Cleared for take-off: Apple Valley Airport inspires future aviators

A group of children and adults pose for a photo in front of a historic U.S. Air Force jet with the tail number "AF 531515" and body number "FU-910." The aircraft is parked outdoors near a hangar, and the group stands smiling under bright sunlight.

Students learned about Apple Valley Airport’s replica of Captain Joseph McConnell’s FU-910 Korean War-era fighter jet.

A large group of children and adults pose for a group photo in front of a California Highway Patrol airplane parked on the tarmac beside a hangar. The group smiles under a clear blue sky, with the aircraft’s tail marked "CHP" prominently visible.

Students an California Highway Patrol officers with the Air83 aircraft.

A small classroom setting where a uniformed instructor and a person in a fighter pilot suit stand at the front, presenting flight gear laid out on a table to an attentive seated audience. The room includes American and Californian flags, and some of the gear includes a helmet and flight suit accessories.

Tommy Gummo explains the components and functions of a Nomex fighter jet pilot suit.

Two children sit inside the cockpit of a small red and silver aircraft with the canopy open, appearing curious and focused. An adult stands nearby, and other people are visible in the background on a sunny day near a building and fenced area.

Two students sit inside the cockpit of Tommy Gummo’s red-and-silver RV-12 kit aircraft.

A group of children stands in a line on an airport tarmac, listening to a man in sunglasses speak near a small white airplane. Another adult stands in the background, and the scene takes place under a clear blue sky with hangars visible in the distance.

Chalk 2 pilots explain their drone traffic surveillance work and encourage students to begin early with studying, training and pursuing a pilot’s license.

A woman in business casual clothes and sunglasses speaks in front of an outdoor grill.

Apple Valley Airport Manager Teresa “Tess” Cook shares her journey into the aviation industry.

Students stand on the skid of a California Highway Patrol H-82 helicopter inside a hangar, with some entering the cockpit and one child playfully saluting the camera.

Students take a close-up look at the California Highway Patrol H-82 helicopter.

Ronnie McCullough sits at a table indoors, demonstrating how to assemble a model airplane to two young boys watching attentively. Several model airplane kits and parts are spread across the table. In the background, other children and adults move through the space.

Ronnie McCullough demonstrates assembling model airplanes.

What began as a young boy’s fascination with flight became a communitywide launchpad for learning when San Bernardino County’s Apple Valley Airport welcomed High Desert homeschool students for two inspiring mornings of aviation discovery last week.

The idea for the field trips originated with Evan Carrillo, a local student whose love for airplanes set the course for an unforgettable experience.

“I was so fascinated. I told my mom, ‘How about we do a field trip about airplanes?’” he said.

Encouraged by her son’s curiosity, Melissa Carrillo—who helps coordinate educational field trips for homeschooling families—began reaching out to the San Bernardino County Airports. After following up, she received the green light to organize the field trips at Apple Valley Airport.

“It was a blessing that we finally got a response,” Carrillo said. “I just want to keep pushing these kids—whether it’s aviation or anything else in life. I want them to see all the different avenues their careers can take.”

What unfolded was more than just a tour—it was a hands-on immersion in aviation careers and technology.

Tony Marshall, a retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and former United Airlines captain, inspired students by sharing highlights from his 60-year aviation journey.

Tommy Gummo, a local flight mentor and Young Eagles coordinator, shared how his Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter offers free introductory flights for youth ages eight to 17. Gummo also demonstrated how simple flight controls work and reminded students that even flying a small trainer aircraft requires focus and discipline.

Gummo and Marshall walked students through the pathway from first flight to private pilot certification, emphasizing hands-on experience, ground school and progressive training through programs like the aviation summer academy through the nonprofit Millionaire Minds Kids.

The tarmac experience began with a visit to pilots from Chalk 2, an air service company specializing in drone traffic surveillance. The representatives encouraged students to enroll in ground school and begin preparing for their private pilot’s license as early as age 15.

Additionally, students also learned where and how to safely board a plane as they climbed into Gummo’s RV-12 kit aircraft.

One of the most exciting stops was inside the hangar of the California Highway Patrol’s Inland Division Air Operations, where students got a close-up look at the H-82 helicopter and Air83 aircraft. Mechanics and CHP officers explained how the aircraft supports medevac and emergency response missions throughout the county.

Ray Espolt, a certified flight instructor and commercial crop-dusting pilot, also offered a real-world look at aviation careers in California and across the nation.

Students then dove into model aviation with Ronnie McCullough from the Youth Education Model Aviation Group. After demonstrating how to build and fly their own planes, he emphasized long-term opportunities in aeronautics and encouraged youth to explore and study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM subjects) and Academy of Model Aeroneutics for scholarships and national competitions.

Apple Valley Airport Manager Teresa “Tess” Cook also shared her own unconventional journey through the drone industry and general aviation.

“The homeschool field trips are such a powerful example of how aviation can inspire young minds. I didn’t grow up around aviation, and I often think about how different my path might’ve been if I’d had access to experiences like this early on,” said Cook. “That’s why I’m so proud that our airport is prepared and excited to support opportunities like this. You never know which moment will spark a lifelong passion in a future pilot, engineer or airport manager.”

“This is career-driven education that helps our kids see what’s possible and envision themselves in those paths,” Carrillo said.

As San Bernardino County Airports continues to foster future aviators, these field trips serve as a launchpad for future aviation careers.

To learn more about county Airports, visit airports.sbcounty.gov.

Additional County Update News – May 29, 2025