Southwest Trip
Dec 01 at 9:46pm - www.bgcattala.org
Club staff and member go to Dallas, TX for celebration
Mr. Chris Kern, Social Recreations Director-OWBGC, and Joshua Dodd, a teen member here at our club, participated in the 4th Continuing the Legacy in Aviation Celebration presented by Southwest Airlines Co. in Dallas, TX. They were chosen to be representatives for The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. It was an excellent opportunity for them to be a part of such a momentous occasion. There kids participating in this event from Boston, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Denver, Phoenix, and all corners of the United States. They were flown to Dallas by Southwest as well as had their hotel accommodations and meals provided. Some of the things they were able to experience were the control tower and flight training center. At the training center, they were given the special privilege of flying in the very same flight simulators as all the Southwest pilots train. They were able to experience motion and real life weather conditions inside the simulators. They received the special privilege of touring the maintenance facility where all Southwest Airlines Planes are serviced and repaired. They also visited the Flight Dispatch center and the Flight Control room to which they could see every plane in flight. There was also a dinner and program located at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The Keynote Speaker for the event was Captain Matt Quy of the United States Air Force. He personally restored an original plane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen that is now on display in the Smithsonian. Special guest for all these events were some of the Tuskegee Airmen themselves.
"Meeting such important people in history and flying planes in the simulators were definitely the highlights of the whole experience; it was also my first time in a plan and I was scared at first", quoted Joshua. He and Mr. Kern were able to meet them, pose for pictures with them, get autographs, and listen to great stories of their struggles and participation in the war. Both staff and member said that this was an experience they both never forget!