HAWK, Author at HAWK Aviators

August 17, 2020March 16, 2022

Krista is a pilot!

Shockingly enough, I’ve been a “good influence” on young people once or twice.

Krista is one of the few female members of the High Country Aviation Workshop for Kids (HAWK) in Mack Mesa, Colorado. I interviewed her in 2017 for an article I wrote for EAA Sport Aviation magazine about the amazing work that this non-profit organization does getting kids involved in aviation.

I visited her home airport a couple years ago and she came along in the backseat when I took the A-Star up for a whirl. She shadowed me at Oshkosh in 2018 and 2019, getting a behind the scenes peek of EAA AirVenture media. You can imagine my shock when people kept asking if she was my daughter! (I guess there IS a resemblance.)

I’m not her mama, but I am SO PROUD of her shiny new private pilot certificate! Her voice, in the final paragraph of the story I wrote:

“The sky is such a different place; it’s like a different world,” she said. “You get freedom that you don’t get anywhere else.” Krista thinks she would like to become airline pilot. “I can’t imagine myself flying those huge airplanes, but I think I could do it,” she said. “I have no doubt that I’ll be able to become a pilot because of HAWK. This is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Beth Stanton,

As posted by Beth on Facebook 18 August 2020
Reposted on HAWKaviators.org with permission.

Krista and Beth at AirVenture 2019 Courtesy & © Beth Stanton — Krista and Beth at
AirVenture 2019
Courtesy & © Beth Stanton

Krista and Beth Inspecting the Seaplanes at AirVenture 2019 Courtesy & © Beth Stanton — Krista and Beth
Inspecting the Seaplanes at
AirVenture 2019
Courtesy & © Beth Stanton

Krista and Beth Testing the feel of a gryocopter AirVenture 2019 Courtesy & © Beth Stanton — Krista and Beth
Testing the feel of a gryocopter
AirVenture 2019
Courtesy & © Beth Stanton

Krista with her certificate and examiner Courtesy & © Bryan Miller — Krista with her certificate and Bradley Sullivan, DPE
Courtesy & © Bryan Miller

Clements, Eddie, Mack-Mesa Flat Tire Event, 2018, https://hawkaviators.org/fat-tire-weekend-report/

August 17, 2020March 16, 2022

Krista’s HAWK Adventure

Bruce and Krista with her Certificate Courtesy & © Bruce Erickson, Chris McCallum, Photographer — Bruce and Krista with her Certificate
Courtesy & © Bruce Erickson, Chris McCallum, Photographer

Krista with her Certificate Courtesy & © Bruce Erickson, Photographer — Krista with her Certificate
Courtesy & © Bruce Erickson, Photographer

Another HAWK Natural pilot Courtesy & © John Caldwell, Photographer — Another HAWK Natural pilot
Courtesy & © John Caldwell, Photographer

Junior Member and Student Pilot Christa soloed on June 12 and completed her long cross-country on June 23….. we knew she was a natural!…..
From Newsletter, Summer 2020 [John Caldwell]

Krista flying home from AirVenture 2019, Courtesy & © Shay Boe

Along with young eagles, Sterling H. has given many hours of flight instruction with Krista J., William M., William S., Logan B., Braden H. and many others. From HAWK Aviators July – Jan. 2019 [Braden Hobbs]

Krista, Britton, Bruce, Samuel at the balloon display. AirVenture 2019 Courtesy & © Shay Boe — Krista, Britton, Bruce, Samuel at the balloon display.
AirVenture 2019
Courtesy & © Shay Boe

N13245. the 172 Russel Franke gave HAWK is progressing nicely. Solomon, Krista and Jaden have the hail damaged wing skins drilled off. And Krista and Braden are riveting the new flap skin on and are about finished. Krista has all the new skins fit for the elevators and trim tab and is working on reassembly. Again Hightower Supply came through and supplied the Sherman Williams epoxy primer for the project. The 172 will be totally primed inside all the areas where the skins are removed and replaced. Krista and Braden are doing an awesome job of riveting the skins back on the flap. From April, May, June [2018] Newsletter [Eddie Clements]

Christa and her competed tool box. &@169; Eddie Clements, Photographer — Christa and her competed tool box.
&@169; Eddie Clements, Photographer

The Tool Box Program
This program really shows the kids how to do aircraft type sheet metal work. And is very active. There are about 20 boxes in various stages of construction plus more than 10 finished. Tristan, Ryan, his brother , and Collin are doing a very good job on their boxes and should progress to aircraft work shortly. Collin is working on the 172 mentored by Christa[Krista]. From January- February and March 2018 Newsletter Newsletter [Eddie Clements]

Kids rigging the HAWK Balloon for flight. Braden inflated it this time. He is working on a balloon rating with several other kids including Krista who is looking at the camera. Caden, Jake and William received instruction after each landing and kid change. Courtesy Eddie Clements, Photographer — Kids rigging the HAWK Balloon for flight. Braden inflated it this time.
He is working on a balloon rating with several other kids including Krista who is looking at the camera. Caden, Jake and William received instruction after each landing and kid change.
Courtesy Eddie Clements, Photographer

August 8, 2020March 16, 2022

William Completes Solo

"William soloed this morning and things will certainly be picking up for him in the coming weeks.. January will be his check ride!"–Bryan Miller, HAWK President and CFIIWilliam Completes Solo

Background (from our recent newsletter):
"The Ray Aviation Scholarship Fund is a program funded by the Ray Foundation, managed by the Experimental Aircraft Association (national) and administered through the EAA Chapter network. This program provides up to $10,000 to deserving youths for their flight training expenses. HAWK flight instructor Bruce Erickson took the initiative to get the local EAA Chapter 800 approved for this program, HAWK Member Randy Owen was selected to administer the funds and supervise the student, and HAWK Junior Member William was approved as its first Scholar. Initial funding has been received, and William’s lessons have begun. If EAA and the Ray Foundation continue this program in years after 2020, HAWK has a ready pipeline of aspiring future participants."–John Caldwell, HAWK Finance Director.

Become a Pilot, Student Pilot’s Certificate Requirements, FAA, https://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/student_cert/

The Ray Aviation Scholarship Fund is a program funded by the Ray Foundation, managed by the Experimental Aircraft Association (national) and administered through the EAA Chapter network. This program provides up to $10,000 to deserving youths for their flight training expenses.
https://www.eaa.org/eaa/eaa-chapters/eaa-chapter-resources/chapter-programs-and-activities/ray-aviation-scholarship-fund/about-the-ray-foundation

William Completes Solo
William Completes Solo

July 25, 2020March 16, 2022

EAA Spirit of Aviation Week™

EAA Spirit of Aviation Week™

“While we can’t gather in Oshkosh, we can still share The Spirit of Aviation. EAA Spirit of Aviation Week on July 21-25 will celebrate the entire aviation community by showcasing the spectrum of flight in a virtual way. Share your favorite aviation experiences on social using #EAAtogether!”

https://EAAtogether.org/

Spirit of Aviation Week Events: https://www.EAAtogether.org/calendar
Note: We understand these presentations will be available “on-demand” after the live presentations.

June 27, 2020March 16, 2022

Our First Day Back

We had a successful first day back.
The Cherokee received a long needed scrub down.
The bugs are gone!

See you next week:
Our new hours are 9 am to 1 pm, lunch optional after 1 pm.

A newsletter is in the works.
Oshkosh may be cancelled for this year, but we have a lot of good news coming for HAWK kids and mentors.