Will Brinker prepares to take off during the ACE Academy at Smith Reynolds Airport. Photo by Todd Luck ? Marquan Williams with a plane he just finished piloting during the ACE Academy at Smith Reynolds Airport. Young pilots take flight in aviation camp BY TODD LUCK THE CHRONICLE Middle school students got to pilot planes on their final day of the Jim Shaw Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy at Smith Reynolds Airport on Friday, June 24. ACE Academy intro duced middle school stu dents last week and high school students this week to career possibilities in aviatmn A imnrt Commissioner Jim Shaw started the local academy six years ago. It's one of several aviation summer camps held around the state, sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation. "It's amazing to see some of these kids get out of the plane smiling and happy," said Shaw. Last week, 24 students participated in a variety of activities before piloting a single engine plane with a certified flight instructor from Piedmont Flight Training. They made model airplanes, launched miniature rockets and prac ticed in a flight simulator. They flew in a hot air bal loon at Ibraham Elementary School, where ACE instructor Tony Colburn teaches aeronau tics. They learned about a variety of jobs in the avia tion field beyond being a pilot and even got a lesson in financial planning from Piedmont Advantage Credit Union, which is one of the camp's sponsors. Sponsors help keep the tuition of the local camp the lowest in the state. Among the young par ticipants was Will Brinker, 11, who is a rising sixth grader at Jefferson Middle School. "I've always dreamed about flying, and I think that's pretty much every kid's dream," he said. He said he's always wanted to be a pilot, and that the camp has encour aged him to pursue his dream. He said being in a Shaw cockpit was an amazine experience. "I felt kind of free, actually," He said. " I felt like I was loose from the ground." ? Marquan Williams, 13, a rising eighth grader from Atlanta, Ga., also partici pated in the camp. He's in town visiting his grand mother, who suggested he try the camp. Marquan said being a pilot was also among his possible career aspirations, and that this experience made him feel like it was achievable. "It was fun," said Williams. "It was one of the best experiences of my life. It inspired me a lot," Pilots are in high demand right now since U.S. airlines are experienc ing pilot shortages. Boeing estimates it'll take 95,000 new pilots to meet the demand of airlines in North America over the next 20 years. Those looking for train ing in aviation jobs beyond piloting may have reason to return to Smith Reynolds Airport in the future. The Forsyth Technical Community College bond being considered by county commissioners for the November ballot includes hanger and classroom space at the airport for a new program that will pre pare students to work on the mechanical structure of airplanes. North State Aviation, a Smith Reynolds tenant that works on Boeing planes, has had dif ficulty finding college FAA certified employees. ? ? I Photo by Todd Luck Marching against Veterans Affairs privatization Protesters from HARRY Community Veterans Outreach, American Federation of Government Employees and A. Philip Randolph Institute march in front of the Hiram H. Ward Federal Building on Tuesday, June 28, in Winston-Salem in opposition to a potential move toward privatization in Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare. Congress is considering changes to VA hospitals after a report from the VA Commission on Care. F00D95U0N Jimm29-My? 2016 W Family Pack Food Lion Boneless Chicken Breast WOW Price Every Day ?unp I LB Bdk ^ Washington Chorries **r Without MVP Cwd 14.99 IB 's ^ Pork BBR Back Ribs ?*P Without MVP Card Regular Retail f lib.Pkg. - I? ? airawwrriw WOW Price Every toy mf SH Whole ?ii| Se?dl?ss 'WW Watermelon WttcUMVPCjri?S99?A JarenT Fresh Express uvp Salad Blends " Without MVP Cjrd 12.79 EA L; iiiy Kl M-K 01. Ptg. - Select Varieties CT? Ball Park Beef Franks 1|9lf WMhort MVP Card J4.99 EA E Regular. Thick or Low Salt Bi TmtthflalH Dtt^/vn ._-? jiiiiuiMVia Dacon '1ffml Without MVP Card SS.49EA VRRIf ^?Hot 8 Piece Mixed HL Fried Chicken "" wHiMMWijRieeeiMai AIIHol "rm< .ir. ,imil<;W< -If' f. Food Lion Mi Salads W?wtMVPOdJM9fA 2M0Ct -160tPI?' Food Lion Raw Jumbo Shrimp MDOilWPCMttnCA V*^"' HHI f RDfl 26-30 Ct.-K.Oz Pig I SBJ Food Lion ?? ;* Cooked Shrimp l*" vw