When Gary stays with us in Driggs, he typically takes each kid on an adventure, and the Driggs airport has been a favorite outing since the kids were very young. One year, Gary learned that the Teton Aviation Center (Driggs airport) hosts a "Young Eagles Day" every year, and kids aged 8-18 get to take a free flight. Pilots volunteer their time and unique airplanes to introduce young people to the world of flying. Gary and Sue took Brady to at least a couple of Young Eagles Days before he was 8. Then the year Brady turned 8, they were here and took him for his first flight. Brady, of course, loved it and we've gone back every year since. In fact, in the summer of 2009, they were working on the runways, so the event occurred in the fall. Since we were on sabbatical, we even made it to that one! Last summer, I took Brady and Lia, and it happened to be on her birthday. Connor came along to watch, wishing desperately that he was 8!
Connor has been looking forward to this for three years, and was so excited to finally be old enough to fly this year. So, this morning I took Brady, Connor, Lia, Lucie and Maggie. The wait was a little long, but SO worth it! Each of the four kids got to fly alone with a pilot (we prepared them to be on group flights with 2-3 other kids). It was a special morning. Brady even got to fly in the orange Coyote that he flew in 2 years ago, so the pilot let him take the controls for a bit. Connor flew in the Kitfox. As he headed down the runway with what looked like no doors, my heart skipped a beat. Luckily there were doors and the pilot closed them just before takeoff! Maggie and I got to wave to each of the four kids at takeoff and landing. Big smiles all around.
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