Submitted Report
If you looked to the skies on a recent Sunday afternoon, you might have seen Boy Scouts from Buda’s Troop 218 earning their Aviation merit badge. One of the scouts, Asa Turner, recently participated in the aviation class offered at UT’s Merit Badge University and was ready to visit an airport.
Codie Smith, Troop 218’s Scoutmaster, is a licensed pilot and offered to arrange a flight for Asa – and any other scouts who were interested.
“The Scouting program aims to broaden horizons; to give these young men e
xposure to many different interest areas.” Smith said. “And, it’s amazing what doors of opportunity will open when you wear a Boy Scout uniform.”
Two other Troop 218 scouts, CJ McFarland and Casper Smith, joined Asa on his first flight. Smith’s former flight instructor, Barb MacLeod of Above & Beyond Aviation, walked the three scouts through a complete pre-flight inspection. The four then took to the skies for a short cross-country flight. Departing from Austin Bergstrom, they made stops at the Lockhart and Taylor airports before returning. Each of the three scouts got to sit in the pilot’s seat and fly the plane for one leg of the trip.
“That was so cool!” Asa replied when asked about his flight.
Casper added, “It looked just like Google Maps up there!”
Troop 218 has three more scouts who have since expressed interest and will soon be earning their wings. Smith offered to arrange flights for anyone interested, Scouts or otherwise.
“I love flying and I’ll jump at the chance to share that with anyone who is willing,” Smith said.
