Air Camp makes stop at 445th Airlift Wing

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  More than 40 middle school students attending Air Camp had the opportunity to learn the role of a C-5 Galaxy aircraft and speak to reservists from the 89th Airlift Squadron and 445th Airlift Wing during a tour of the wing and base July 20.

"This is the first year for Air Camp so we are just beginning our relationship with the base. For our students, many have never been on an Air Force base let alone inside an aircraft such as the C-5," said JoAnn Erno, Air Camp executive director.

Air Camp is a new week-long summer camp for middle school students to learn about aviation and the science, technology, engineering and mathematics of aeronautics. The program is the vision of Dayton-area leaders who want to help young people nationwide achieve their potential, develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, and pursue further education and future careers in STEM-related fields and aviation.

For several years, the Executive Committee of Air Camp has been planning and raising funds from foundations and other donors to support the development of Air Camp. Ms. Erno said they appreciate the support from the 445th Airlift Wing and other base organizations that participated in Air Camp and hope to be able to continue their efforts in the future. She also added that the C-5 tour made an impression on the group.

"The support from the 445th Airlift Wing was instrumental in showing our students that aircraft design is optimized for the mission needs. They were able to learn that with cargo aircraft, those needs sometimes require a large and versatile aircraft capable of long hauls such as the C-5," Ms. Erno said.

The one-week long pilot program ran July 18 to 23. Air Camp plans to expand the schedule to hold more camps all summer long, beginning in 2011.