Around 12:30 p.m. last Thursday, September 26, Bristow Jones Memorial Airport held a special event for students and members of the public as the Commemorative Air Force, CAF, flew its WWII era Fairchild PT-19 to the facility for exhibition and educational purposes. Specifically, exhibition of the PT-19 was made possible by CAF’s Spirit of Tulsa Squadron; however, the event was the culmination of cooperative efforts of several Bristowans.
One of those individuals, Vicki Wilson, teaches science for Bristow Public Schools. About 5 years ago, she began teaching an aviation class for students at Bristow High School, BHS. After becoming acquainted with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, AOPA, Wilson began teaching their curriculum for the Aviation 2 class of their pilot training ground school program. The class was renamed “Physics of Flight” by BPS, allowing students to receive a science credit for taking the class. BPS later added classes to their budding aviation program.
Within the last 5 years and as part of BPS’ nascent aviation program, Wilson began teaching 2 additional classes that also follow AOPA’s curriculum. As with the Aviation 2 curriculum, the Aviation 1 course was renamed, becoming “Introduction to Flight”. The class is only offered to 8th grade students, and students taking the class receive a high school computer science credit. The other class, Aviation 3, has not been renamed and is only offered to BHS students. Wilson noted that students are not required to complete all 3 classes or take them in any particular order.
As part of Bristow’s aviation program and AOPA’s curriculum, Wilson’s students who complete both the Aviation 2 and 3 classes as part of the ground school curriculum are eligible to take the pilot’s ground test or the drone 107 test, which allows them to fly a drone commercially, according to Wilson. She said students may finish the program while enrolled at BHS, graduating with a ground school or general maintenance certificate.
She also noted that she has begun teaching a small portion of AOPA’s aviation maintenance classes for their 2-year A & P program; however, she must limit her teachings because she is not A & P certified. Also, Wilson stated that students who complete that program will “earn their certification to work on airplanes.”
How did the Spirit of Tulsa and CAF get involved? Through local connections, of course! A member of the Tulsa squadron and former teacher with BPS, Wes Pringle, reportedly introduced the idea of displaying the PT-19 at the Bristow airport for students and the public to Wilson, Bristow Jones Memorial Airport Manager Vicki Roth, and the squadron. Given that CAF is dedicated to educating, maintaining, and flying vintage warbirds for the public, the opportunity was simply too
See Aviation, Page four promising to pass.
Spirit of Tulsa Squadron Unit Leader Robert “Bob” Prater flew the Pt-19 to Bristow. He said, “These events are huge for the CAF and those of us who spend our time off from our real jobs doing this. There is a population we want to reach that will pick up the mantle from us to fly and maintain these vintage airplanes after we get to the time to hand off the baton.”
Additionally, Roth connected with local pilots and persuaded them to display their own planes and visit with students and the public while the PT-19 visited. Local pilots exhibiting their aircraft included Louis Malinchak, David Fisher, Vicki Roth, and others. Around 8 to 10 planes were displayed for attendees to view.
Moreover, the exhibit and learning experience provided the second such opportunity held at the airport, during the month of September, for students and the general public. The first, held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 1, was all about the science of space and rocketry. Two rocket scientists of Firefly Aerospace gave presentations and answered the questions of attendees.
One of the speakers at that event, Meagan Roth, is the senior director of Launch, Integration, and Test and the daughter of Bristow’s airport manager Roth. The other speaker, Brett Billingsley, serves as supervisor over Firefly’s Test and Launch Technicians Department. Several attendees noted that event was very informative and a “cool opportunity to have in Bristow.” They also said the event was so well attended that organizers continuously added chairs to seat them.
Airport events such as these offer local opportunities to learn and excite students young and old, introducing them to possibilities, igniting dreams, and setting the foundations of future careers. Be sure to seek and attend one as the events rarely leave attendees disappointed.