The 3rd Annual O.P. National Aviation Day Celebration

This past August Scouts from all over the area joined together with the Erie International Airport for National Aviation Day. Those in attendance included scouts from as far away as Buffalo, Franklin, and Mercer.

Scouts learned about the physics of flight and then tested that knowledge with a foam glider competition; the winner of which traveled nearly 30 feet. Scouts also were privileged to get up close with a WWII Bi-plane and experience first hand the pre-flight inspections pilots go through.

Lastly, we had a surprise visit from the New Hampshire Army National Guard's Medical Unit who stopped into the airport for fuel. These soldiers were generous enough to take time from their flight home to let the scouts come check out their Blackhawk HH-60M Medevac Helicopters. When all was said and done 97 Scouts earned the Aviation Merit Badge with another 13 attending for a second year. In total over the past 3 years 257 Scouts have earned their Aviation merit badge through this program.

Photo's from the 2013 event can be found in the Oliver Perry Photo Gallery.

Those who were unable to attend this year can mark their calendars for August 19th, 2014...next year's Aviation Day Celebration!