Youth Aviation Partnership Opens the Skies to the Next Generation While Carrying Forward the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen

JLP's Partnership with Legacy Flight Academy connects young people to aviation, STEM education, mentorship and real-world flight experiences

[CITY, STATE] — [DATE] — What began during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity for young people to research aviation has evolved into a continuing effort to expose the next generation to possibilities in flight, aerospace, STEM and military careers through a partnership with Legacy Flight Academy.

The relationship traces its roots to 2020, when two youth interns were challenged to research flight academies and organizations creating opportunities for young people of color in aviation. Their research led to Legacy Flight Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen by providing young people with aviation experiences, mentorship, character development, STEM education and pathways toward future aerospace careers.

As part of that early exploration, the youth coordinated an interview with Dominica Thomas, along with her father, Kenneth “KT” Thomas, and stepmother, Valyncia Thomas, providing a personal look at what it takes for a young person to pursue aviation and the importance of mentorship, preparation and representation.

Dominica shared her journey of discovering an interest in aviation, her aspirations toward military service and her experience pursuing a private pilot license. She also discussed the mentorship she received through Sisters of the Skies, an organization supporting women interested in aviation. Her progress toward her private pilot license was delayed for approximately six months during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the very real disruption young aspiring aviators experienced during that period.

Kenneth Thomas brought another perspective to the conversation through his military and aviation background, emphasizing that flying requires much more than an interest in airplanes. Procedure, preparation and continual practice are essential components of becoming a successful aviator.

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Valyncia Thomas, an attorney by profession and a United States Air Force officer, joined the family conversation about aviation, service and the importance of creating opportunities for the next generation. The family's connection to Legacy Flight Academy also demonstrated a central theme of the organization: young people who are given opportunities can ultimately become mentors and give back to others.

Today, Kenneth “KT” Thomas serves as President of Legacy Flight Academy and founder of its Eyes Above the Horizon program. The Academy describes Thomas as an American Airlines captain and U.S. Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel who has accumulated more than 1,700 military flight hours, including more than 660 combat hours.

More Than Learning to Fly

Central to the partnership is a larger lesson: aviation education is also an opportunity to teach history, leadership, discipline and possibility.

Legacy Flight Academy builds its youth programming upon the history and accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, ensuring that young participants understand the generations of Black aviators whose courage and achievements helped make today's opportunities possible.

The Academy's current model asks young people to “Know, Live, and Grow the Legacy” through three primary initiatives. P.A.R. Motivations focuses on passion, attitude and responsibility; Eyes Above the Horizon introduces youth ages 10–19 to aviation through flight experiences, mentorship and Tuskegee Airmen history; and the Double Victory Flight Program provides scholarships, mentorship and pathways to FAA-approved flight schools for high school students pursuing flight training.

The materials developed around the partnership similarly identified Legacy Flight Academy's mission as sustaining the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen while encouraging young people to pursue aerospace and STEM careers.

Through Eyes Above the Horizon, participating youth don't simply watch aviation from the sidelines. The program includes an orientation flight in a single-engine aircraft where participants can take the controls, along with instruction in basic aviation principles, exposure to STEM disciplines and mentorship from professionals working throughout the aerospace field. The program is offered at no cost to participants in an effort to reach young people from underrepresented communities.

From a Pandemic Conversation to Continuing Opportunity

The 2020 interview now represents more than a moment captured during the pandemic. It demonstrates what can happen when young people are encouraged to research opportunities, connect with professionals and see people who look like them succeeding in fields they may never have considered.

That philosophy continues through the partnership with Legacy Flight Academy: exposure creates possibility, mentorship creates direction, and experience gives young people the confidence to imagine themselves in the cockpit.

As the partnership continues, participating youth will have opportunities to learn about aviation, understand the history of the Tuskegee Airmen, engage with aviation professionals and gain exposure to pathways that can ultimately lead to flight training and careers in aviation, aerospace, STEM and military service.

For more information about Legacy Flight Academy and its youth aviation programs, visit Legacy Flight Academy.