Pilot and AMC Museum team up to educate

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Typically, many Airmen on a daily basis don't think about how the Air Force operates or how airplanes fly. They have grown accustomed to both, making them afterthoughts. But for the "average Joe" civilian, this is not the case.

To enhance the general public's knowledge and comprehension on the Air Force and airplane basics, Capt. Travis Doyle, 9th Airlift Squadron C-5M Super Galaxy pilot, teamed up with the Air Mobility Command Museum and its educational outreach program, "Hangar Flying," for a special presentation entitled, "The Air Force and Airplane Fundamentals," July 19, 2015, at the AMC Museum on Dover AFB, Delaware.

"This gave our public visitors an opportunity to hear a current aircrew member give the same briefing he gives new troops," said Mike Leister, AMC Museum director. "This opens a new window to the Air Force that gives everyone involved a better understanding of military aviation."

This free presentation was a modified briefing that Doyle gives regularly to Team Dover Airmen as part of the base's Leadership Pathways program. He has taught this class on base for the past two years.

"On base, it's more instructional and it's to build the foundations for airplane fundamentals to where Airmen can go out and speak to the public intelligently on what we do and how an airplane operates," said Doyle. "For today, it is kind of the same thing."

Doyle's presentation touched on the history and mythology of flight and the history of the Air Force, from the Wright Brothers to the present. He also discussed the dangers of flight and basic airplane fundamentals, to include how airplanes achieve flight.  Doyle also went in depth on his own personal experiences as an Air Force pilot, from his training to stories on several missions he was part of in the past.

Doyle's leadership, Lt. Col. Matthew Husemann, 9th AS commander, attended the presentation to show his support.

"It's great to see young leaders like Travis come out and work with the community," Husemann said. "This shows how not only the C-5 community is part of Dover Air Force Base, but part of the overall Dover community."

For additional information on the AMC Museum, please visit their website at www.amcmuseum.org or call (302) 677-5939.