Latest news with #FirstFlight
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Storytime with astronaut Robert 'Hoot' Gibson, Ed Wilson
DES MOINES, Iowa — Families gathered at the Valley Community Center for storytime with WHO 13's Ed Wilson and astronaut Robert L. Gibson. Families enjoyed inflatables, readings, and build-a-book workshops. Also in attendance was five-time astronaut Robert 'Hoot' Gibson, who shared his own children's book with the audience. Published in October 2024, 'First Flight' follows a young owlet who strives to master the art of flying. Gibson says the story is special to him as it wasn't just his extraordinary career that shaped this story, but his family. 'I have been really close to my grandson, Andrew, because he only lives ten minutes away from me back in Tennessee. And I would take him flying in my Beechcraft Bonanza. And he loves it,' said Gibson. 'We should write a story about another hoot that takes his grandson, Andrew, flying. And so, it wound up being a wise old owl named Hoot and his little owl, that grandson Andrew.' Thursday saw the widest tornado in Iowa history Author is just one of the many hats Gibson has worn in his life. Gibson was taught how to fly by his father, and once he was out of college, his course was set. 'I went right into the Navy and through Navy pilot training, I learned all over again to do things the Navy way and then got to be a Navy fighter pilot and flew in the Vietnam War, Navy test pilot, and then got picked in the very first space shuttle astronaut class in 1978.' During his time with NASA, Gibson flew five missions from 1984 to 1995. Gibson also flew the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, famous for its appearance in the 1986 film 'Top Gun.' 'Yeah, similar to Tom Cruise, except I actually flew it. So, every time I put the photo up of my F-14 Tomcat with Lieutenant Bob Gibson in the cockpit, I usually always say Tom Cruise, eat your heart out. I actually got to fly these.' Rightfully known as the man who flew everything, after retiring from NASA, Gibson flew with Southwest Airlines. Gibson now spends his time on home-built aircrafts and working with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
First Flight schools secure top placements at the NC Renewable Energy Challenge
KILL DEVIL HILLS, Nc. (WAVY) – Students from First Flight Middle School and First Flight High School displayed their knowledge of engineering and renewable energy by earning top honors at the North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge held at the Coastal Studies Institute in Wanchese. The NC Renewable Energy Challenge is a competition where students compete to build and design the most efficient alternative energy device. First Flight students secured the top placements in their respective divisions. Water Turbine Contest – High School Division 1st place: Alex Sharp (First Flight High) 2nd place: Autumn Sailor, Aidan Tabolt, and Harry Lipchak (First Flight High team) Wind Turbine Contest – 4th-8th Grade Division 1st place: Adriana Daniels, Enzo Piacenza, Diego Reyes-Avila, and Heidi Wisecarver (First Flight Middle team) Wind Turbine Contest – High School Division 1st place: Autumn Sailor, Aidan Tabolt, and Harry Lipchak (First Flight High team) In addition to the wind and water turbine contests, students participated in four mini-challenges and interviews for extra points. First Flight student competitors earned a total of $900 in prize money and are invited to represent the state at the 2025 KidWind Challenge Worlds in Phoenix, Arizona in May. 'These students have put in an incredible amount of effort, and their results speak for themselves,' said Dr. Duke Wallin, First Flight High School's career development coordinator (CTE) and co-coach. 'Winning at both the middle and high school levels reflects the strength of our STEM and Career & Technical Education programs here in Dare County, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
