AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2023 - 79

Patriots Jet Team
Foundation
" When I was learning how to fly, a Pan Am captain
took me under his wing and mentored me into the
left seat of a 747, " said Patriots Jet Team owner
Randy Howell. " The only thing he asked in return
was that I would give back when my flying career
was established. This was the incentive to start
the Patriots Jet Team Foundation, which is an IRS
501(c)3 approved foundation. "
Since 2012, the foundation has offered
aviation courses at its learning center in the
Patriots Jet Team hangar in Byron, California,
and it has partnered with local schools on
aviation-related STEM programs. Thousands of
students have taken part in activities like high
altitude balloon launches, air rocket launches,
private pilot ground school courses, and other
aviation courses.
The foundation also awards flight training
scholarships to local students.
" We gave out 24 scholarships last year that
put each student through private pilot ground
school, their private pilot written, and enough
hours to solo them in an airplane, " said Howell.
This year the foundation will award engineering
scholarships to high school students looking to
pursue careers in that field.
Students who received some of the first
scholarships and mentorship opportunities from
the foundation a decade ago are now flying for
major airlines.
they can. While the pilots are the most visible members
of the team, putting on an entertaining airshow
takes everyone. At the announcers' stand, a team
safety observer watches the demonstration and takes
notes on any safety or quality issues that the pilots
can improve on. A team videographer films the demonstration
so the pilots can watch it in debrief. The
music and narration add excitement and bring energy
to the display. Crew chiefs prepare the jets and conduct
preflight inspections. Smoke oil technicians
mix the dye that gives the Patriots their signature
red, white, and blue smoke. Without any one of these
roles, the team wouldn't be what it is.
" The people with the Patriots-it's a family, "
team photographer Cliff George says. " I just can't say
enough about being with the team, the professionalism,
the caring for each other and the camaraderie.
It's just such a great feeling to be a part of it. "
collin.callahan@aopa.org
Funding for the foundation's activities comes
in part from the foundation's annual gala,
held at the Patriots Jet Team's hangar. In
past years, Howell has flown a short MiG-17
display for attendees, lighting the afterburner
during the twilight flight. Keynote speakers
at the event have included NASA astronaut
Jose Hernandez; private pilot and Top Gun:
Maverick actor Glen Powell; and Heather
Penney, one of the F-16 pilots who were
prepared to use their unarmed aircraft to down
Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The next gala
will be September 23, 2023. -CC
pjtf.org
AOPA PILOT /July 2023
79
http://www.pjtf.org
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2023

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