stop on the runway, but are carried forward throughout our lives via
the camaraderie that aviators share with each other and their
communities.  Nonprofit associations like the LeRoy W Homer Jr.
Foundation, AOPA and EAA not only tie aviators together, but serve as
a conduit between aviation and our communities.  This philanthropic
and communal nature that bonds most pilots together has kept the
aviation community thriving throughout the first century of human
flight and will continue to provide its heartbeat in the future.

Whether or not you ever dream of sitting in the cockpit, I would
encourage everyone who reads this blog to plan at least one pilgrimage
to Oshkosh in your lifetime.  I’m willing to bet that your first trip
will not be your last.

Matt Baumgarth

Bowling For The Love Of Flight

The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation would like to thank everyone, who attended the September 13, 2009 bowling fundraiser, which was held at Pinsetter Bar & Bowl in Pennsauken, NJ. The event was well organized and well attended. The owner and staff were very accommodating and great to work with. The attendees couldn’t have been happier or more surprised with a delicious hot buffet, which included hot roast beef, pasta with vodka sauce and a garden salad. It was very heartwarming to see families bowling together and the friendly competition was fun and fierce!

Our auction was a great success with many items donated by local retailers. Two sets of airline tickets, cleats autographed by Chase Utley, and Philadelphia Flyers game tickets were some of the featured items. In addition, WMMR donated a visit to their new studio, and a sit in for one lucky winner during the Preston & Steve show! Congratulations Nicole!

One of the most memorable moments of the evening was when The Foundation played a short film of LeRoy doing what he loved to do most, flying. Included in the presentation, were photos of the past and present recipients. It was nice to see that former recipients’ share their journey to becoming professional pilots. All in all, the total amount raised for the evening was almost $6000.00. And although the fundraiser was a huge success, it costs about $12000.00 to fund a single scholarship, so we hope our supporters will continue to think of us. We hope to make the bowling fundraiser an annual event and look forward to your support in the future.

Digna Yeregui, Director At Large

Opportunities in Aviation

This past year and a half has been filled with numerous opportunities and adventures accompanied by the rigorous demands of living the life of a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. With freshman year behind me, I am well on my way to pursuing my dream of becoming an officer and pilot in the United States Air Force.

Over this past summer I achieved one of my childhood dreams. In June, I drove down to Edwards AFB in southern California and received an incentive ride in an F-16 Viper. The flight consisted of taking off at full afterburners, performing a two-ship supersonic flight, achieving max Gs (9Gs) for 15 seconds, and accomplishing aerial maneuvers such as barrel-rolls, loops, and high G turns. It has always been one of my childhood dreams to fly in the same fighter jet that my father flew and needless to say actually flying in one solidified my decision to pursue it as a career.

July was an adventure in itself, spent mostly in the Colorado Rocky Mountains going through a program called Combat Survival Training (CST). During CST Air Force SERE (Survival, Escape, Resistance, Evasion) Instructors trained cadets how to survive in any environment if our aircraft was ever shot down. The three phases of the program consisted of phase one- classroom learning about how to find food, water and shelter, phase two- applying what we learned in the classroom to the outdoors, and phase three- evading from aggressor forces and being rescued. The experience showed me the risk involved with becoming a military pilot, as well as the proper way to take action if a situation does arise someday.

My love and knowledge in aviation has carried on with me through the Academy and has allowed me to become a cadet aviation soaring instructor. Essentially the soaring program at the Academy is a program that presents cadets with the opportunity to learn to fly and solo a TG-10B glider. Based on their flying performance in the glider and after being interviewed by a selection board cadets may be chosen to go on and become soaring instructor pilots, which allows them to teach others how to operate and fly gliders. It is one of the best programs the Academy has to offer and the benefit of wearing a flight suit to classes every other day to be followed by going down to the airfield isn’t a bad deal either.

This past week I traveled to Washington DC and witness the inauguration of our 44^th President and represent the Academy at a conference that consisted of 5,000 university students from all over the world. We were privileged to participate in many different lectures, express and debate our opinions on current policy topics and problems in the economy, as well as hear Al Gore, Colin Powell speak. The conference was wrapped up with attending the inauguration and an inaugural ball being hosted at the Air and Space Museum.

Looking back over the years I realize how blessed I have been in my love and pursuit of aviation. I have wanted to fly since I was a child, but it was the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation that enabled me to begin chasing my dreams and opened up a window of opportunity for me. As a cadet at the Academy I am thankful for the privilege to be taking the same steps in my aviation career as LeRoy Homer took in his. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t look at the memorial wall which his name resides on and am reminded of the sacrifices that some gave for this country. The Homer Foundation enables the hopes and dreams of today’s youth and provides a bright future for the aviation of tomorrow.

Courtney Vidt

Past scholarship recipient