Aviation’s Air Apparents Flock to Career Day

The old introduced itself to the new Saturday as a noisy blast of 61-year-old prop wash nudged hundreds of youngsters toward possible future jobs in aviation.

A restored World War II B-17 bomber nicknamed “Aluminum Overcast” rumbled to life in a cloud of blue exhaust smoke and lumbered down the runway as a first-of-its-kind career day got off the ground at Van Nuys Airport.

Dozens of companies based at the airport displayed their wares and explained their services inside a sprawling, half-century-old hangar. Sixteen aircraft ranging from antique two-seaters to slick corporate jets and a sophisticated law enforcement helicopter were available for inspection. Fifteen small planes took youngsters on quick flights above the San Fernando Valley.

Vince Russo, 17, of Simi Valley sought out the autograph of former bomber pilot Roy Test, 84. He was wearing his 1945 wartime Army Air Forces uniform jacket and officer’s hat as he manned a table displaying photos and memorabilia from a B-17 he piloted. His four-engine warplane was called “Bad Penny.”

“It’s exciting to be able to talk to someone like him,” explained Vince, who is considering a career as an aircraft mechanic or airport police officer. “I’m actually meeting people we’ve studied about in school.”

Test, a retired typographer from Baldwin Park, was equally impressed. “I’m meeting quite a few kids who are gung-ho about aviation. I think a lot of these young people are going to follow through with it too.”

Genesis Rivas promised she is going to be one of those. The 17-year-old high school senior from North Hollywood has begun taking flying lessons with an eye toward becoming a commercial airline pilot.

“I’m amazed there are so many people out here willing to help kids out,” she said of the veteran fliers mingling with youngsters. “It’s important for young people to see more experienced people because they’ve been through a lot,” she said.

Genesis’ involvement with an Aviation Explorers group at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima earned her a seat on the B-17 flight that launched Saturday’s career day. Also on board was Ralph Truglio, a retired San Fernando High School math teacher who has helped teach thousands of youngsters to fly over the last 51 years.

The short hop over the Santa Monica Mountains to the ocean and back flew low to avoid storm clouds, said pilot Dan Bowlin of Memphis, Tenn. The restored bomber is owned by the Experimental Aircraft Assn.

“We did everything I tell my students not to do,” joked Truglio. “We were flying low, awfully close to the clouds and low to the ground, and I suspect we probably woke some people up who were taking a long nap down there. But it was great.”

Truglio calculates he has donated about 7,000 hours of flight time in a Cessna 172 teaching youngsters how to fly.

“I just think it’s something that needs to be done. At last count, 18 of our kids are commercial airline pilots. Two of my guys are retired, so you can see how old they are now -- 60. If it weren’t for these kids, I would probably quit flying. I’m going to be 84 in a couple of months.”

But the generation gap fades when old-timers take youngsters under their wing, he said.

“These kids are sophisticated enough to understand aerodynamics. Not only that, but because they are young, they’re able to absorb the information and retain it and make use of it. The kids grab it and they keep it.”

Farther out on the tarmac, Michael Arredondo, 15, of Palmdale grabbed the doorway of another Cessna 172 and hoisted himself out after taking a free ride over the Valley with his brother, Tristan, 8, and another boy.

“This is the first time I’ve ever flown in an airplane. It was more fun than scary,” said the ninth-grader. “I liked it. I’m in ROTC, and I’m going to try to work my way up and get in the Air Force.”

Pilot Kathryn Presson grinned at that news. She’s a 51-year-old Reseda legal secretary who earned her pilot’s license and bought the 30-year-old four-seater last year. She decided to learn to fly after watching planes take off from Van Nuys Airport.

“I want these kids to have an opportunity to experience what I wish I’d had as a kid,” she said.

Aviation career day planner Barbara Cesar, co-owner of Syncro Aircraft Interiors, a custom design firm based at the airport, said the event -- which attracted an estimated 2,500 people -- was organized in honor of her late husband. Ed Cesar regularly taught youngsters and Boy Scouts how to fly before his death four years ago.

Valley-area City Councilman Tony Cardenas co-sponsored the event. He and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa presented city proclamations to Truglio and legendary test pilot Bob Hoover commemorating their lifetimes of contribution to aviation.

“There are good-paying jobs and good opportunities right here at Van Nuys Airport,” Cardenas told the crowd.

That brought smiles to parents. And their children seemed ready to let their imaginations soar too.