Les Morris-BPA Summer Flight Academy Ends In Grandeur
Friday, July 23
After a grueling, exhaustive,
and enjoyable two weeks of class work and actual flying instruction, the
students of the LM-BPA SFA were rewarded
their certificates. During a ceremony in the Texas
Southern University's Greystone Apartments' lounge, the students were
ecstatic as the Director, Les Morris, made
the awards.
The families of this year's group of students are to be commended for the deportment which they showed during their stay in Houston.
I don't have the official report for the academy; but, through word of mouth, I heard that of the sixteen attendees: four of the five recommended to take the FAA Private Pilot Examination passed; two of the sixteen soloed (piloted airplanes by themselves). I was further informed that all showed tremendous promise. We, the BPA and BEFC, encourage each of the sixteen to continue to pursue their aspirations to become pilots. Most of all, however, we encourage them to always be good citizens, respect all human-kind, trust in God, and love this wonderful country of ours.
Monday, July 19
On the way to the South Shore Harbour Marina - the location of this year's Black Pilots of America Annual Membership Meeting- I decided to stop by Ellington Airport to see how the students were progressing; this would allow me to take a couple of pictures as well. Just as I exhibited the FBO (Fixed-Based Operator) two of the LM-BPA SFA airplanes, with students at the 'yoke' were taxing in. Trying not to distract the students and instructors, I edged in to take a couple of pictures. While at the airport, I managed to take a picture of the students inside the classroom and their instructor.
Sunday,
July 18
After an exhausting week of classroom and hands-on flight instruction, the LM-BPA SFA attendees were treated to some heads up entertainment for their relaxation. Upon their return from Galveston's Moody Gardens, they assembled at the South Shore Harbour Marina for steaks, hot dogs, baked potatoes, salad, and sodas - these were provided by the Bronze Eagles of Texas Flying Club on an all-you-can-eat basis. Needless to say, the young students enjoyed themselves tremendously -I didn't see any of the adults complaining either.
After the meal, they were treated to visits to Doug Smoots and Anthony Hall's yachts. This, they really enjoyed.
Click Here For More LM-BPA Summer Flight Academy Pictures
Sunday, July 11
Amid
the scattered but towering cumulonimbus cloud, which produced very heavy summer
thundershowers, the Summer Fight Academy
started with a bang. Anthony Hall's hanger
was the scene for some good-hearted bonding between this year's youthful
collection of outstanding students from across this great and beautiful country
of ours, the United States of America.
They were served all the hot dogs and hamburgers that they
could eat and all the sodas and water that they could drink. It seemed as if
they were oblivious to incessant showers. Robert "Bob"
Griffith showed them the avionics in
Anthony's Beech Baron, as well as the other various components of an
aircraft. By all account, the students were quite enthused. One could sense that
the BPA President, Fred Lewis, and the
Founder and Namesake of the Summer Flight
Academy, Les Morris were in their heyday as
they gleefully relished the number of this year's participants -16- and their
overall enthusiasm and pending desire.
Buoyed by the volunteer staff of Rhonda Lyons, Joyce Griffith, Robert Griffith, Roscoe Edwards, Anthony Hall, Marvin Smith III, Danny Perkins, Myra Walker, Corey Shepard, Hubert Looney, and WeJay Bundara, this should be an outstanding experience for the students. Their parents, schools, communities, and sponsoring organizations and families are to be commended for allowing them to have this marvelous and well-sought-after opportunity.
The Bronze Eagles Flying Club's (BEFC) contingent of students include: Alexandria Barnes of Houston, TX; Deann Amobree of Austin, TX; Carl Moore of Houston, TX; Estefase Aklilv of Houston, TX. Each of these students received a BEFC Scholarship of $1,700.00. Of the other two students representing the BEFC, Joshua Guidry is sponsored by his family, $1,700.00; and Joshua Jennings received a Betty R. Gray-Alexander - Ramona S. Barnes-Jackson Memorial Scholarship, $1,700.00 from the Alexander-Menephee family.
