Flying School

This is Nelson Olstead, and I'm here to tell you how high school education gets off the ground in Crescent City, California Before I do here's clique Gruber speaking for Pacific Power Welcome once again to stories of Pacific Power Land a presentation of Pacific Power and Life a company that has been serving the electric needs of the regions home

Farms and industries through more than half a century of progress and growth Now if we have the go-ahead from the tower Nelson, let's take off In 1953, Charles Tunan learned to fly. This event marked a notable change in the Crescent City, California, Del Norte County High School.

You see, Charles Tunan, who was then principal of the high school, got together with his friend, Don Clossen, a former World War II pilot who was known as California's Flying Congressman, and formulated an extraordinary plan.

Principal Tunan said, Well, and learning to fly is over in my eyes to a lot of things, Don. There's no reason why high school students aren't capable of learning to operate an aircraft. I've been thinking in terms of a flying club at the school.

Wow, now you're talking, Charlie. But let's take it a step further. Why not make aviation a regular part of the school's program? Well, I'd like to start out unofficially. We'll see what the response is, and we'll go from there.

Through the cooperation of the Crescent City Airport Manager, A few high school students were enrolled for flight training as an out-of-school project, and educator Charles Toonen quickly became aware of something. He said, well, it follows as the night of day, when the student becomes interested in aviation, he begins to recognize the practical use of such things as mathematics and physics,