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EAA AirVenture Oshkosh – July 31, 2006 – It’s fun to take an EAA Young Eagles flight, no matter who your pilot is. But it’s downright cool if your pilot also happens to fly the B-1B "Lancer" for the Air Force.
On Friday, 29-year old David Marten and two other pilots gave about 25 Young Eagles a ride at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Altogether, Marten had given 83 Young Eagles flights in his 1956 Beechcraft Bonanza before Friday.
“It was really cool,” said Alyssa Martin, 11, of Bridgeport, Michigan, about her flight. And it was “cool” that Marten is a B-1 pilot, added Andrea Riskey, 10, of Oshkosh.
Marten took his EAA Young Eagles flight in 1993, and now the B-1B instructor from Ellsworth AFB is giving back to the organization that really cemented his interest in aviation.
Marten said he vividly remembers his Young Eagles flight. “The pilot, an old Air Force instructor, let me take the controls. He basically taught me the maneuvers and explained everything so I was more comfortable. It was not just a ride.”
Already interested in aviation from his father taking him to air shows, Marten admits that Young Eagles flight hooked him. Today, Marten is hoping to hook others as part of the Young Eagles program.
“I tell them I’m a B-1 pilot and say, ‘If I can do it, so can you,’ ” he said. “They’re usually smiling ear-to-ear by the time we’re done.”
He generally gets a lot of questions, such as what it’s like to fly a B-1 and what kind of grades you need in school. “I tell them if they want something bad enough, they need to put their mind to it.”
He certainly put his mind to it. Marten started taking flying lessons at 16, joined the Civil Air Patrol, and went on to graduate from the Air Force Academy.
Martin, who has 1,600 total hours flying and 1,100 in the B-1, had first hoped to fly the bomber to Oshkosh for AirVenture. “When they asked who wanted to go to Oshkosh, all of us did,” he said. “But a lieutenant colonel out-ranked me. Hopefully I can do it next year.” He made the most out of that disappointment, however. David flew his Bonanza to Oshkosh as part of the Bonanza caravan that arrived at Wittman Regional Airport on Saturday, July 23.
More than 1,250,000 youth have received free airplane rides since the Young Eagles program began in 1992.
Marten teaches Delaney Ryan, McKenzie Ryan and Jordan Sylvester about the functions of different parts of his Beech Bonanza.
Delaney Ryan gives a quick “thumbs up” as her Young Eagles flight comes to an end.
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Young Eagle Alyssa Martin and her Young Eagles pilot David Marten give a “thumbs up” as they prepare to take off.
Steven Holmen, Deonna Schlinsog and Jimmy Kobler smile with excitement as they return from their flight with Marten.
Quinton and Andrea Riskey receive their certificates following their flight.
Deonna Schlinsog is all smiles as she poses with Marten and her new Young Eagles certificate.
For More Information
B-1B "Lancer"
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh
Ellsworth AFB
Air Force Academy
Bonanzas to Oshkosh
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