Little brothers and little sisters took flight over Guelph Saturday morning.
The kids, participants in Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Guelph mentoring programs, strapped on their seatbelts, adjusted their headsets, and took off from the Guelph Airpark in small aircraft piloted by members of COPA (Canadian Owners Pilot Association) Flight 1.
For some it was their first airborne experience, while others were up last year at the same event. This was the third year.
About seven airplanes were enlisted in service to take the children for 20 minute rides over Guelph – heading north over Guelph Lake, then swinging around to the west over the Hanlon Expressway before touching back down.
“I actually got to steer and turn the wings,” said Machut Apach, 10, a two-time (pretend) co-pilot. “I wasn’t scared at all, but I did it last year, too. Taking off can be a little scary.”
The pilots’ flight records, and the aircrafts’ maintenance records are all carefully examined before the event, ensuring that both man and machine are in excellent working order.
Apach and 17 other kids got COPA flight certificates for bravely going hundreds of feet above the city.
The event gives children a sense of the freedom, fun and excitement of aviation, said COPA Flight 1 member Mike Ghent. But the time in the sky also has the potential to plant a seed that will later turn to a professional or recreational interest.
“I think it’s a thrill for the kids,” Ghent said. “I’ve been flying for over 40 years, and the thrill hasn’t gone away for me. For kids, aviation has so many wonderful opportunities, and this gives them that little taste of what it's about.”
Olivia Van Ryn, 9, said going through the clouds Saturday morning was the very best part of her flight.
“It just looked so cool and beautiful,” she said. “But I didn’t want to fly the plane. That was too scary.”
Lisa Steduto, a case worker with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, said that without the COPA Flight 1 event most of the children wouldn’t get the chance to experience being in a plane.
“It gives them an opportunity to maybe think of the future, and maybe this is something they would like to do as an adult,” Steduto said, adding that a few of the children were hoping the planes were a bit bigger than the small ones they went up in.
Most of the planes were two-seaters. There were a lot of smiles on the young faces in both the lead-up to taking off and after touching down.
A barbecue lunch was held on-site after the flights. Big brothers and big sisters also had a chance to take a plane ride, as did members of the media.
