HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2001-08-13 Supplemental Info - Kevin Gustafson, Aviation RecognitionA wing and a care
August 10, 2001
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By KATHERINE NGUYEN
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The Orange County Register
8
Every morning for the past
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his small plane for the ride
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By mid - aftemoon each day,
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Monday, August 13,2001
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A wing
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Seal Beach pilot shares thrill of flight with kids in 50
'
states.
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PILOT KEVIN GUSTAFSON, 19, is greeted by
his mother, Deborah, as he ends his 50 -day
mission Thursday at Long Beach Airport.
photo: Gam Gengwer I The Register
On Thursday morning,
Gustafson, 19, retumed home to Seal Beach, tired but exuberant after
traveling more than 14,000 miles to 50 states and introducing more
than 245 children to the joys of aviation.
The pilot began his cross - country flight June 21, flying from state to
state with a mission to introduce children to flying by taking them up
California Lottery in a borrowed Cessna 172. The rides for children in each state were
coordinated through a program called Young Eagles, which seeks to
take 1 million children on flights before 2003.
"Ijust wanted to share the experience of flying with other kids, the
way it was shared to me," Gustafson said. "Seeing those big smiles
on their faces after a flight, it's just great."
Gustafson made the decision to fly to 50 states in 50 days last year
and spent months planning. Corporate sponsors and other donations
helped pay for the nearly $30,000 trip.
The young pilot was greeted by throngs of news reporters and
photographers in each state, and he managed to squeeze in a tour of
Air Force One while in Washington, D.C., and dinner with astronaut
Neil Armstrong.
http: / /www. ocregi ster. com /sitearchives/2001 /8/ 10/locaUpilotOO810cci7. shiml 08/13/2001
August 10, 2001
BAD
By KATHERINE NGUYEN
ECIITt
The Orange County Register
8
Every morning for the past
50 days, Kevin Gustafson
would take children up in
his small plane for the ride
' < t
of their young lifetimes.
By mid - aftemoon each day,
Find a car
he was flying off to another
Fines
state. By evening, he was
Lod cai home
resting up for the next day's
Tech news a do
Plan vaur vieddirw
flight.
g
Redesign vaur home
PILOT KEVIN GUSTAFSON, 19, is greeted by
his mother, Deborah, as he ends his 50 -day
mission Thursday at Long Beach Airport.
photo: Gam Gengwer I The Register
On Thursday morning,
Gustafson, 19, retumed home to Seal Beach, tired but exuberant after
traveling more than 14,000 miles to 50 states and introducing more
than 245 children to the joys of aviation.
The pilot began his cross - country flight June 21, flying from state to
state with a mission to introduce children to flying by taking them up
California Lottery in a borrowed Cessna 172. The rides for children in each state were
coordinated through a program called Young Eagles, which seeks to
take 1 million children on flights before 2003.
"Ijust wanted to share the experience of flying with other kids, the
way it was shared to me," Gustafson said. "Seeing those big smiles
on their faces after a flight, it's just great."
Gustafson made the decision to fly to 50 states in 50 days last year
and spent months planning. Corporate sponsors and other donations
helped pay for the nearly $30,000 trip.
The young pilot was greeted by throngs of news reporters and
photographers in each state, and he managed to squeeze in a tour of
Air Force One while in Washington, D.C., and dinner with astronaut
Neil Armstrong.
http: / /www. ocregi ster. com /sitearchives/2001 /8/ 10/locaUpilotOO810cci7. shiml 08/13/2001
A wing and a care
Page 2 of 2
The only states to which he didn't fly the Cessna were Hawaii and
Alaska. He took commercial flights to those states and rented small
planes to take the children up in the air.
After landing Thursday at Long Beach Airport, Gustafson gave
interviews to waiting reporters and then took a half -dozen kids for a
quick flight over Long Beach. The children had been following his
flight across the United States and came with their parents to
welcome Gustafson home.
"It's 100 times better than the rides at Magic Mountain," said a
grinning Eric Kraft, 14, after a 10- minute flight over such landmarks
as the Queen Mary and Long Beach Harbor.
This was the longest Kevin Gustafson had been away from home, but
his parents didn't worry much. He made sure to call home every day,
and by now, Deborah and Bruce Gustafson have become accustomed
to seeing their youngest child take to the air.
Kevin's been flying since the tender age of 10 and flew solo on his
16th birthday. A year after that, he got his private pilot's license.
"We actually feel more confident with him getting into a plane than a
car," Deborah Gustafson said. "Freeway traffic is a lot scarier than
the open sky."
On Monday, Kevin resumes classes at Long Beach City College,
where he's studying aviation.
And the next big project on his mind? 1 was thinking about, oh,
sleep."
Register staff write Jimmy Chai contributed to this report.
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