LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 85th Flying Training Squadron (FTS), also known as the ‘Tigers’, hosted a unique, hands-on aviation experience for 25 local children aptly called Tiger for a Day. The fifth of August, 8/5, is special to the Tigers, and this year they got to share the joy with the local community.
“The 85th Flying Training Squadron set out with a desire to give the local community an opportunity to see what service in the Air Force is like.” said 1st Lt. Charles Blum, 85th FTS instructor pilot. “Our goal was to educate and inspire the next generation of military aviators.”
The event offered a comprehensive look into the everyday lives of 85th FTS members. The day started with an engaging tour of the student flight rooms where participants learned about the intricacies of daily student and instructor pilot schedules.
The tour continued into the Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) shop. Here, the participants interacted with essential flying gear and tried on the harnesses and helmets commonly used by U.S. Air Force aviators.
Next, the participants visited the step desk and walked out onto the flightline. This experience offered the children a close-up look at a T-6A Texan II, including a tour of the cockpit and basic explanations of the systems on the aircraft.
After seeing a T-6A, the participants were escorted to flying simulators, where they applied all of the knowledge they had just absorbed on the flight line.
“The students fully enjoyed the simulators, where, coupled with real-time instruction from pilots with a broad range of experience and expertise, they each got an opportunity to actively interact with new concepts and simply enjoy themselves,” said Blum. “I loved witnessing the excitement in their eyes as we toured each flight-room, with their unique themes, and as they tried on equipment that we utilize daily.”
The tour concluded at Anderson Hall, where 2nd Lt. Laura Shafer, 47th Operation Support Squadron Aerospace Physiologist and Aviation Inspiration Mentorship Director, encouraged the participants to explore Air Force funded programs offering free flight hours to interested parties.
“I think these types of events drastically increase the likelihood of participants considering becoming pilots,” said Capt. Tyler Konek, 85th FTS instructor pilot. “Barriers to entry into the aviation community are usually connections and exposure to the flying world, especially the Air Force. This event gave the children a sneak peek into what members of the 85th FTS see every single day. They were excited and motivated to participate, which correlates to future service in the Air Force and aviation communities.”
Looking ahead, the 85th FTS plans to make this an annual event, emphasizing the importance of its connections with the community beyond the base.
“We absolutely want to make this an annual event to integrate with the local community and on-base families,” said Blum. “We considered this a huge success for the 85th FTS in community outreach and recruiting the next generation of Air Force aviators. We will be looking into increasing exposure to other agencies and different career fields on base."
This “Tiger for a Day" event was not just a celebration of Tiger Day, but a strategic effort in community outreach and recruitment, aimed to ignite a passion for aviation in the next generation. By the end of the day, the young participants left with memories that could spark a lifelong interest in flying.
“I hope the children got to see how fun and fulfilling it truly is to be a pilot in the 85th FTS, and how their dreams of flying can one day come true if they put their minds to it,” said Konek. “I hope they took away that it truly takes a team to make the mission happen, including aircrew, maintenance, AFE and more. Lastly, I hope they take away that their generation, the next generation, will be pivotal in the success of the future of the Air Force in the aviation community and beyond.”