By Ernie Kelly, EAA 1021470
Jerad Lewark, EAA 1055573, has had a passion for aviation for as long as his family can remember. He was only 10 when he insisted his father take him to the Columbus Airport (CSG) for the monthly Young Eagles rally hosted in May of 2011 by EAA Chapter 677. It was Jerad’s first flight in a general aviation aircraft.
He apparently liked it.
Jerad came back every month he could, joined the chapter, and became one of its most faithful volunteers — working at 37 of the 73 monthly rallies Chapter 677 has hosted since his first more than seven years ago. He worked in their tent during the local air show. Jerad even designed, raised funds for, and organized a crew of volunteers to build an observation deck at the airport as his Eagle Scout project. (This project was covered in the June 2016 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine – Ed.)
“We are so grateful to EAA for the Young Eagles program,” said Jerald “Jerry” Lewark, Jerad’s father. “And to EAA 677 for the encouragement and opportunities they’ve offered Jerad over the years.”
One of those opportunities is the chance to fly at every rally at which they volunteer.
“If there’s an empty seat and a volunteer wants to fly, why would we leave the seat empty?” asked Gary Brossett, EAA Chapter 677 president. “Jerad is almost always here, and is always ready to fill a seat.”
The chapter also encourages its young volunteers and Young Eagles passengers to apply for chapter-paid scholarships to EAA’s Air Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Jerad earned scholarships in the summers of 2012 and 2016, and leapt at every chance to fly with Chapter 677’s members and instructor friends.
Instead of taking the summer off, Jerad began his formal flight instruction as soon as school was out in May of 2018. His EAA exposure made him so familiar with the controls and the sight picture from the front seat, his first landings were better than those of some more seasoned aviators. He soloed in June and passed his checkride on September 22, 2018.
On September 29, Jerad, now 17, arrived at the Young Eagles rally with a week-old private pilot certificate and a Piper Cherokee at his disposal. That morning, he paid it forward by taking a youngster up on his first Young Eagles flight. It’s a fitting coincidence that the young man was 10 years old — the same age Jerad was when he got his first Young Eagles flight. Later that day, Jerad took an adult up as part of EAA’s Eagle Flight program to introduce not-so-young eagles to general aviation.
And he is just getting started.
A high school senior and recently promoted cadet lieutenant colonel in his junior ROTC unit, Jerad has applied to several colleges with strong aviation programs. In October, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University accepted Jerad’s application, and he’s still waiting to hear from the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Not just any teenager would give up their summer vacation to take flying lessons, and not just any pilot is willing to take complete strangers flying within a week of having passed their checkride. Jerad did both.
“On the flight home from the EAA Air Academy in 2016, I set a goal to earn my private pilot’s license and give back by flying Young Eagles before I went to college,” he explained. “I leave for college next year, so it made sense to do it now.”
Obviously, Jerad Lewark is not just any teenager. He’s a young man who’s going places. Most likely by air.