Young aviators earn their wings at Stanzel Academy

Young aviation enthusiasts ages 5 to 12 celebrated the completion of the Stanzel Co-Pilot Academy Friday, July 31, with a Pilot Party at the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum.

Held each Friday throughout July, the five-week STEAM program introduced children to aviation through hands-on activities combining science, engineering, history, art and imagination.

Participants explored the history of flight, learned about the four forces of flight, and discovered how weather affects aviation. They also had an opportunity to pilot an airplane using the museum’s flight simulator.

Throughout the program, students designed rockets, built cockpit control panels and catapults, tested paper airplanes and balsa wood gliders, and created cloud viewers and travel passports. Each Friday concluded with stomp rocket launches on the Stanzel Fun Field.

The f light simulator proved to be a favorite, giving each child an opportunity to experience a simulated flight. Participants also received educational materials to continue learning about aviation at home.

The academy concluded with a Pilot Party, where each participant received a Stanzel Co-Pilot Certificate recognizing completion of the program.

Museu m of f i c i a l s thanked volunteers Kristin Holub, Mercy Silcox, Garette Olive, Jimmy Jacobs, Regan Moreau, Kerr McBride and Zuriel Robles for helping conduct this year’s academy.