When he was about 13, "Young Eagle" Patrick Mollette had one goal, “I want to fly for Delta Air Lines.” Although he was forced to take a circuitous route to get there, Patrick achieved his goal and received his Delta Air Lines wings at a ceremony held at the Delta Heritage Museum on August 9, 2023. Patrick has been assigned the Boeing 737/NYC. Along side Patrick is mentor and chapter member, Delta Airbus A220 Pilot Instructor Winston Whitlock, Patrick's parents Melinda & Dan Mollette and Vice President & System Chief Pilot Captain Patrick Burns. Welcome aboard Patrick to your Delta Air Lines family. Fly safe and have fun!

Jeff Coffey received the FAA’s Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying during a brief ceremony at the EAA 690 Hangar on September 3, 2022.

Steve Hurst received the FAA’s Master Pilot Award for 50 years of safe flying during a brief ceremony at the EAA 690 Hangar on September 3, 2022.

Josh Franklin, our 2022 Ray Scholar, accomplished his First Solo on 7/25/2022 and was officially recognized at the pancake breakfast with the Shirt Tail Cutting ceremony. He has about 15 hours of instruction and is making good progress towards his Private Pilot Certificate. Josh is using Sporty’s online course for his FAA Knowledge exam and continues to be active in our Youth Aviation Program (YAP).

Luke is the recipient of a $2000 scholarship, and passed his Private Pilot Certificate on July 26th, 2022. He has completed the EAA Youth Protection Policy process and is awaiting completion of his background check. His goal is to give back to the chapter by flying Young Eagles.

Alex Short continues to use his EAA690/Silver Wings $4,000 scholarship to work on his Private Pilot Certificate. He passed his FAA Knowledge test and is scheduled to take this check ride in October. He continues to be active in YAP and volunteers for our pancake breakfasts.

Update, as of August, 2022: Alex passed both his Commercial and Multi-engine check rides in the last two weeks. He is currently in the interview process with Medway.

Alex is a young pilot who’s already earned his private certificate, and his multi-engine rating and commercial license. He regularly flies Young Eagles.

I graduated with a B.S. Mechanical Engineering in May 2021 from Georgia Tech. I decided to continue my graduate studies and committed to attend Georgia Tech. I am currently in my second year pursuing a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering along with a master's degree in Earth and Atmospheric Science. I am on the path to finishing my graduate studies by May 2025. I have been super busy with lots of lab work and various field work ( last week, I was in Iceland placing a probe in Old Glaciers), so I haven’t been able to come to the pancake breakfast’s nor catch up with the EAA690 program mentors. I am hoping that I will get back on track for my aviation activities once I straighten out my academic work. As of August 26, 2022

US Navy Ensign Steven Agudelo was an enthusiastic participant in the chapter Youth Aviation program while attending college. He was able to complete his private pilot training and obtained his certificate before entering Naval flight school…the only one in his class to already have his pilot’s license. He’s now flying helicopters for the Navy in San Diego, California.

Zak now flies Learjets!

Harrison Curry was a recipient of a $10,000 scholarship from the chapter, and has already attained his private pilot certificate. He also participates in the chapter Youth Aviation program, and has graduated from Embry Riddle University.

Maddie was the recipient of a $1500 High Flight Aviation Scholarship in June of 2017 from the chapter and is currently attending Middle Georgia State College, majoring in aviation studies.

Clyde Schnars received the FAA’s Master Pilot Award in April, 2016 for 50 years of safe flying.

Ensign Christian Klos, with his proud mother Jan.

My name is Jan Klos and my son is Christian Klos. He took a class at Briscoe when he was about 12? and I just came upon some photos I took then.

The reason I'm writing is because I wanted to thank you and let you know that the seed planted way back then then was the 1st step in guiding my son to his career today - an Officer (Ensign) in the US Navy and beginning his training as an Aviator in Pensacola next month.

Christian actually trained as a photographer in his teens, youngest ever to be accepted as an intern with a local photographer and went on to various projects including Cirque du Soleil, working on Norwegian Cruise Lines in Hawaii.

I had also introduced him to a local USO/former Army combat photographer, Michael Clifton, who inspired him to aim toward a military career.

He chose Navy, became an Air Traffic Controller in Pensacola, got his Associate degree from Embry-Riddle, summa cum laude. But watching (and talking to) the Blue Angels and other pilots made him dream higher.

After transferring to a carrier in Washington state, he took private flying lessons and applied for a coveted spot in the Naval Aviation program (a Blue Angel even was one of his references). He was the only one from his ship ever accepted.

Covid hit while he was in Officer training in Rhode Island and was able to "shelter in place" with me here in Georgia, taking classes at Embry-Riddle online, until he was able to move to Daytona, finish his BS in Aviation Science, again summa cum laude. Currently, he's in charge of about 50 other Ensigns working at the Aviation Museum on base, while they await to class up. He LOVES it!

Just thought you might want to hear that what you do really does impact, you never know what gets planted in the skinny young kids y'all volunteer teach - maybe someday Christian could come speak to a group of them, when he's on leave.

I've been a career counselor/coach for many years and as a mother, I sure appreciated your help!

Again, THANK YOU for planting that seed in a young boy's mind.

Jan Klos

22 July, 2022