Expert Pilots share knowledge with junior high students

DESERT AIRE - Former U-2 spy plane pilot and Desert Aire Airport District commissioner Ken Broda recalls his days training new pilots for the U.S. Air Force as one the favorite periods of his life.

But it wasn't better than last Wednesday, Nov. 19, when he shared principles of flight and personal experiences of a pilot during a career day for 60 or so Wahluke Junior High School pre-engineering students.

"They were exceptionally well-behaved," Broda said. "They were respectful...and knowledgeable. I got a tremendous amount of satisfaction. I loved doing it, and I'll do it again."

Broda ended up in front of this class after teacher Myron Hamilton wrote to pilot and former Airport District Commissioner Cliff Naser about the possibility of a career day.

"It was right up my alley," Broda said.

After speaking to the students on subjects requested by Hamilton, Broda introduced six other pilots who shared their experiences. They were Dick Skogerson, Karl Gruber, Butch Milbrandt, Larry Handberg, Vince Himsl and Naser.

Gruber made his red and white Cherokee available. Naser did the same with the sport plane he built. Chuck Fuller's Grumman was there and so was Himsl's RV8 Experimental.

Career Day started at 10 a.m. at a junior high classroom with a review of Newton's three laws of motion, Bernolli's principle of air pressure, as it pertains to creating lift on a wing, and some basic flight line safety.

Then the other six pilots spoke about how they use aviation in their lives. The entire session lasted about 45 minutes.

"We did it as a Q and A," Broda said.

Later, the students were divided into small groups to tour individual hangars, where the pilots led the students through pre-flight inspections and cockpit tours.

Then it was a brown bag lunch and back to the school at 2 p.m.