Five female instructor pilots from Vance Air Force Base volunteered for a day on November 5 in Dayton, Ohio to inspire the next generation of future female aviators.
Instructor pilots taught aviation at the 2022 All Women Air Camp event and shared some of their own personal experiences.
Team Vance’s IPs were Maj. Briana Worth, Capt. Veronica Morthorpe, Lieutenant Jordan Mork, and 3rd Flight Training Squadron. Captain Sarah Osborne and Lieutenant Jessalyn Cox, 33rd Flight Training Squadron.
The air camp is held every year, and this year 43 local high school girls participated.
Air Camp’s mission is to provide exciting, challenging and hands-on adventures in aviation and aeronautics. Air Camp aims to encourage students and teachers to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics while promoting the values of scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dick Reynolds, co-founder and secretary of Air Camp, said:
Participants were divided into groups and experienced four different modules in preparation for a 30-minute flight with a certified flight instructor.
In the first module, students learned flight instructions, instruments, and basic flight maneuvers.
In the second module, Vance instructors taught us about ground school. They learned the basics of flight physics, flight controls, stability, navigation skills, and planned flights.
The third module tasked students with the hands-on activity of changing aircraft standards for female pilots. Flight had to adjust her suit to fit the woman’s body, or use available resources to adjust the rudder or flight her pedals.
The final module was a STEM career exploration discussion panel with volunteers from Vance and Women in Defense. Students were able to ask questions about STEM career possibilities, aviation, aviation, and easily meet women with STEM career experience.
Unfortunately, high winds prevented the students from finishing the day with a 30 minute flight. They received a voucher and welcomed us back another day to enjoy our flight.
At the end of the day, the students were congratulated by their group leader and won a set of wings.
It was a good day for all involved.
“I can’t think of a better example of the incredible support that we get from the 71st Flight Training Wing,” said Reynolds.