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Seven Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School students who share a dream of flying — and a like-minded teacher — gathered after school one day last fall and established the Aviation Explorers’ Club. They soon began brainstorming ways to raise funds for pilot supplies, instructional books and videos.

A Yankee candle sale netted $1,000, but the students weren’t satisfied. They wanted more technology — and logo jackets that would reflect their common passion.

Freshman John Byron says the 2008 Aeronautical Art and Science Careers Exposition was fine arts teacher John Antonuzzo’s idea. “When I suggested it, I wasn’t thinking quite this big,” says Antonuzzo, the group’s adviser. “I may have lit the spark, but we all fed the flames.”

Working steadily since January, club members have planned a six-hour May 17 event that amazes even them. Rectrix Aviation, owners of Air Cape Cod, donated its hangar and airstrip at Barnstable Municipal Airport for the expo.

“Lt. Col. Pat MacNamara from Otis [Air National Guard Base] will present an Air Force satellite demonstration,” Antonuzzo says. “Pilots are flying into this event from all over, and we have commitments from 75 people involved in the aerospace industry from all walks of life.”

Students and teacher organized much of the event using e-mail to issue invitations and iron out details.

“From the military we went to the civilian end for support, and again, the response has been just marvelous,” Antonuzzo says. “What started out as a fundraiser has ended up being a huge, and very exciting, enterprise.”
Following an opening ceremony during which awards and medals will be given to active service men and women, attendees may chat with representatives from 40 aeronautical agencies and businesses at their information tables.

Aeronautically themed talks will be offered on subjects ranging from the history of the first trans-Atlantic flight to banner towing and tips on becoming a private pilot.

All aircraft flying in for the event will be on display and open to the public. Pilots will be available to answer questions. Of special interest to club members are a Black Hawk helicopter, a Hughes 500D helicopter and a CRJ700 Learjet.

Attendees may explore career opportunities in aviation with those who make a living in the field, including an aeronautical engineer, airline pilot, banner-towing pilot, aviation photographer, flight instructor, robotics professional, U.S. Army telecommunications specialist and U.S. Coast Guard pilot.

Triple reward for club members
For Aviation Explorers’ Club members, the time and effort they’ve spent planning the event promises a triple payback: knowledge; connections and, yes, profit.

Admission to the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expo is $5. “We’re also selling raffle tickets,” says junior Ryan Sargent. “They’re $2 each, 3 for $5 or 8 for $10.” First prize is two roundtrip tickets to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket on Island Airlines; second prize is a student package of Microsoft software worth $250; and third prize is a year’s subscription to Trade-A-Plane magazine.

Sargent can’t remember a time when he wasn’t looking to the sky. “Any time my mom took me to Hyannis, I ran around, looking up, searching for the planes. The adrenaline would flow just seeing them flying free through the sky. Through this club, I’m learning about all the career opportunities available — and I’ve made friends who share my passion.”

Like Sargent, freshman Debora Gelio has always loved airplanes. “My dream is to become a commercial pilot,” she says.

With Antonuzzo’s help, club members are tapping into resources that could help them achieve their dreams.

“The Cape Area Pilots Association has scholarship opportunities right up to earning a solo license,” Gelio says. “I want to begin flight instruction as soon as a scholarship becomes available.”

His childhood obsession with “Top Gun” drove freshman Andrew Bowles’ passion to learn to fly. “My heart’s set on attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. I thought joining this club would put me on the right track to make that happen,” he says.

Antonuzzo is helping students sort through their options. “You don’t have to learn to fly through military service, although that’s definitely an option,” he says. “Bridgewater State College has an awesome aero-science division. A student could commute there to save money and get a great education in his or her field of dreams.”

Since early childhood, freshman John Byron has loved being airborne, whether on a swing or a diving board. “I don’t like being weighed down,” he says. Byron’s ultimate goal is aeronautical engineering. “Once I’m there, flying would be just a hobby.”

For now, club members are putting the finishing touches on an exposition they’re proud to present. “It’s going to be an awesome day for us. We hope guests from across the Cape, Islands and South Shore will join us,” Antonuzzo says. “If it’s successful, we’d love to make this an annual fundraising event.”

Nicole Muller can be reached at nmuller@cnc.com.