On Thursday, July 18th, Trident Aircraft hosted Alpha Best Summer Camp. Approximately forty children, aged 6 to 10 years old, visited the Bay Bridge Airport. Two flight instructors, Jarrett Kempen and Courtney Glasgow, were on hand to show the children around the airport and the airplanes on the ramp. Trident Aircraft displayed two aircraft, a Beechcraft Duchess and a Cessna 150, and allowed the kids to sit inside the cockpit and touch the controls. In the Cessna 150, the children stood in line awaiting their turn to sit side-by-side and become a pilot and copilot team. Once at the controls, one child would hold the yolk, turn it left and right, push it forward and pull it back. They would watch as the different control surfaces moved based on the inputs they themselves were making. As one “pilot” was flying, the other “copilot” would press buttons and pretend to talk on the radios. The kids liked play talking to other traffic, yelling, “Watch out for me, we’re flying!” and “I feel like Superman!” They would take turns “flying,” all giggling the whole time. In the Beechcraft Duchess, the kids waited in line for the same thing, but in addition to the two kids up front flying, two more kids sat in the backseat, playing passengers. The “pilot” and “copilot” would play they were taking their backseat riders on a fun adventure. Some went to New York, Disney World, even China! Behind the controls, imaginations ran wild. By visiting the airport and playing pilot for the day, a whole new generation of aviation interest was born. When the summer camp goers were boarding the bus, all were smiling and many exclaimed they would be pilots one day.

By Avra Sullivan

It’s late 1930’s. A young boy creeps into an empty plane, after dark, to have a look around of this magnificent machine. It just happens to be the personal plane of the superintendent of the Naval Academy! Growing up in Annapolis, Tim Wooldridge fell in love with planes as a young boy, and would go on to be Captain Wooldridge, a United States Naval Pilot. His last fight with the Navy would be in 1968, until today, when he took to the skies again thanks to a gift certificate from his daughter for Trident Aircraft, right here in Stevensville.

Trident was founded by John Galderi in 2006. A corporate pilot, John taught several local students with his own aircraft but soon became too busy and needed to expand. Trident now has over 20 aircraft, two locations and is one of the only flight schools around that can offer all types of instruction, from recreational to those wishing to enter aviation as a career. Their Gulf Shore, Alabama location is one of the few schools who offer Introductory Flight Screening, for those wishing to be Naval Aviators. They also can give an unforgettable experience to you or a loved one (perhaps a Father’s Day gift?) in one of their scenic planes, where you can view the Eastern Shore from the skies. One of these is a T-34 Warbird Navy Trainer which has been used by the US Navy sine the 1950’s. “Many former military will go up in the T-34. There’s the nostalgic appeal for them, especially as the Navy is phasing theses planes out.” Say Christy Russell, Trident’s office manager. For those who have their license and meet insurance requirements, this plane as well as others are available to rent. There are four flight plans to choose for introductory flights, from the Warbird to an aerobatic flight in case you ever wanted to see the Bay Bridge, upside down!! An FAA flight instructor will assist you with take-off and landing, but turns the “wings” over to you during the flight. “There’s no greater feeling.” says flight dispatcher Peter Giesswein who is training to go into flying as a career. With all of the flights, be it recreational and those racking in their hours for licenses, I thought the air space may get a little crowded. Peter and Christy explain how there is a “Sky Map” and they have a pretty detailed system for knowing who’s up, who’s taking off, and who’s coming in to land. While not required to have Air Traffic Control personnel, they clearly maintain a “safe, practical, productive traffic flow,” says Peter. Trident also operates a maintenance and repair shop for servicing of planes, and can help those who are looking to buy, sell, or upgrade their plane.

As I head back to my car, with the sound of engines overhead, I can see Captain Wooldridge and wife taking photographs in front of the plane he flew in. I can tell this has been an experience they will both not soon forget.

More information about Trident can be found at www.Tridentaircraft.com or by calling 410-604-1333