Help Support Our Airport Field Trip to Schools at NO COST!

Visit Our Website - https://whyflyalonefoundation.org/

Growing up in a typical middle-class environment, I had many friends and academically, I fell into the “C” student category. In those times, students were often labeled as “A,” “B,” “C” performers, and I found myself in the latter. School was not my favorite place, and I eagerly anticipated leaving every day. To make ends meet, I took on various jobs like mowing lawns, having a paper route, and working in a food store. Despite my average academic performance, I was always a diligent saver and had a knack for getting things done efficiently.

In my junior year, an opportunity arose that would change the course of my life. Our chess team teacher offered the chance to fly in a plane with him, and a few of us eagerly raised our hands. That first plane ride was a pivotal moment for me, sparking a passion for aviation that has stayed with me ever since.

After graduating, I embarked on a career as a union carpenter and discovered the joy of flying. The experience of being airborne provided a profound sense of accomplishment, a feeling that lingered long after each flight.

More than just a mode of transportation, flying connected me with like-minded individuals, forming lasting friendships that endure to this day.

As I ventured into entrepreneurship, I incorporated flying into my business strategy. Utilizing plane rides as an unconventional but effective approach, I would take potential clients on aerial journeys. While they experienced the thrill of flying, I would seize the opportunity to pitch my business. One memorable success involved a client who, after our breakfast on Block Island, returned to the office raving about the experience, securing me the job. I frequently used flying to connect with people and grow my business.

Engaging in the thrilling world of aviation as a hobby can be financially demanding. To make flying more accessible, I used to invite friends to join me, sharing the costs of renting an airplane. This collaborative approach allowed me to indulge in my passion for flying affordably.

In 2019, inspired by my experiences, I launched Pilot2Pilot.com - Why Fly Alone. As the platform evolved, we transitioned to the name Why Fly Alone.com – Pilots Flying with Pilots. During this journey, I uncovered a concerning trend: the decline of school field trips to airports and a growing job shortage in Aviation and Aerospace.

Motivated by this realization, I founded the Why Fly Alone Foundation.org, a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation. Our mission is to bring the airport field trip experience directly to schools. Using a trailer with a folding wing airplane, we facilitate in-house field trips, providing students with a hands-on experience. Children will get the chance to sit in the airplane alongside a pilot, exploring the flight controls and avionics. Also, our program presenters will discuss exciting job opportunities in Technology, Aviation and Aerospace, aiming to inspire the next generation of enthusiasts and professionals. In fact, it is possible that one of your children could be among the first humans to set foot on another planet.

When children complete high school they have many different paths of endeavors. Some children will go to college, others to trade school, and others may start their own business.

It is our goal, to trailer a folding wing airplane to schools. We plan to show children across Long Island, especially disadvantaged youth, that a career in aviation is an exciting, and prosperous hands-on, diverse, and growing field. It also has plenty of opportunity for all skill sets.

Our Why Fly Alone Foundation’s program “We Bring the Airport Field Trip to Your School” will spark students' curiosity and interest in the aviation STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field.

This will be an experience children may not normally have been exposed to under traditional education. Therefore, this can be a monumental milestone of an experience for a child that can change the entire course of their future as it did for me.

Once this plane is purchased, we will travel to school at no charge to the schools or children, it will remain a free program for all Long Island schools. Your support can help us continue this educational initiative and make aviation education accessible to more children.

(Please note that if this fundraiser does not achieve its goal, donations will be returned. We are collecting donations through GoFundMe and outside donations from local businesses, so we may have additional funds not visible on our GoFundMe page. Please feel free to email me with questions and updates.)