CAMBRIDGE - Dorchester County is renowned as an eagle habitat, with locals and visitors flocking to Blackwater Refuge and beyond to marvel at their majestic beauty.
Among the biggest refuge features is the online eagle cam, broadcasting views of nesting parents and, hopefully, youngsters.
On Sunday, Aug. 10, a different group of fledglings took flight for the first time at Cambridge-Dorchester Regional Airport, during the Young Eagles Rally sponsored by Experimental Aviation Aircraft (EAA) Chapter 478 — headquartered at St. Mary’s County Airport in Southern Maryland — and Chapter 1683 which meets at the Delaware Aviation Museum in Georgetown, Delaware.
According to Chapter 478 board member Keith King, 43 Young Eagles flew, 37 for the first time, at the Cambridge Airport Rally, with at least 100 additional family members (parents, grandparents, siblings), plus friends and community members “checking out what was going on.” The event got off the ground with help from volunteers, fifteen pilots and fifteen others on the ground.
Stephen Nuwer, Dorchester County Department of Aviation Director, was grateful to the two chapters for the “safe and fun” program, which he hopes will become an annual event.
Among the first local youngsters to take flight that day was Quincy Jones, 11, son of Sheila Johnson Jones and DeAdrein Jones of Cambridge.
While Quincy’s parents wanted him to have the opportunity to experience flying, they didn’t want to pressure him.
“He was afraid and hesitant at first. The Pilot/Instructor was very patient and engaging with him, offering him the chance to first ride down the runway to check out the process. At that point, if he didn’t want to go forward, they would have just parked the aircraft, the pilot later told Johnson Jones. "But, when we saw them take off, it was exhilarating! When he met us after landing, he had a rare gigantic smile,” she said.
Johnson Jones praised the instructors saying, "You can tell that they genuinely care about kids and are dedicated to promoting aviation opportunities for youth."
One of the ground volunteers assisting the Jones family with their son’s inaugural flight was retired air captain Barry Gabler of Milford, DE, who joined EAA earlier this year and served as part of the ground support team. He also mentors scouts seeking to earn their aviation merit badge.
Gabler, who began flying at the University of Miami, earned his pilot’s license in 1970. Accepted into Naval Flight Training and screened for the jet pipeline, he received his WINGS OF GOLD in 1973, became a jet instructor, and then flew the RF-8 Crusader out of San Diego. After separating from active duty, Gabler flew for the Naval Reserve for twenty years, also flying F-4 Phantoms.
In 1979, he began a long commercial piloting career, first with Braniff, then Eastern, and finally United Airlines until retiring in 2014, accumulating a total of 25,000 accident-free flying hours, holding an Airline Transport Pilots license, Commercial Single Engine Land, and Private Glider credentials.
Because he’s “not current” the light aircraft pilot’s seat, Gabler helped out on the ground. But he’s been flying in the lighter planes several times this year and aims to become proficient soon.
The EAA Young Eagles program, “the only program of its kind,” according to the EAA website, began in 1992 and is dedicated to providing youngsters ages 8-17, over two million to date, a chance to go flying in a general aviation airplane, free of charge, offered through donations from EAA members.
For more information, visit www.youngeagles.org.
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