Sooner flight academy visits Okmulgee

A group of young pilots-to-be took flight Friday over Okmulgee. Children as young as six had their first experience in the air - but many said it wouldn't be their last. <br><br>News on Six reporter

Friday, June 7th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A group of young pilots-to-be took flight Friday over Okmulgee. Children as young as six had their first experience in the air - but many said it wouldn't be their last.

News on Six reporter Emory Bryan says these children hope one day they'll be able to do more than just watch in a cockpit. They're all learning about aviation, some hoping to become pilots. They're taking off on the final day of the Sooner Flight Academy - a summer camp with a view. Trevor: "I saw our church, I thought I saw my house, I saw Okmulgee lake, the hospital, Wal-Mart."

During ground school, the children learn the principles of flight - even if it's just that of a rocket powered by Alka Seltzer. Camp coordinator Erin Wright, "Well, basically we try to teach them about match and science through aviation.â€ The flight is to see how it all works together. Tifanny: "I was nervous at first, but then I got used to it. It was scary at first, when he turned, because you go down or up and you thought you were going to go crashing down."

Most of the children will only tag along for the ride, but a few will actually take the controls. Wesley: "It was fun, but kind of scary at first because I kind of afraid of heights but that made my fear go away." Beggs school teacher Carolyn Spring, "and when you see these kids eyes when they get off these airplanes, they're just google eyed, I want to do this!" They're too young to know for sure what they'll do, but many of these children have been here before getting comfortable with flying - with the dream of doing it for themselves one day.

The Sooner Flight Academy will fly into several other towns this summer, and there are some spots left. To find out more you can visit their web site at flightcamp.ou.edu