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Teens Fly Planes For the First Time Through USU Summer Camp

A group of junior high and high school students participated in a flight camp this week through Utah State University's Aviation Technology Program at the Logan-Cache Airport. The participants had the chance to fly a plane even before some will be allowed to drive a car.

Brenton Boman is an incoming freshman at Logan High School. Not only was this Boman’s first time flying a plane, it's actually the first time he's been in a plane.

“I thought this is pretty crazy and I’ve always been scared of flying, so it was good to actually get going up there,” he said. “It was pretty intimidating because every time you turn, your plane turns - like - you turn with. And I’m not tall enough to look over the dashboard, so I was improvising and listening to the flight instructor.”

He is one of about twenty students from all over the state who participated in a week-long flight training program through USU called Aggie Aviation Adventure. They had the opportunity to fly in airplanes and helicopters with the help from USU flight instructors.

Weston Martin is another participants and goes to Roy Junior High. He said he has wanted to join the military and be a fighter pilot since he was 5 years old. He said his very first experience flying a plane was a lot like driving a car, even though he’s not old enough to get a permit in the state of Utah.

“I hope this doesn't crash and I hope I don't die,” he said. “And I hope that I don’t black out or throw up.”

Both Boman and Martin said flying the helicopter was much harder than flying the plane.

“Flying the helicopter was pretty cool,” Boman said. “It only has one propeller at the top so your helicopter tips as you turn.”

Martin said he ran into some issues when he tried to hover the helicopter.

“I was pushing the pedals and we start going to the right and we almost hit the building,” he said. “It was pretty sketchy, but it wasn’t that bad.”

During the camp, the students were also taught about aerial maintenance, navigation and how to be professional. They also were able to fly in a CRJ 700 simulator, which let’s you feel like you’re piloting a jet.

Boman said he learned a lot at the camp.

“Like how to build a plane and flying planes,” he said. “It's making me think that being a pilot [is] a possible career.”  

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