Local pilot passes his love of flight to young people

By RORYE O’CONNOR

rorye.oconnor@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Rodney Mullinax works to pass the passion for aviation he got from his dad to as many young people as he can.

Mullinax, a Texico resident, takes kids on free 15-minute flights in his Piper Cherokee Arrow, a single-engine plane, around Mt. Vernon as part of the Young Eagles program.

Six years ago, two years after Mullinax began flying as a hobby, he joined the Experimental Aircraft Association and learned about Young Eagles, he said.

“Through my life, I’ve been given many blessings and tools, and one was to fly,” he said. “I thought one way to share that with kids is through the Young Eagles program.”

The Mt. Vernon Outland Airport spreads the word about the possibility for kids to take a short trip in the air over the King City before big events like the annual fall Fly-In. Kids and parents sign a release, and then the learning begins.

Mullinax shows kids the outside of his plane, including the landing gear and other external elements, and then they climb in.

“We discuss the aerodynamics, and inside, the general dynamics of what they’re getting into,” Mullinax said. “That’s basically what the program is for, to introduce kids to flying that may not have the opportunity otherwise.”

Mullinax said he takes off and flies parallel to Illinois Highway 15, showing his young passengers the view of Mt. Vernon from the air, from downtown to the Wal-Mart Super Center. He then turns south, showing kids the view of Rend Lake, and turns back east to head to the landing strip.

Though Mullinax said he doesn’t keep track of the number of kids he’s personally taken up in his plane, the Young Eagles program says it’s close to 200.

“I do it to see the reaction from the kids,” he said. “It’s a good thing to be able to share aviation with them.”

Mt. Vernon Outland Airport manager Chris Collins said the airport often will fly close to 300 Young Eagles a year, with many of the free flights occurring at the Little Egypt Fly-In and Veterans Reunion.

“Rod and his dad David never miss an opportunity to participate when the program is offered to the community such as at a fly-in or Young Eagle Rally,” Collins said in an e-mail. “Many community and local church youth group members have received airplane rides through the generosity of the Mullinax (family). They are a true asset to the airport and the community.”

Though most people who try the Young Eagle flight at Mt. Vernon Outland Airport do so during one of their major events, Mullinax said he has flown many young people who indicated their interest at other times throughout the year.

When young people take a Young Eagles flight, they are registered as a Young Eagle, have their name listed in “the world’s largest logbook” on display at the EAA museum in Oshkosh, Wis., and receive information on scholarship programs administered by the EAA.

Mullinax said it’s easy to tell when the trip has made a big impact on the child’s possible career choices.

“There are some kids that show extreme interest,” he said. “When you come back, they’re asking a lot of questions, and in the plane, they’re asking a boatload of questions.”

Mullinax said in all his Young Eagle flights, he’s only had to stop the plane and come back to the hangar for one reluctant individual.

“It’s an adventure for most kids,” he said. “There were some that started out extremely nervous, but when we got back, they said, ‘I’m ready to go again.’”

He added that he’s played a few jokes on youngsters while in the air, however.

“With some groups, you start joking around, and they joke back, so when we start to head back I’ll ask the ones in the back to hand me the book on how to land,” he said. “It’s gotten a few strong reactions.”

Mullinax credited Collins and the airport board for supporting the program locally.

“The airport board has such a drive for the airport they they allow things like this to happen,” he said. “Youth aviation is successful in this area because of the pilots that want to share their experiences. Because of the pilots and management here it makes it a great success.”

The EAA offers several programs to encourage aviation as a career choice for youth. They run the Air Academy; the Aeroscholars program, an online academic course in aviation science and allows high school students to earn college credit, and of which completion prepares takers for the FAA private pilot written test; EAA scholarships and internships; and the EAA AirVenture, a weeklong celebration of aviation in Oshkosh, Wis., according to information from the EAA.

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