Flying Vikings Pairs Up with Baylor Institute for Air Science to Give Kids a Memorable Adventure in the Sky
Children with chronic illnesses or physical disabilities have the rare opportunity to fly an airplane over Waco landmarks
Media Contact: Tonya B. Hudson, 254-710-4656
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by Gabrielle White, student newswriter
WACO, Texas (Oct. 18, 2018) – Baylor University’s Institute for Air Science is pairing up with the Flying Vikings, an organization that gives airplane rides to children with chronic illnesses or physical disabilities for a positive, fun and relaxed experience.
“This event is so powerful,” said Paul Hansen, founder of Flying Vikings. “A lot of the kids that come to this event are used to going to hospitals and clinics so to get them out and about, to make them smile and forget everything for a while and to let their family have a good time is the whole point.”
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Waco Regional Airport. (In the case of poor weather conditions, the event will be rescheduled on Saturday, Nov. 10.) Flying Vikings has partnered with Baylor University, Miracle League Baseball, No Limitations and the local community to ensure the event is a wonderful adventure for the children and their families.
“My assistant director, Tim Compton, heard the Flying Vikings director speaking at an event,” said Trey Cade, Ph.D., director of Baylor Institute for Air Science. “He thought it fit perfectly with our mission and Baylor’s mission and approached him about a potential partnership.”
The Baylor Institute for Air Science has organized resources within the community, such as providing pilots and airplanes from three local airports. The program’s flight instructors will fly planes, and aviation students will be meeting and talking with children who are participating.
Each child will have the opportunity to go up with a pilot in a single-engine airplane, and when they reach 2,000 feet, take over the controls. Their plane will fly over McLane Stadium, Lake Waco and other Waco landmarks.
“This is a family event, everyone is invited,” Hansen said. “Parents, grandparents, siblings will all be in the back seat of the plane, but the child will be the star of the show in the front.”
Flying Vikings encourages community participation and has been strongly supported by Waco, and food will be provided by local restaurants. A local Jeep club will provide complimentary Jeep rides while children are waiting for their turn in the airplane. The Waco Fire Department also has volunteered to help transport children who are not physically capable of walking to and from the Jeeps and airplanes.
At the end of each child’s flight, they receive a flight certificate that proves they flew an airplane.
“The kids participating won’t be able to ride a bike, play soccer or climb a tree, but to take a real airplane and fly it, that is something powerful,” Hansen said.
Flying Vikings plans to make this an annual event with the partnership of the Baylor Institute of Air Sciences and hopes the Waco community engagement continues to grow after the success of the first flight on Saturday.
“There’s more to aviation than just flying planes,” Cade said. “There are opportunities for service to the world and to share God’s love with their community, not only through aviation, but in their daily lives.”
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