This summer, Joseph Renaud learned to fly airplanes.
In December, we pushed him to apply to join the Red Tail Cadet Program, which provides real flight training for Ferguson-Florissant high school students and helps them pursue careers related to aviation.
But the program is highly selective. They choose only up to six students each year. They want applicants who have good grades, outstanding character, and willingness to work with a team.
The application process isn’t easy. Joseph had to gather recommendation letters, write essays, and do interviews. Despite his nerves, in February he learned he was one of nine finalists to make it through the first cut.
Then came the hardest challenge of all — getting a medical certificate from the FAA. Because of an eye condition, Joseph needed time-consuming exams and we had to push hard to get the appointments we needed. But even then, there was no guarantee the FAA would approve his certificate; or if they did, that they would mail it to us before the Red Tails’ deadline. But after many prayers, emails, and phone calls, it came through in the nick of time.
Ultimately, Joseph was chosen as one five students for the Red Tails’ sixth class. We were so proud.
He had four intense sessions of “ground school” in April. But the program really kicked off in June the same week as the Spirit of St. Louis Air Show. My parents were able to attend the kick-off ceremony since they were in town for the wedding of Joseph’s cousin, Keaton.
For the six weeks of the program, the cadets stayed in Chesterfield. They would spend most of each day at Spirit of St. Louis Airport. Almost every morning, Joseph and the other cadets would each fly a Cessna 172S airplane together with a certified flight instructor. (Joseph finished the program with 27 hours of flight time)
They also spent hours learning about aviation, from the four forces of flight to basic maneuvers to weather and safety. They also met weekly with mentors from Boeing, and often had guest speakers.
Each evening, the cadets returned to their hotel to study together, reviewing material they learned earlier in the day.
There were lots of surprises and special occasions, such as eating dinner with the Blue Angels flight team, or making a surprise night flight. On that night flight, Joseph landed at the huge Lambert Airport, then took off again and flew over Ferguson. Yoli and I were tracking him using the FlightRadar24 website, and were able to go outside and see and hear his plane as he headed north toward Illinois.
The highlight of the program came during the final week: a cross-country flight from Chesterfield to Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and back. A “cross-country” flight must be at least 50 nautical miles. In preparation, Joseph and the other cadets had to identify key landmarks along the flight path, calculate different headings for each one, and cross-reference each other’s work. They had to consider the weight each plane would carry, expected weather conditions, and more.
You can see Joseph in the cockpit during the cross-country flight at the 15:00 mark in this video:
I also made an animation showing all five cadets’ flight paths. On their return flight, they make a “V” formation.
“I loved flying every day,” Joseph said. “It’s really something else being up there and having the windows open.”
His experience as a Red Tail Cadet gave him new ideas about what he might want to do in the future. He also learned a lot about how to study and work as part of a group.
“I think I’ve always struggled with teamwork and cooperation,” he said. “Now I’ve got like a whole list of people I could call if I need help.”