Tilt shift blur effect. Planes and parachutist on airfield
Attending Flite Fest turned into an eye-opening experience for 14-year-old Chavarus Johnson, who came home more energized and talkative than usual, according to his mother, Shanice.
He told her that the drones first caught his attention, but the hands-on workshops left the biggest impression. One of his favorite parts of the day was getting the chance to simulate operating an airplane, something he talked about long after the event ended.
“He said he actually enjoyed himself and could see himself being a pilot,” his mother said.
The event offered her son the kind of exposure young people often don’t get when thinking about their future. She felt that being in a real aviation environment helped him understand possibilities he hadn’t considered before. “It exposed the children to a different environment, which gave them options,” she said. “Because when kids become 18, and they’re about to graduate, a lot of them don’t know what they want to do as far as a career goes. And this actually brought in their options as far as choosing what route to go with their career.”
One moment that stood out for the family was Chavarus’s interaction with pilot C. Ron Allen, who spent time speaking with the kids throughout the event. The brief connection made an impact, fueling Chavarus’ passion for aviation even further.
This was Chavarus’ first experience with Flite Fest, but the effect it had on him will last a lifetime. What started as a weekend outing ended up giving him a future in aviation he’s excited to explore.
This article was written by Natalee Kruzich under the supervision of Stacy Carchman.
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