KRDO13 gets up in a helicopter with kids learning about aeronautics

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - The Arapahoe Flight Club and Falcon AeroLab are teaming up this week to take kids up on a helicopter ride.

"For some, this is the coolest thing they've gotten to do in their lives, and for these kids, once they have a 'Why?' in their life, the 'How?' doesn't matter," said Falcon AeroLab founder Mark Hyatt.

"We're motivating the generation that's going to replace us as pilots," said Arapahoe Flight Club founder Diego Blandon.

Today's flight group was a private camp of high school students interested in aviation from across the country. The crew took KRDO13's Bradley Davis up in the helicopter on the final flight, but it's safe to say the experience was tailored for these kids.

"It's the earliest way of travel I remember from when I was four years old. I saw airplanes take off and land at the airport, and I was immediately hooked," camper Rydell Wilkins said.

"So, the highlight of your vacation is flying there and back, huh?" Davis asked Wilkins.

"Exactly. I've been excited since I got to the airport and then came here," Wilkins said.

The campers will also tour the Air Force Academy, experience a wind tunnel and build large plane replicas that they will launch and repair after impact.

Multiple kids said they are actively pursuing a post-high school career at the Air Force Academy.

"I think it would be fun to experience the brotherhood and things like that, and I think it would be good to serve the country for at least some part of my life since I've been here all of my life," camper Carson McElvain said.

Falcon AeroLab and the Arapahoe Flight School also provide local public school students helicopter rides at free or reduced rates, primarily through Colorado Springs School District 11.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.