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04-30-2012, 08:59 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,967
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Alex to OSH 2012
YE Day was definitely a success, but also the YE ground school meeting the night before. A BIG THANK YOU to Rudy Kniese of EAA Chapter 301!
Alex got a really long flight, some stick time in Gary's beautiful RV-6 and didn't suffer from nausea or vertigo at all. I think he and his mother both had a very good time. He seems to be getting a lot stronger now that the chemo treatments have stopped. He still can't eat much solid food, and he needs to put on a lot more weight, but if he continues the way he's going, he should be in good shape for Oshkosh. While we are hoping for the best, since the tumor can't be removed, his health could change pretty quickly with little warning. He has another checkup MRI in a month, so hopefully, the tumor won't show signs of any new growth.
We are still looking for RV pilots going to OSH that have extra seats to take both Alex and his father there and back. Even if they are separate flights, I think this would be okay. Worst case, we can look into a commercial flight, although I'm still not sure how to take donations for something like that. This would also introduce additional logistics to get them from/to the airport in Milwaulkee. The word is still out on EAA hosting him and his dad while they are at OSH (i.e. tickets and such). So far, a local Christian School nearby has offered them lodging and transport to and from Airventure, so that is great! I'd really like to firm up the travel plans though, so all the rest can be firmed up too. They are completely flexible as far as the days they attend.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support.
Last edited by ppilotmike : 04-30-2012 at 09:01 AM.
Reason: added text
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04-30-2012, 02:45 PM
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VAF Moderator
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pine Junction, CO
Posts: 655
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A pilots perspective
It was a cold windy morning in Denver last Saturday, 43F and wind 270@22G30, a perfect morning for Young Eagle flights. Yeah right. I was standing out by my plane talking to some of the ground crew when our YE Coordinator came running out of the terminal and I new it was me he wanted to talk to.
"Gary, have you met Alex yet?. Well your about to as its your turn to fly" I went to the terminal with Rudy and met Alex and his mother. We walked out to the plane with Alex shivering the whole way. He strength was not great so I had him crawl up the wing (no step 6A) and help him into the seat. I quickly jumped in my side and closed the canopy to get us out of the wind. With the sun through the canopy Alex quit shivering. Engine start and marshaled out of the parking spot and we're off on our adventure.
While taxiing I queried Alex about his current health and we talked about the upcoming flight. During run-up ground asked another pilot if it was bumpy today and the reply was, Yes, very bumpy. Oh great.
After a short hold for landing traffic we were cleared to takeoff on 26 with a right turn to downwind. Takeoff was short with the 22G30 knot wind and the climb to crosswind was smooth. We had 5 miles before we got out of the Class D and into the Class B. This went fast as the winds at 6500' pushed us along at 190kts across the ground.
Once into the 7000 foot ceiling of Bravo I turned NE and demonstrated to Alex how easy it was to fly an RV. After a couple of minutes I said the airplane was his and had him practice some turns, first left then right. The bumps turned into lumps which was good. Alex was a natural. I don't say that about many kids but Alex maneuvered without the standard altitude deviation of most YE's. At this point I told Alex that if he was my only YE today, so be it. We turned north till we hit the Platte river and followed it NE for a while and practiced more turns doing slow s-turns till we got sick of s-turns. We eventually headed back to the airport and after 1:05 from takeoff to landing we were back. I think Alex enjoyed his ride.
Alex is a bright aviation oriented 16 year old with more courage than I. He's facing an unknown with his tumor but is upbeat and generally a happy young man with dreams of going to Oshkosh. I hope we can get him there.
Extraordinary Young Eagles are few. Alex is one that I will always remember.
__________________
Gary "Seismo" Zilik
Pine Junction, Colorado
RV-6A N99PZ S/N 22993 SOLD
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04-30-2012, 06:22 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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Thanks Gary and Mike
Gary - I spoke with Alex after you gave him the ride and he was thrilled. What a great thing for him to remember. He will get to Oshkosh one way or another!
Thanks for showing me your very nice plane.
__________________
rockwoodrv9a
Williamston MI
O-320 D2A
Awaiting DAR Inspection
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04-30-2012, 07:14 PM
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Denver
Posts: 564
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Gary, you must have shown Alex a good time, because he is ready to go again. We have him scehduled for a flight Saturday AM in my -10 at KAPA. His mom said he was thrilled with his flight with you, and she was very appreciative.
Jim Berry
RV-10
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04-30-2012, 07:33 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Littleton, CO
Posts: 367
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Glad to hear that Alex made Young Eagles and Gary got to take him up.  Sounds like he really loved it and already has another ride in the works.  Unfortunately I missed YE's this past weekend, got called away to Oklahoma on Friday... Well gotta pay the bills so I can keep flying.
Really good to see the effort being put into this by the everyone here on VAF. Now if we can get EAA to do the same!!
Regards,
__________________
Scott Mills, Front Range, CO
N339A - 1900 Hours!! since 9/11/05
Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottandDeb...tures/timeline
Airport Landings
"In order to discover new lands one must have the courage to lose sight of the shore." Andre Gide
"Never feel sorry for a man who owns a plane" Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) in The Edge
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05-01-2012, 10:15 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Cartersville, Georgia KVPC
Posts: 945
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Seismo,
As our Aussie friends would say, "Good on ya, Mate!"
__________________
Moose
VAF #136
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05-01-2012, 11:08 AM
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VAF Moderator
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pine Junction, CO
Posts: 655
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N15JB
Gary, you must have shown Alex a good time, because he is ready to go again. We have him scehduled for a flight Saturday AM in my -10 at KAPA. His mom said he was thrilled with his flight with you, and she was very appreciative.
Jim Berry
RV-10
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Jim,
Alex had no problems with vertigo or nausea during his YE flight. He loves flying and I know he'll enjoy your 10. He's a great kid. You'll like him.
__________________
Gary "Seismo" Zilik
Pine Junction, Colorado
RV-6A N99PZ S/N 22993 SOLD
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05-01-2012, 11:09 AM
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VAF Moderator
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pine Junction, CO
Posts: 655
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael White
Seismo,
As our Aussie friends would say, "Good on ya, Mate!"
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Thanks Moose, but the kudos really needs to go to Alex.
__________________
Gary "Seismo" Zilik
Pine Junction, Colorado
RV-6A N99PZ S/N 22993 SOLD
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05-01-2012, 05:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Posts: 269
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Careful what you wish for......... :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by N15JB
Gary, you must have shown Alex a good time, because he is ready to go again. We have him scehduled for a flight Saturday AM in my -10 at KAPA. His mom said he was thrilled with his flight with you, and she was very appreciative.
Jim Berry
RV-10
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Jim, that is awesome. I knew that you were in the works for getting him airborne as well. I think we even have some warmer weather in store for this Saturday (Sorry Gary!)
__________________
Bryan Raley
http://bryansrv8project.blogspot.com/
Building RV8
EAA Chapter 301
CFII/MEI, ATP
SportAir Workshop Graduate x 4: Sheet Metal, RV Building, Electrical, and Composite classes.
Tail Wheel Endorsement Completed
Empennage done, Wings in progress, N462AK reserved.
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05-14-2012, 08:36 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,967
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Alex to OSH (Update)
Last weekend, Jim Berry offered up his RV-10 (and his time) to take Alex and his mother flying here in Denver. It was a "Goldy Locks" day, as Jim puts it. Not too cold, not too hot, juuuuuust right. Alex is definitely getting stronger, although he still has to pack on quite a few pounds to be ready for the food choices at Airventure.  Below is a link to pictures from the day. Hopefully, moderators will know how to add the actual pictures. PLEASE...
https://picasaweb.google.com/1094144...020/May142012#
As an update, I'm still seeking pilots who would have an empty seat in their RV (or other type plane) to get Alex and his dad to Oshkosh this year. If that doesn't work, we'll have to go commercial. Lodging is almost confirmed, so the only things remaining are transportation, EAA tickets and potentially ground transportation.
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