COMPTON SCHOOL TO HOST HELICOPTER LANDING ON CAMPUS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Robin Petgrave

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum

(310) 618-1155

cell (310) 938-2727

FAX (877) 999-2099

robin@tamuseum.org

www.tamuseum.org

School Contact:

Carla Geary

(562) 440-4161

Emerson Elementary School

1011 E. Caldwell St.

Compton, CA 90221

COMPTON SCHOOL TO HOST HELICOPTER LANDING ON CAMPUS

Career Day Speaker and Tuskegee Airman to Fly-in and Speak

Compton, California – April 29, 2010  (TAM)  On Friday, April 30, 2010 at 9:00 AM, Compton’s Emerson Elementary School will be the site of  a special Career Day event as Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum’s (TAM)  founder Robin Petgrave flies in via helicopter  for a speech.  Accompanying him will be Tuskegee Airman Otis “Big O” Cowley.

Approximately 600 students will be on hand to see the helicopter land on the school’s sports field.  Petgrave will give a short speech encouraging kids to stay in school and follow their dreams. They will then return to class and be brought back out in smaller groups to learn a little about how a helicopter works and will be able to sit inside and get an up close look at the Robinson R44 aircraft and have the opportunity to ask questions of Petgrave and Cowley.

The visit is a precursor to the 7^th annual Aviation Industry Career Expo at Compton Woodley Airport on Saturday, May 15 from 10AM to 4PM, hosted by TAM.  This event is largely intended for kids who attend the many schools that don’t have career days this year due to budget cuts. This year marks the first International Learn To Fly Day initiated by the EAA Young Eagles program. International Learn to Fly Day is meant to raise interest in flying and encourage current pilots to get others involved in aviation.

Recruiters with the Armed Forces, Police, Sheriff’s and Fire Departments will be on hand to talk to children and adults alike about future career paths. College

and technical school recruiters will also be available. A contingent of  Buffalo

Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary WW II African-American fighter pilots will be available for meet-and-greets and to autograph material.

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Ten-thousand attendees are expected this year. Exhibitors and aircraft participants will include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, EAA Young Eagles, Buffalo Soldiers, Boeing, Santa Monica Museum of Flying, OBAP, CBAA, and many more.                          

Other attractions include free airplane rides for children under the age of 18 sponsored by the EAA Young Eagles program, on a first-come, first- served basis.  Airplane rides can also be purchased for $15 and helicopter rides for $25.  Numerous food stands will be set up offering a variety of ethnic treats and arts and crafts will be for sale. Cliff’s will sponsor a burrito-eating contest.

Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, is a non-profit organization that provides after school programs, tutoring and mentoring for at-risk youth.  TAM also allows kids to earn flight lessons through performing community service.  Ten of TAM’s program kids have set 12 world records in aviation. This event is made possible in part by the City of Compton Parks & Recreation, CUSD ROP, Warehouse Shoe Sale, and ESPN X Games.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the result of an experiment in the U.S. Army Air Forces which proved that, given equal opportunity and training, African-Americans could fly in, command and support combat units as well as their causasian counterparts. The USAAF’s black fliers, the so-called “Tuskegee Airmen,” served with distinction in combat and directly contributed to the eventual integration of the U.S. armed services, with the U.S. Air Force leading the way.

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