By John Muhle, EAA 1360048, EAA Chapter 289 President
It was Wings and Wheels in the summer of 2022, and a young man had made plans to attend the event with his dad, Grant, and a friend. Ryland Anderson was 18 and had tried a few different career paths, but he wasn’t excited about any of them. He had worked as an electrician’s helper, construction, and was considering school for driving truck or maybe even to be a locomotive engineer. He loved all things mechanical; cars, trucks, motorcycles, trains, and airplanes, but, like many his age, couldn’t find his path. Thinking that engineer or pilot were most certainly years of education and boatloads of money, he figured those options were beyond his means. But, on that beautiful July day, he met a pilot who offered another suggestion.
Bruce offered Ryland a chance to fly with him through EAA’s Young Eagles program. They took off in Bruce’s 1971 Cessna 310 and headed to the south practice area. “We flew south of the airfield and performed a few maneuvers, some steep turns, a stall, and even an exciting nosedive!” Ryland said. “To my surprise, Mr. Beecroft let me take the controls and experience the joy of flight!” He saw a direction in his life at last! “[Bruce] directed me to the airport, took back the controls, and made a smooth landing. You couldn’t wipe the smile from my face… my dream was to become an airline pilot.”
Grant Anderson, Ryland’s dad, didn’t know how to help him. “I didn’t know how to become a pilot… it started at the car show at the airport, Bruce gave my son an introductory flight.” Following with an update on Ryland’s progress: “Last week he passed his instrument test and is now going on to get his commercial license.” Grant is very proud of his son and thankful for the opportunity Ryland was given. When I asked Grant his thoughts on EAA’s Young Eagles program, he said “You never know who you guys will influence. Just one ride and now [Ryland] is a pilot, working on his CFI this summer.” Adding his gratitude to EAA, Chapter 289, and especially the Young Eagles volunteer pilots, “There are so many thank-yous needed to everyone! This father is humbled and appreciative to everyone for helping my son achieve a new career goal!”
“Bruce,” turned out to be Bruce Beecroft, EAA 274048, EAA Chapter 289 president at the time. Bruce told me, “This is why Young Eagles flights are so important. The 7- or 8-year-old will change their career choice 10 times before they turn 16, but the chances that a teenager will get more out of a flight are much higher.”
Bruce would know. Ryland was one of 413 Young Eagles flights that Bruce has given over the years. Bruce took his first flight in a Piper Tri-Pacer on floats in 1964 at the tender age of 12. That flight in Wisconsin Dells led to a career in aviation that lasted until Bruce’s retirement as a Delta Air Lines captain, flying the Airbus A330 domestically and internationally.
Imagine that; from a literal puddle-jumper to one of the most advanced airplanes in the world. Someone is going to do it, someone has to. Is it that little girl sitting at the other end of the pew at church, looking out the window at the bird flitting around a tree? Is it that little boy, eyes cast skyward looking for the source of the noise that everyone else is oblivious to? Even deeper, what is our responsibility to the next generation? Or the generation after that? Instead of mocking their choice in music, expressing our displeasure at seeing them laying on the couch, or playing video games, remember the excitement that YOU got from your first airplane ride and share that with them. Maybe they won’t enjoy it, or maybe they will, and it will just be a fond memory that you both share for the rest of your lives. Maybe it could be badly needed “direction” in a young person’s life, one that leads to a very fulfilling career, such as in both Bruce’s and Ryland’s cases.
Ryland was a recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from EAA Chapter 289 last year, as well as receiving the Sporty’s Pilot Shop private pilot ground school course. He will be attending Venture North Aviation in Cloquet, Minnesota, where he will be working on his instrument, CFII, multi-engine ratings, and finally, MEI. His goal is to follow in his mentor’s footsteps as a pilot with Delta Air Lines.