This piece originally ran in the November 2020 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
For the past five years, the husband and wife team of Gordon and Cathy Davis have volunteered in the KidVenture area of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — helping to inspire the next generation of aviators.
Gordon, EAA Lifetime 787156, has attended AirVenture since 2005, getting the inspiration he needed to become a pilot after his first visit to Oshkosh. After a few years attending, he decided to become further involved with EAA and joined his local EAA chapter, 1522 in Lexington, Kentucky, and is now the president and a member of EAA’s Chapter Advisory Council. Eight years ago, Gordon wandered into KidVenture and has been volunteering with the control line flying activities every year after that.
“Hearing the sound of control line engines, the high-pitched sound, really reminded me of my childhood,” he said. “I found a wonderful group over there with the control line airplane flying and put my name down to volunteer the next year. I’ve been there ever since.”
As a pilot, Gordon helps kids, and actually people of all ages, fly the control line aircraft during the week.
“The planes that we have are kind of indestructible, so we really allow the kids to fly,” he said. “We hold on to the handle. The kids will get dizzy going around and around if you’re not used to it, so we keep them steady. As they get better at it, we’ll lessen our grip on the handle and really let them fly the airplane. … I spend a lot of the day going around and around one flight after another. But it’s fun!”
Five years ago, Cathy, EAA Lifetime 438758, joined her husband in Oshkosh for the first time. Although Cathy isn’t a pilot or even particularly interested in aviation, she’s become a regular volunteer in the control line flying registration. For years, Cathy has also volunteered in Kentucky with a camp for adults with disabilities, so giving up her free time to help others isn’t anything new to her. Her passion is people, plain and simple.
“I am not passionate about aviation. Gordon always has been. I never really had that passion,” Cathy said. “I might not share his passion for aviation, but I do share his passion for people. The people that we work with have become family. The folks we work with have become lifelong friends, but you only get to see them once a year, so you have to take the opportunity to do that. To see the joy on children’s faces [makes it worthwhile]. You can bring joy to a child’s life. To see them have the best day ever, that really makes your heart happy.”
Volunteers make EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — and just about everything else EAA does — possible. This space in EAA Sport Aviation is dedicated to thanking and shining the spotlight on volunteers from the community. Sadly, it cannot capture all of the thousands of volunteers who give so much to the community every year. So, next time you see a volunteer at AirVenture or elsewhere, however they are pitching in to make EAA better, be sure to thank them for it. It’s the least we can do. Do you know a volunteer you’d like to nominate for Volunteer Spotlight? Visit www.EAA.org/submissions.