It may not compare to Jazz point guard John Stockton's experience aboard an F-16 at Hill Air Force Base Thursday, but riding Glen Olsen's home-built Stolp Acro-duster is sure to provide more than enough thrills to willing height-friendly youngsters.
Olsen is one of at least 14 Experimental Aircraft Association pilots offering free plane rides to Utah youngsters between the ages of seven and 17 as part of this weekend's Intermountain Airshow at Salt Lake Airport No. 2. The "Young Eagles Rally" runs today from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and continues Sunday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Parental consent will be required.The EAA is sponsoring the rally in fulfillment of its goal to allow 1 million "young eagles" take their first plane flight by the year 2003, Olsen said. That year marks the centennial of the Wright brothers' first flight.
The ride will last approximately 15 minutes from takeoff to landing and will offer a bird's-eye view of the south end of the Salt Lake Valley and the surrounding moun-tains.
While the view itself may be enough reason to take the ride, getting to hold on the plane's control handle will probably give kids the biggest thrill. The handle rests between the passenger's legs and feels like a stick stuck in a bowl full of dough - it's very wobbly and sensitive to the touch.
Kids will be required to attend a 30-minute ground school before the flights. There, they will learn that maneuvering the plane is not as hard as it sounds. It requires a steady hand and slight movements. Plus, the real pilot is always behind to correct any error.
In flight, however, passengers may experience a loss of security once they are in control. The feeling of being suspended in the air increases once the person's hands leave the side handles and take control of the plane's movements.
Olsen said his plane was designed to compete in professional aerobatics. It takes spins and rolls smoothly, which ought to give the more adventurous kids a nice adrenaline rush. "It's OK as long as you keep your eyes focused straight ahead," Olsen said.
Olsen and his wife built the Acroduster from scratch. A licensed commercial pilot, Olsen has been flying since 1956 and has accumulated 15,000 flying hours.
The EAA's goal this weekend is to get at least 250 youngsters up in the air. Thus far, Olsen has taken approximately 85 youngsters up for a ride in his Acroduster.
To provide flight safety, all flights will be monitored by the Salt Lake Air Traffic Control. An air traffic controller will be on site and in radio contact with the ATC and with pilots of all aircrafts.