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Boy Scouts earn merit badges at McCall Fly-In

Boy Scouts gathered on the McCall Airport tarmac during the annual McCall Fly-In last weekend (Aug. 14) to learn the basics of aviation and airport management. It was all part of earning their aviation merit badges.

Ranging in age from 9 to 15, the scouts booked up on different kinds of aircraft, took a guided tour of airport taxiways and witnessed air traffic controllers at work.

Boys from Troupe 245 of McCall and Troup 202 of Meridian spent much of the day with ITD Division of Aviation staff Frank Lester and Debbie Woolery, and volunteer Rick Woolery.

“I think it’s fun,” said John Jackson, 13, of Meridian. “I learned about lift, drag, thrust, weight.”

No stranger to flying, Jackson knew some of the basics from flying with his grandfather in a Taildragger Cessna 180. Jackson also is no stranger to earning scout merit badges – he already has badges in leatherwork, painting, first aid, emergency preparedness and hiking.

Debbie Woolery led the scouts in a pre-flight check “to make sure the plane is safe and ready to fly,” she explained. The boys learned to check for clean fuel, an oiled engine, properly inflated tires – and birds’ nests in the engines.

Photo: Cameron McPheters (left) and Delan Allen, both 12 and members of Boy Scout Troupe 245 of McCall, collected information about basic aviation concepts, types of aircraft and engine in order to earn their aviation merit badges.