By Miro Perez

In 2002, we moved into the airport community at Hank Sasser Airport at Breakaway (40XS), knowing virtually nothing about general aviation — let alone what it meant to live at the end of a runway. As we built our home, we worried about practical things: Would we need extra soundproofing? Would insurance rates be higher? What we didn’t consider was how this unique neighborhood might shape the family we were planning to raise.

We’re not pilots, but from day one the aviation community welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm. Fast forward a few years, and we were blessed with two boys who grew up thinking it was perfectly normal to have airplanes in their front yard. They were captivated by aviation from the start.

As teenagers, both expressed interest in flying. After taking EAA Young Eagles flights, they were hooked. Each earned their private pilot certificate during their senior year of high school, and both went on to attend Auburn University to pursue degrees in professional flight.

Along the way, they weren’t alone. Other high school friends from our neighborhood also caught the aviation bug at 40XS. Today, that group includes two studying professional flight at Auburn, another attending Baylor’s professional flight program, a naval aviator’s son attending the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, another young pilot who holds both a PPL and pursuing a PPL-H, one who has his PPL and works for ForeFlight, and one finishing up his PPL in a few months. What started as kids watching airplanes from their yards has grown into real aviation careers and ambitions.

The owner of the airport, Don Richie, has been instrumental in encouraging young people in our neighborhood to pursue flying. His support — along with that of generous neighbors — has helped cultivate this next generation of aviators. A neighbor CFI has mentored and trained some of these young adults and we even have a DPE who lives down the street. Aircraft owners have rented their airplanes, offered right-seat/back-seat experiences, and shared everything from aerobatic flights to RV rides and time in classic trainers. We even have the CubCrafters southern sales representative (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana), Mike Sasser, at the other end of the runway — hence the CubCrafters Cub photos. We don’t even own an airplane, yet our sons were given countless opportunities.

The young aviators of 40XS have enjoyed flights in N129SH, a TB 30 Epsilon based at the airport.

This is what makes 40XS special. It’s more than a runway — it’s a community that invests in its youths.

These young adults are the next generation of aviators at 40XS.