MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Young Aces : Flights of Passage

Fed up with the grim statistics of violence and hardship in the lives of American teenagers, commercial pilots and former military fliers Dennis James and Kevin Miller decided to fight the numbers, one youth at a time. They created the nonprofit, Fullerton-based Young Aces to give at-risk youths an opportunity to fly a high-performance aerobatic aircraft. The ride is a thrill, but also provides a chance for teens to prove their mettle.

Organizations such as churches, group homes, and juvenile diversion programs recommend youths for participation. Mentor pilots guide youths through a 2 1/2 hour military-style flight experience including a science-oriented mission briefing, safety demonstrations and finally, the 45-minute flight. The young co-pilots get to take the control stick and guide the plane through airborne loops and turns. Two cockpit-mounted cameras record the action for video playback on the ground.

James and Miller bought Young Aces’ single-engine, propeller-driven airplane at a discount from the fleet of AirCombat USA, a company that offers mock aerial dogfights to adventure-hungry adults for several hundred dollars per flight. AirCombat USA donates hangar space for the plane, dubbed the “Esteem Machine,” as well as use of the company’s briefing room, flight suits, helmets and parachutes. Since May, 15 youths have received hands-on flying experience with Young Aces’ mentor pilots.

The Aircraft

Marchetti N16FD: Italian-built fighter

Cockpit and Controls: side-by-side seating with stick grip dual controls similar to those in F4 Phantom jets

Specs: 270 mph; 260 horsepower; single-engine; propeller-driven; FAA certified to six Gs (six times normal gravitational force, about the same as an F-4.

HOW IT WORKS

Briefing

Youth suits up. Mentor pilot discusses aerodynamic concepts of lift, turn rate and air pressure; the physiological effects of flying fast; aerobatic maneuvers planned and how to use a parachute and flotation device.

Final Prep, Takeoff and Practice

Youth pilot puts on parachute, flotation device and helmet and accompanies mentor pilot on safety check of the plane. Mentor flies plane from Fulleron airport to an over-ocean area between Palos Verdes and Catalina. Youth pilots take the plane’s control stick to feel how responsive it is: an inch to the right or left and the plane turns on its side.

Flight Manuevers

Youths decide what maneuvers they would like to experience or execute and may abort the sortie at any time. As youths choose, mentor pilots demonstrate plane rolls and turns. Youth pilots then take the control stick and follow suit.

Debriefing

After landing, mentor pilots review how science and math principles were applied during the flight and discuss briefly the education they needed to be able to become pilots. Youths, mentor pilots and guests watch video together.

Why is Young Aces useful for young people?

“Young Aces is fun for kids in our juvenile diversion program. And they’re amenable to learning things in that kind of setting. With Young Aces, they learn what happens when you face a challenge, set a goal and accomplish it.

“An experience like this can contribute to a kid thinking that he can make independent judgements, that he doesn’t have to be subject to peer pressure or the judgement of his buddies and that all difficult things--including doing what your parents say, following the law, doing well in school--require effort.”--Harvey Bailey, Sergeant, Juvenile Section, Culver City Police Department

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Aileron roll: pull airplane nose 10 to 20 degrees above horizon, push stick left or right and execute 360 degree roll in horizontal

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Barrel roll: pull airplane nose up to about 60 degrees above horizon, push stick left or right and execute 360 degree roll in horizontal

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Loop: pull airplane nose up and execute 360 degree roll in vertical

TO GET INVOLVED: Call (800) 810-2237.