Roy Richardson (left lower photo signing “Young Eagles” certificates), one of the original   Tuskegee Airmen, hosted a group of 35 parents and kids at Burke Lakefront Airport on Saturday, October 13, 2007. 

The Airmen continue to encourage and support young flying enthusiasts. 18  kids from NorthEastOhio  were thrilled to go up in groups of 3 for a 20 minute sortie with their pilot.  

Hiram Professor Roger Cram (pushing hands in center lower photo) gave a briefing on flight physics which had me spellbound along with the kids.   The kids will remember Bernoulli’s Principle and the Pitot Tube and “turtle on the runway” - an inside joke of the Professor’s.

Million Air FBO generously provided their hanger facility for the first half of the morning, where kids and parents got an up close look at News helicopters and corporate jets.  The flights were finished just after noon at the public terminal.

Also on deck helping the Airmen were Tom Cargill, President; George P. Barrett, V.P.; and Robert Richardson.  91 year old Tommy Austen, another local original Tuskegee Airman, could not make the event - he was tied up with other commitments.   Chris Jordan (from the Heights Youth Club and accompanied by his mom Beverly Jordan)  got his first flight experience as a small weather front rolled through - back on the ground he told me the Cessna 182 jumped around quite a bit.      

The Tuskegee Airmen’s efforts to engage young persons in all aspects of aviation - from piloting to mechanics - is the best use of Burke I have seen.

Only one other plane took off from Burke in the 3 hours I was on the tarmac.