January 12, 2016 Modaero - for the Next Generation

The Liberty Gazette

January 12, 2016

Ely Air Lines
by Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely

Linda: The "Golden Age" of aviation: the years when youngsters such as Dayton’s beloved Bob Jamison yearned for a taste of the adventure that airplanes promised, and brought new and exciting technology to eager young minds. Those in the freshness of their youth, the Clyde Cessnas, the Eddie and Katherine Stinsons, the Lloyd Stearmans and Glenn Curtisses, had been innovating and even the sky wasn’t their limit - it was their playground. And on the playgrounds across America’s golden plains, blue ridge valleys, deserts and coastal towns, the next generation was watching, and dreaming. Dreaming of flying. Dreaming how far they could go and the freedom that awaited them.

Aviation had another major surge lasting from the 1950s through 1970s credited in part to the introduction of jet engines, and the fact that after the fighting in Korea ceased lots of military pilots discharged from the service went to work for existing airlines or bought aircraft and started new businesses. Many of those small businesses morphed into major airlines.

Mike: By then there were plenty of people who got to liking airplanes a whole bunch and they started learning to fly themselves. Then they were buying airplanes and finding ways to make money doing what they loved.

Today, we find ourselves on the cusp of another opportunity for the next generation to take hold of the world of air travel and aerospace technology and disrupt the industry as the Wright Brothers did in their time.

We’re on the brink of exciting times, with space travel and inventions even Elon Musk hasn’t thought of yet.

That’s why "MODAERO" is an important project, reaching the next generation right where they are, and like many great projects, this one is getting its start in the Great State of Texas.

During Spring Break, March 16-19 the "MODAERO" event will be held at the Convention Center and airport in Conroe - the place to be for the Millennial generation and young families. A school ID will get the students in for free. But, you don’t have to be young to join in the fun - its a fly-in, too, with plenty of networking, happy hours, and General Aviation presentations as well.

Several bands representing a variety of musical tastes will be playing each evening. Helicopter and airplane demo flights will be offered. And there will be indoor drone racing in the arena across from the airport - an event so new this will be the first organized drone race of its kind in the U.S.A. - and its all starting here in Texas.

Employers will be on hand for a career fair and recruiting; highly acclaimed experts and peer group innovators will discuss today’s challenges and opportunities, and inspire our youth to consider the vast breadth and depth of everything that touches the aviation-aerospace industry, from flying and fixing planes to marketing, engineering, space travel, high-tech, entrepreneurship, and more.

Camping is also an option, so bring out the tent if that’s your thing. Check out MODAERO.NET on your computer or mobile device and make plans to discover the wide world above and beyond in this very social, high energy event.

Linda: And for those who would like to volunteer, just as with the annual AirVenture in Oshkosh, there are opportunities. Contact the group through the "MODAERO" website, Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram and get engaged.

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