School District of Washington elementary STEM teachers Julie Hume and Diane Burke partnered with the Civil Air Patrol for the opportunity to participate in CAP's Out of the Classroom, Into the Sky program.
Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) Flights provide the opportunity for CAP Aerospace Education Members (AEMs) or other CAP members who are educators to experience orientation flights in CAP aircraft at their local airports.
Any educator member of CAP can receive these orientation flights as a part of their membership benefits. Educators can receive one TOP Flight per fiscal year in a powered or glider aircraft.
As STEM teachers in the SDOW, Hume and Burke experienced their flight on Monday, September 11.
Hume and Burke met with Lieutenant Colonel Keith Monteith, Commander, Gateway Senior Squadron Civial Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, who was their pilot and trainer. They met at at Elite Aviation in Chesterfield. They actually helped pull the plane out of the hanger prior to takeoff. They flew for 30 minutes with one of them in the front seat, and one in the back, landed at Washington, and traded seats for another 30 minutes.
When sitting in the front seat, Hume and Burke had the opportunity to fly the plane. They also flew over the elementary schools where they teach. Hume teachers at South Point Elementary and Augusta Elementary. Burke teaches at Campbellton Elementary, Clearview Elementary and Labadie Elementary. Staff and students at those schools were on the ground watching the plane fly overhead. Photos below are from Augusta Elementary.
Here’s what Burke said about the experience:
“Our Pilot Keith showed us all the controls in the airplane and how they worked. Then we got to take off. Julie was the first co-pilot. We flew over Augusta and South Point. The kids were outside to wave at us. Keith even did some wing tips for the kids to show them we saw them. We landed at Washington airport and switched seats. Next, I was the co-pilot. We flew over Campbellton, Clearview and Labadie. It was so cool to see the kids outside. Labadie even spelled HI for us. Then we flew back to chesterfield. At chesterfield, we got to see how they fueled the plane. Keith told us about his experience in aviation, how to become a pilot, about several planes, and some programs that are offered. Julie and I were both so excited to fly the plane. We shared what we were going to do along with the tracker for the plane. (Tuesday) was is my first day back, and shared my experience with the students and told them about some of the career possibilities in aviation. It was amazing to see the kids outside in supporting us as we flew over.”
Here’s what Hume said about the experience:
“It was one of the most amazing things I've ever gotten to do in my life.”
Julie Hume, left, and Diane Burke, middle, met with Lieutenant Colonel Keith Monteith, Commander, Gateway Senior Squadron Civial Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, who was their pilot and trainer.
