Flying at 2,000 feet over the Okanagan Valley seventeen-year-old Kaden Katelnikoff had what might best be termed as a career epiphany.
91裸聊视频淚t was just awesome, got to fly the plane it was so responsive, you go one way and it just tips and it91裸聊视频檚 pretty cool to look down and know that you91裸聊视频檙e flying,91裸聊视频� said the Penticton teen after getting out of Paul Townson91裸聊视频檚 RV 8 home-built, single-engine airplane Sunday at the Penticton Regional Airport. 91裸聊视频淚t was my first time in a small plane and it really puts things into perspective. What I liked most about flying was just being up there being alone and flying.
91裸聊视频淵eah, I want to be a pilot.91裸聊视频�
Russell Skidmore, 11, of Okanagan Falls also got a free ride that morning as part of the annual Canadian Owners and Pilots Association COPA for Kids program.
91裸聊视频淚t was a little bumpy, but it was an awesome ride, I really liked it, I was in a small plane before but it was a long time ago and I don91裸聊视频檛 really remember it, but this was fun,91裸聊视频� he said after exiting veteran pilot Dave McElroy91裸聊视频檚 RV aircraft. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know if I want to be a pilot, maybe.91裸聊视频�
McElroy, the current president of the Kelowna and District Flying Club which is having it91裸聊视频檚 own COPA day in June, has plenty of air miles under his belt.
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In 2014 he flew a Piper Comanche around the world which raised over $150,000 for two charities and this year he and two other pilots did the Give Hope Wings sojourn to South America raising over a half-million dollars for charity.
91裸聊视频淲hat could be more fun than flying on a day like this, young people, introducing them to aviation, the joy of flight, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 get any better than this,91裸聊视频� said McElroy who previously received the prestigious Norton Griffiths Challenge Trophy from the Royal Aero Club in London for 91裸聊视频渙utstanding feats of courage, tenacity and imagination.91裸聊视频�
He added: 91裸聊视频淛ust seeing the smiles on the faces, they vary some are shy this one91裸聊视频檚 (new passenger Hayden Wild) is not so shy. I think she91裸聊视频檚 going to be great, I like the ones that talk and ask questions.91裸聊视频�
All the pilots and ground crew donate their time and cover costs just to give their young ride alongs the experience of flight with the hopes they too will one day find their passion in the skies.
At the end of the two hours Penticton Flying Club president Ron Johnson tallied up the numbers.
91裸聊视频淲e had a total of 108 kids who got to fly today. It was really a great day for everyone,91裸聊视频� he said.
