The Virginia State AFA, the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the Tuskegee Airmen’ Legacy Flight Academy (LFA) joined together to offer the LFA’s “Eyes Above the Horizon” (EATH) at the Cheterfield County/Richmond Executive Airport pm Saturday, September 25th 2021. The EATH is a unique one-day outreach and flight orientation program designed to inspire youth, especially those from underserved and underrepresented communities, to consider aviation nd STEM career opportunities.  Richmond Chapter 243 was fortunate to be the host chapter for the day, although all of Virginia State’s AFA Chapters participated in the planning and execution.  Forty-two local mddle school students from the Chesterfield School district participated. Students were selected to participate based upon an on-line registration application process designed by the LFA.

Sponsors Reception in Virginia Wing CAP’s HQ hangar with CAP Colonel Liz Sydow in the foreground.

Sponsors Reception in Virginia Wing CAP’s HQ hangar with CAP Colonel Liz Sydow in the foreground.
Participants and parents eager to get their day started

Participants and parents eager to get their day started
Registration

Registration begins in the DAS hangar
Assembly of Students

Assembly of Students
Fire Dept Safety Brief

Airport Fire Dept. provides safety briefings
Flight-line Ops

Flightline Ops
Happy Student

Happy Student
Airborne

Airborne!
9 Planes

9 Planes!
No plane was the same

No planes the same
Astronaut Alvin Drew

Guest Speaker Astronaut Alvin Drew
Alvin Drew speaking

Astronaut Drew speaking: "You are the generation that will go to Mars".
Group Photo

Students, Sponsors, and Pilots pose for a group photo
Dismissal

Dismissal with coins for each participant. Salute need a little more practice, but "A" for effort.
In Flight Pic

Virginia President with Pilot Keny “Deacon” Ruffin, one of the founders of LFA. Great partners!