Learning on the Fly: The 1st FEATIrrific Aero Fest

Aviation enthusiasts gathered last March 1, 2008 for the first FEATIrrific Aero Fest at the airstrip of Woodland Airpark in Magalang, Pampanga.  The Airpark is home to the pilots and ultra-light planes of the Angeles City Flying Club (ACFC).

Students get a “hands-on” experience with the various ultra-light aircraft of the Angeles City Flying Club at the FEATIrrific Aero Fest.

FEATI University through its Aero/AMT Department headed by Engr. Elmer Villegas and its Marketing and Events Department led by Ms. Melanie P. Florentino invited more than 400 senior high school students and their parents to experience the exhilarating atmosphere of flying and learn the rudiments of aeronautics through an interaction with the pilots themselves.
 
Students from Westminster High School, Philippine Chung Hua, Northern Rizal Yorklin, St. Anthony School, Colegio de San Francisco, Angeles City Science High School, Don Bosco Academy, EPZA High School, St. Brother Benilde School, IS Montessori, and JIL Foundation School enthusiastically participated in the day’s activities.  For the lucky ones among them, the highlight of the day was a free ride in a helicopter or in one of the many ultra-light planes of the ACFC.

Lucky Strike: Four students enjoyed a free chopper ride after their names were picked in the raffle.

The one-day aero fest featured radio controlled airplane and helicopter aerobatics by RC Modelers Club.  Foremost among them was Erwin Dematera who demonstrated advanced aerobatic maneuvers with his 1/6 scale model plane.

Ultra-light airplane take-offs, fly-bys and rides courtesy of the ACFC were the major events, since Woodland is the home of the club.  However the high point of the day was arguably the fly-ins of an Alouette helicopter, a Piper Arrow and a home-built experimental RV 4 courtesy of “Friends of FEATI”.  Col. Levanza of the Philippine Air Force was at the controls of the Alouette with Capt. Leonardo Blanca of FEATI University as his co-pilot.  Capt. Bill Wright piloted his own home-built experimental RV 4 while Capt. Cupid flew the Piper Arrow.   Before landing Capt. Wright awed the crowd with his aerobatic show featuring loops, rolls, turns, inverted flight and high speed passes as Capt. Cupid described his maneuvers.  Even though it is a home-built, the RV 4 is one of the most popular light planes, with more than 5000 of them flying around the world. After the aircraft had been secured, visitors were allowed to come and inspect them—a true hands-on experience!  An interaction session allowed the students to ask questions from the pilots.  Gen. Edgar M. Calvo, ret., the Coordinator of the Joint FEATI-Clark Polytechnic AMT Program also shared his life experiences as a pilot, military officer and licensed instructor - mechanic.

The Alouette comes in for a landing, with Capt. Cupid’s Piper Arrow in the foreground.

Since the Airpark was shorter than the required 1000 meters to safely tow gliders, there was no gliding exhibition. However, two German-built gliders, a single seater and a two-seater, were parked in one of the Airpark hangars.  The accompanying exhibit showed that sport gliding started in Germany in the 1920’s and 30’s built on the legacy of one of the aviation pioneers, Otto Lillienthal.

Finally, it was time to go.  The RV 4, Arrow and Aloutte had to go home.  The RC model aircraft were stowed away and the ultra-lights finally came home to roost.  All good things must come to an end, but this time only temporarily…  See you at the SECOND FEATIrrific Aero Fest!

Happy faces all, at the end of a FEATIrrific day! From left: Arch. Steven Virata, Cherifer Santos, Olyn San Miguel, Joether Santos, FEATI Pres. Dr.-Ing. Adolfo Gopez, ACFC Pres. Terry Hockenhull, FEATI EVP Gabriel Intengan, FEATI CEO Mr. Fritz A. Segovia with son Juan Carlos, Melanie Florentino, Maybelle Arellano and FEATI AMT Coordinator for Clark Polytechnic, Gen. Edgar Calvo (ret.)
	An ACFC ultra-light comes home to roost.