Newspapers / Winston-Salem chronicle. / Jan. 7, 1988, edition 1 / Page 6
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1 PAGE A6 Winston-Salem Chronicle JANUARY 7,1^ People CLOSE-UP Teen trades car keys for wings By ANGIE MARTIN Chronicle Staff Writer When Willie Maithewson turned 16 a few months ago, he didn’t ask to borrow the keys to the family ear. Instead of getting his driver's license in August, Matthewson earned his student's pilot's license. And now the N. C. School of Science and Math junior says he knows exactly what he wants to do for the rest of his life-fly. "I told my Mom, I don’t want a car, I want a heli copter," said Matthewson. "I won’t have to worry about parking." Matthewson doesn't even have his driver’s learner's permit, his mother said. He's scheduled to lake the eligibility test for his private pilot's license in February. But it was last spring that Matthewson signed up for Hying lessons, after his mother, a Piedmont Airlines employee, told him about the courses. But since age six the future aeronautical engineer wanted to Hy. A family friend and Air Force pilot also inspired Matthewson to try his wings and for his I6th birthday, on August 8, he got his first official license. Although he owns neither a car nor a helicopter, from the time he lakes off the runway and becomes airborne, a single engine Piper Tomahawk is under his control. "It’s a small plane and I can’t wait until I gel started with multi-engines," Matthewson said. Matthewson is currently enrolled at the Piedmont Right School. He already has more than 45 hours of flight time under his belt. Now, Matthewson is aiming even higher. "When I turn 17 I’ll get my private pilot's license and I probably won't have my driver’s license by then either,” he said. "I still think it's fun. It’s exciting. When you get in there it’s tike you're a bird," Matihcw.son said. He said that at one time he had given thought to becoming a computer engineer. "Early in life I said, 'oh wow, computers.' And we got one at home and I "When I turn 17 I'll get my private pilot's license and 1 probably won't have my driver's license by then either." - Willie Matthewson played with it a little bit but I’m not real good at it." But flying is different. "It’s just one of those things I like to do. Like some people like to drive cars. I mean, well, that's more dangerous than flying a plane because if you're flying a plane you can land it even if the engine cuts off," Matthewson said. "The purpose of the emergency procedures is to teach you how to land it and land it safely and be able to walk away away from it.” Matthewson is confident in his skills and in the training he’s received from his instructor, Norman Wiginton. Above, 16-year-old student pilot Willie Matthewson wraps up a flight session. At left he chprt h' instrument panel in preparation for fiight (photos by Santana). ’ things to occur during his flight training was when he had to fly donning a special hood. "You can't see any thing except the instrument panel," he said. "We were flying along and the instructor told me to go in a cer tain direction and a certain compass heading, and I was flying that way fine and then he said, 'alright, now fly this way,' and Matthewson found himself headed directly toward Mount Pilot and cross counu-y flying, but he’s looking forward to Before Matthewson actually got off the runway, he received preliminary training in a flight simulator. "It’s different when you fly in a simulator," he said. He describes the simulator as though it were a video game. "With a simulator you're like - 'this is fun' - but once you get in the regular airplane you're like - Wow! This is rciilly different'" Not to underestimate his ability, Matthewson said that he always thinks about what would happen if something went wrong when he’s off of the ground. It happens all the time. "We’ll go flying and (the instruc tor) will turn off the power and he'll turn the gas off to make it stall. You have to know how to make it stall and what to do to keep it in the air,” he said. Matthewson recalls that one of the most exciting In another incident Matthewson was again required to wear the hood. "I was in the hood and my instructor said, 'alright, what I want you to do is tell me which way we're going'...and I'd say 'well we're going toward the right. We’re turning up.' And he said 'take off the hood.' I took off the hood and we were turning left and going down.” Learning to trust the instruments is sometimes difficult. "I was scared,” he admitted. "That's one thing you have to worry about when you're flying in clouds because the mountain can just jump out in front of you." Flying with a blinding hood on is one hurdle he’s overcome. Other hurdles he’ll have to climb in order to secure his private pilot's license include nighttime "The fear of it isn't really in me. I’m not really afraid of it because it's just one of those things 1 like to do." he said. Not only does Maithewson enjoy flying, he lakes joy rides on his 10-speed bike. He is also a recognized cross country runner at his school. He is an active member of Dreamland Park Baptist Church's usher board. Academics are also a priority for Matthewson. As a junior at the N. C. School of Science and Math in Durham, he enjoys vigorous academic preparation, "My favorite class is physics," he said. "You experi ence so much in that class and then you see how things relate to life and that even affects the airplane, I can think about that when I’m flying,” he said. Matthewson is also creative. He spends as much time as he can constructing posters, and a once beloved stamp collection is now "buried in his draw- ta-." He’s even found a way to incorporate his academ ic requirements with his love of flying. Aerial photog raphy is one of his hobbies. On his most recent flights Please see page A9 ABOUT TOWN N.C. Dance Theater to feature dancer Mel Tomlinson Mel Tomlinson will per-, form and choreograph a piece for North Carolina Dance The ater for its Jan. 8 and 9 perfor mances at 8 p.m. at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem. Tomlinson will choreo graph a pas de trois called "No Right on Red," to the music of MortGarson. Not only will this be the world premiere of "No Right on Red,” but it wilt also be the first work professionally choreographed by Tomlinson. He will also be performing in "No Right on Red." Artistic director Salvatore Aiello's "Journey" with music by Malcolm Arnold will also feature Mel Tomlinson in a pri mary role. This will be the American premiere of this bal let. The performances will also include "Napoli: Act III Diver- tisments" by Boumonville with music by Hoisted, Paulli, and Lumbyc and the world premiere of "La Mer" by Nebrada with music by Debussy. Mcl Tomlinson was a guest perfonner for the Dance Theater in its opening show in October. He has been a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and the Alvin Ailey Dance The ater. He was the first recipient of the North Carolina Prize (1983) awarded for outstanding work in the visual or perform ing arts and has been exu-emely active in educating the public about dance. Presently, he is on the faculty at the North Carolina School of the Arts. North Carolina Dance The ater, under artistic director Aiello, is one of the most sought-after professional dance companies in the country. The Dance Theater, headquartered in ■Winston-Salem, was founded in 1970 by Robert Lindgren and is a professional affiliate of the NCSA. Last season, the Dance Theater earned critical acclaim in New York City. The 16 dancers have mixed impressive backgrounds and have toured selected locations throughout the United States and Europe. features a 25 percent savings to multiple registrants for the new Wednesday and Friday night classes. Two popular versions of our basic drawing classes specifically designed for entry level students are to be offered. ”I Can’t Draw/Yes I Can" for adults and "Drawing on the Right Brain" of children. Sawtooth Center is helping residents face old man winter I with an uplifting program we have created for the entire fami ly. Family Night at the Sawtooth Wednesday's adult class will be taught by Mary Ann Zotto, beginning on Feb. 10, and ending March 9. The Friday adult class will be taught by Susan Holloway and will begin Feb. 12 and run through March 11. Both the Wednesday and Friday Children's classes will be taught by our youth program coordinator, Judith Kenney Reissing, and members of her staff who have been trained in Belly Edward’s "Drawing on the Please see page A9 COMMUNITY CALENDAR FRIDAY JAN. 8 • The School of American Ballet will host an audition at 10 a.m. until' 1 p.m. at the North Carolina School of the Arts. For more information cal! 770-3399 extension 3207. SATURDAY JAN. 9 • The Tax Reform Act of 1986 for Business and How It Effects Your Business" will be presented by the Minority Busine.ss League from 9 a.m. until noon. The seminar will be held at the Reynolds Health Cen ter Cafeteria. Patrick Grimes will be the scinimir facitiuiior For more information and reservations call 723-3552. Registration for the 0[K;n 35 Years and Over Men's Basketball League continues until 5 p.m. at the Winston Lake Family YMCA. For more information on the league fee and session suirting dales call Norman Joyner at 724-9205. SOCIAL NOTES Noted African Children's Choir to perform locally The African Children's Choir is scheduled to appear in Winston Salem on Jan, 8 at 7 p.m. at the Redeemer Presbyterian Church. The African Children's Choir is sponsored by the Ambassadors of Aid (AOA), a non-profit, inter denominational Christian organiza tion primarily involved in relief and development work in Uganda. Despite a legacy of turmoil an violence in their Ugandan home land, 24 orphan children, ages 5 to 12, have safely arrived to sing in North America. The concert funds the continued development of chil dren’s homes and schools. The AOA currently has six children’s homes in Uganda. The choir has performed worldwide an throughout North America, Western Europe and the United Kingdom. United Kingdom. They have also performed with the Vancouver Symphony, as well as at Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, the McDonald’s Cor poration's "Gospclfest," and Lou Rawl’s "Parade of Stars Telethon. Their lively and inspirational concerts feature gospel music and African melodies. While performing with the choir the Ugandan children receive extensive Bible training and the experience of performing for thou sands of people. Funds raised for the choir con certs benefit the AOA's endeavors, including the maintenance of six children's homes in war-tom Ugan- AOA also sponsors a literacy The African Children's Choir will present a performance in Salem Friday, Jan, 8, at 7 p.m. at Redeemer Presbyterian school program operating in coop- children under its direct eralion with Uganda’s Ministry of an additional 100 receiw Education. AOA has 175 Ugandan tionat support
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