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16 | Transportation Today Wisconsin™ Online Edition: www.transportationtodaywi.com

Wings to Fly: Racine Police, Volunteer Pilots Help Female Students Reach For the Sky

COP House, has helped These statistics are from the Federal Avia- never had the opportunity to fly in a plane, let
this program take flight tion Administration’s 2022 Women in Aviation alone have a front-row seat in a smaller craft.
both last year and this Advisory Board Report. Angela flew with Schwaab. She was one
year. “Clearly our communities are rich with of four students who, prior to the event, had
His aunt, Susan females and minorities, who should be told that never flown in an airplane.
Schwaab, founded the they can succeed regardless of what statistics Before getting up in the air, Angela felt
Wings to Fly program might tell them,” said Brady. nervous, but that fear faded once she was
in Madison, Wis. She Introduction to aviation soaring in the sky.
was raised in Racine This year, Wings to Fly has given an oppor- Salvador Martinez was without words
and later became a tunity to students from Racine Unified School when asked about what this opportunity meant
pilot and spent 40 years District and other Racine area schools to receive to her, although she was able to express her
flying for United. an introduction to aviation. thankfulness.
With the help of Saturday’s event had 12 students in atten- The Racine County Eye recalls her saying
Ofc. Brady and the dance. That was an increase from the eight to another participant after her flight, “It was
EAA Chapter 838, the students who participated last year. Next year, really fun, I really got to fly!”
program was brought to the goal is to get 14 students involved. As a student who plans to pursue a career
Emma Widmar for the Racine County Eye Racine last year. Funding from community partners allows in Aerospace engineering, the experience with
A collaboration between the Racine Police “We were sitting at a family Thanksgiving Wings to Fly to take place. Wings to Fly meant everything to Angela.
Department and local volunteer pilots helped dinner and he (Ofc. Brady) says, ‘Hey Aunt Sue, “We want to give these girls wings, to
female students, most who are minorities, reach I want to inspire the kids in Racine and show Launching pad for life after high school be able to accomplish whatever they want in
for the sky through the Wings to Fly program on them the possibilities that are out there,’ and I Students participated in various activities life,” shared Brady.
Sept. 30 at the Batten International Airport, 3239 said, ‘That’s what Wings to Fly program is all which included learning about aviation history, “Whether it be nursing or education, or
N. Green Bay Road. about,’” explained Schwaab. immersing themselves in a flight simulator, con- any career field – military, aviation – give
Most of the police officers who were Helping students reach for the sky necting with members of the Wisconsin National them the confidence, regardless of what statis-
present were women. While in a different line “It’s based on the idea that less than 10% of Guard, exploring a MEDEVAC Blackhawk heli- tics say.”
of duty than pilots, female officers being present commercial airline pilots are females and minor- copter and more. Article and photos reprinted with permission
served as proof that women are able to succeed ities,” explained Ofc. Brady. By far, the most rewarding and memorable from the Racine County Eye
in male-dominant career fields, such as aviation “We want the students to know that experience for most students was having a front-
and law enforcement. because they are different by gender or race, row seat on a flight around Racine County.
Wings to Fly takes flight in Racine obviously, they should not be limited by that and Reaching for the sky www.rusd.org
Ofc. Travis Brady, with the Anthony Lane their success.” One participant, Angela Salvador Mar-
tinez, shared that prior to Wings to Fly, she
Falcon Aviation has a New Pilot and a New Sweepstakes!

Taking 9th to New this year! For a
12th grade students, modest $10 ticket, entrants
aged 14 to 18, the in the Eagles Nest Project
program is centered Sweepstakes can win a variety
around building of prizes, including Bose A30
and, for some stu- Headsets or a $2,000 cash prize
dents, flying a Van’s for the first place, an iPad Mini
RV-12 light aircraft. with Foreflight or a $500 cash
Falcon Aviation prize for the second place, and a
started in 2014. Waypoint Flight Bag or a $100
Three planes have cash prize for the third place.
been completed and However, the true value of each
a fourth is in prog- ticket lies in its contribution to
ress. the future of aviation, aiding
A high school the Central High School STEM
aviation program Aviation Program in its pivotal
Central High School’s STEM Aviation producing a fleet of light aircraft is impressive, role of shaping young minds.
Program (Falcon Aviation) stands out as a but for some students building the airplane is
remarkable educational endeavor where stu- only the beginning. Students who are part Congratulations to Chloe, ENP WI’s After an almost two-hour oral review, they
dents actively engage in the construction of a of the program can use the aircraft for flight headed to the plane. By this time, the winds
Van’s RV-12 aircraft, guided by experienced instruction. Two flight instructors, also profes- newest pilot. This marks our 20th on the ground were 22 knots, and aloft, 42
mentors. This program goes beyond tradi- sional pilots, train the students at the highest pilot from the ENP WI program. knots. Oh boy, she had to fly everything to
tional teaching methods, immersing students level. It was a cold, blustery day on Novem- flight standards. After an hour-long flight,
in hands-on experiences that foster skills in This provides students with the unusual ber 3rd here in Wisconsin. Chloe and her she returned to make a perfect landing. She
science, technology, engineering, and math- opportunity to learn to fly in an aircraft they flight instructor, Dan, took off early Friday had a big smile on her face; she knew she had
ematics, while also cultivating teamwork, helped build. Those who earn their license also morning to fly to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. nailed the exam. Please join me in congratu-
leadership, and determination. have access to the aircraft. Yes, fun! She had to take her test at an unfa- lating Chloe on a job well done.
The program is among several initiatives Each airplane costs about $100,000 and miliar airport. The winds aloft were blowing
supported by Eagle’s Nest Projects Wisconsin since they rely 100% on donations, funding at 35 knots. Nice, how would you like to
(ENP WI), a nonprofit 501c3 organization. is a constant concern. Last year the program do S-turns and turns around a point with www.westosha.k12.wi.us
James Senft is Falcon Aviation’s director of held a sweepstakes in which they raffled one 35-knot winds? Nevertheless, they made the falconaviation.org/the-cockpit
aviation. of their airplanes. 45-minute flight to meet the flight examiner.