Aviation education blossoms
February 8, 2012, 10:59 am
Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer and one of the first female astronaut candidates, recently worked with Eagle Assault pilots from the 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Funk shared with the other pilots stories of her experiences in aviation and what it felt like to be one of the first 13 women to pass rigorous testing to become an astronaut in the 1960s. One test required Funk to have cold water shot into her ear to induce a feeling of vertigo, while another was a strenuous stationary bicycle challenge designed to measure endurance. Funk said she managed to out-pedal some male astronauts by 11 minutes before reaching exhaustion, Clarksville Online reported.
Funk provided the younger pilots with a glimpse into the history of aviation, particularly how pilots and astronauts were trained prior to taking flight, the source reported.
Also preparing aspiring pilots for careers in aviation, Vermont Technical College in Williston recently started offering a four-year bachelor's of science program in aviation called Professional Pilot Technology. The institution decided to add the program in anticipation of a booming aviation industry in the next decade, with particular focus on pilot, engineer, technician and information specialist positions, The Associated Press reported.
It is also important for aviation students to learn about the power of pilot insurance to safeguard against the unexpected.
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