Aviation Scholarship Recipient Follows In Mills’ Footsteps
L-R: Tow Pilot Jim Pavlisin, Phillip Coulby, and flight instructor Jerry Bernantz
Times-Tribune Staff Report
Seventeen year old Philip Coulby of Highland completed his Pilot Training on November 16 at the St. Louis Soaring Association club in Highland and is now a Private Pilot rated in Gliders.
Phillip was the recipient of the Larry Mills Memorial Aviation Scholarship and is following in Larry’s footsteps as a member of the Civil Air Patrol and planning to join the Air Force and become a professional pilot.
Bill Weder, the chairman of the scholarship program, was Phillip’s first passenger and is seated behind him in one of the club’s high-performance gliders with a good view of the tow-plan ahead. Weder, a 12,000 hour pilot and flight instructor, said, “Phillip gave me a smooth ride and is a competent and confident pilot”.
Phillip extended a big “Thank You” to everyone who knew Larry and helped with the scholarship program.
Glider students can qualify to fly solo at the age of 14 and can receive their license at the age of 16, and is a great way to introduce young people to the world of aviation.
To learn more about learning to fly gliders, go to www.stlsoar.org
Bill wants to thank everyone as well, and also the Highland Area Community Foundation for managing the funds for Larry’s Aviation Memorial Scholarship Program.
