Young Detroiters Get Free Flights In Honor Of Late Photographer David Posavetz

The late award-winning photographer David Posavetz grew up near Detroit's City Airport and spent hours watching planes take off and land not far from his home. He dreamed what it would be like to fly one.

The son of a middle class family, Mr. Posavetz, who would later become chief photographer for the Macomb Daily, as well as photographer for the Detroit News and other news outlets, didn't get that chance until he was well into his career.

He never lost his love of flying and took lessons as an adult. He fulfilled his dream of owning a plane – a white 2-seater Cessna 150 which he kept at the Coleman A. Young International Airport.

"Knowing how much flying meant to him as a young person, when Dave heard about the Young Eagles program, he was happy to share his love of flying with young people," recalled his wife, Nancy Cain Posavetz.

The June event program is being held this Sunday and is sponsored by the Detroit Tuskegee Airmen EAA Chapter 1351 along with the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum tuskegeemuseum.org.

The national program – held at airports across the country -- offers free plane rides to young people between the age of 8 and 17.

Mr. Posavetz, who died of a sudden heart attack in November, is being honored this Sunday as the June event he participated in is being named after him.

"He is the first local pilot who has been involved in this program to pass away ," said Brian Smith, who started the EAA program at city airport. "We wanted to honor his volunteerism for contributing his plane, his airplane fuel and his time to help so many young people in Detroit."

Smith is a retired biomedical engineer, who worked at General Dynamics. He is also among local pilots who have taken young Detroiters to the skies for their flights during EAA events at City Airport.

Smith found out about the EAA program while at an airport event in Chicago years ago. He was so impressed he decided to start a chapter at Detroit City Airport.

Since 1992, more than 1.9 million Young Eagles have enjoyed a flight from EAA's network of volunteer pilots from across the country. For many, it was the start of their journey to becoming a pilot, aircraft mechanic, air traffic controller, or many other career possibilities.

The David Posavetz Young Eagles Program is being held 10 am to 2 p.m. Sunday at Detroit's Coleman A. Young International Airport. For more information or to arrange a flight for a young person ages 8-to-17 call 313-510-7147.