Airport Helps Residents Aim for the Sky

Hidden in the corridor of Industrial Parkway lies one of Marysville’s most important attributes, The Union County airport. It’s been around for 49 years, but the opportunities that it’s runway brings are often overlooked.

The first and foremost duty the airport upholds is providing ease of access for the abundant businesses Marysville provides a home for. The airport becomes an important tool for companies that fuel our cities and surrounding areas economy like Honda, Scott’s Miracle Gro, Roof Management, Tech Site, Kahler Automation, Meijer, and Rural King.

Not only do they provide vital assistance to business, they also provide open arms to anyone interested in learning to fly themselves. I had the privilege to interview 3 young pilots who have amazing stories about how they learned to fly at our very own, Union County airport.

Cameron Ward, 19 years old; 19 year resident

Cameron’s father took him and his brother out to the airport regularly during their childhood. Eventually one summer, he took the leap and asked the then manager of the airport, “Hey do you guys need a line service guy out here?” It was perfect timing and Cameron was able to hop right in. This essentially led to Cameron’s passion for aviation, “I don’t think I would have ever been interested in flying without the Union County airport. I love this airport because everyone knows each other. A big airport would be a lot less personal, it’s a real tight knit community and even the surrounding airports are nice and friendly. If the airport wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have one of the most important aspects of my life, aviation.” 

Cameron and one of his Young Eagles

Cameron also volunteers for an experimental aviation program called Young Eagles. The purpose of the program is to get young people inspired about aviation. Cameron talked about his first experience taking a Young Eagle up in Marysville, “My first Young Eagle I took up was very shy. I would point out landmarks and say things like, ‘Hey, there’s Honda,” after a while he started to relax and that’s when you know you are doing a good job flying. He started talking about how his brother was in the Air Force and how he wanted to go into aviation when he was older. It’s a really fun experience.”

Young Eagles is a way to inspire a new generation of pilots, to give them that first step in getting their pilot licenses and you can do it right here in Marysville!

Cameron talked about what it feels like to be up in the air, “There’s a feeling all pilots get when you realize that you literally aren’t on Earth anymore. If you go for it and commit to it, then it totally pays off.”

Kelsie Smith, 23 years old; 23 year Resident

Kelsie was deathly terrified of flying, but she had to hop right in when her mother bought her an introductory flight lesson for her 18th birthday. She went up with a flight instructor and he let her take the controls, “I had a death grip, I was convinced the plane was going to crash if I let go. He told me, ‘Take your hands off, Kelsie.’ I didn’t want to, but he kept assuring me it would be fine. When I took my hands off and I saw the airplane was still flying, I fell in love with aviation. Once you see how everything works, the fear goes away.”

Kelsie and a Lear Jet 35

Kelsie started out as a flight instructor and taught people how to fly over the course of 2 years. She is now a commercial pilot and flies twin engines and Lear jets all over the United States and Canada. She found her connection at our very own, Fiesta Grande, “I walked into a restaurant my sister works at, Fiesta Grande and I met someone who gave me my current bosses phone number and told me to call him.  I called and now I have a dream job.”

As a flight instructor, Kelsie knows what it takes to become a pilot, “It takes 40 hours of instruction to fly an airplane. They’ll work with you on the ground, teach you everything you need to know and then take you up. Eventually, they will even let you practice by yourself.”

Kelsie has been to airports all over the nation but what she loves about the Union County airport is the community, “My favorite thing about the Union County airport is the homey feel. Everyone is very nice, everybody knows everybody, and they are willing to help you. You feel like you are part of a family at that airport.”

Kelsie, being a ballet dancer for 15 years, described flying as the equivalent of dancing in the sky. She wants young pilots to know, “It’s not as hard as you think it is. It does take dedication, time and money, but it’s totally worth it. Go for it, take an introductory flight, it’s relatively cheap. You can see how awesome flying really is, you get to see things you don’t see every day, the sunset reflecting off the clouds, shooting stars, the satellite, thunderstorms, clouds rolling with lightning; you have to experience it for yourself.”

Chris Ward, 21 years old; 20 year resident

When Chris was in high school, he could hear the homecoming football game from his house, all of the thumping and the music of football Friday nights, but he wasn’t interested in going. He dubs this as the moment he decided he was going to learn to fly, “I thought there had to be something bigger to do. That’s when I started flight training, there’s so much out there to do. But kids get caught up in popularity, hanging out and partying. Youth is your secret weapon. It’s nice to come out of high school with something that puts you ahead of the game. The Union County airport gave me something to set myself apart from everyone else, it gave me that leverage.”

Chris took me up for a ride! It was a great experience!

Chris wasn’t a ballet dancer when he was growing up so he has a different take on being up in the air, “It’s very freeing. I’m a technical person, so my favorite part is taking off and landing. I feel engaged and it’s just so freeing that I can point the plane in any direction and just be places like New York or California. On the right kind of day in Marysville, you can see Columbus or the hills of Southern Ohio. Flying just makes you realize how small you are compared to the rest of the world.”

Cameron, Kelsie, and Chris could all agree that their favorite thing about the Union County Airport is the community, “I really like the community atmosphere of the Union County Airport because when you go out there it’s not like a commercial airport. It’s so accessible and you get to experience the joys of flying. It’s an aviation family and we like to say at our airport, ‘A mile of road takes you a mile, but a mile of runway takes you anywhere.’”

Chris’s advice for young pilots is, “Just try it, you might like it. It’s not for everyone, but it’s probably for a lot more people than are doing it. Once you realize that pilots are people and it’s a completely legitimate career. The industry is booming. There is so much opportunity, especially for young pilots. Flying is beautiful because you’re the author of your own destiny.”

The Union County Airport gave Chris the opportunity to carve his own path, separate himself from others, and allow him to become himself.

If you are interested in learning to fly, the Union County Airport offers flight instruction with their partner, Spencer Aviation.  See flyspenceraviation.com for details.  You can also contact their office at (937) 644-2055 or visit the webpage skyvistaaviation.com 

This what Marysville looks like from up above!

And of course, it would only be natural for the airport to provide ridiculous amounts of fun for the community. Their major event is one near and dear to all community members’ hearts, the All Ohio Balloon Festival. They are planning to have smaller events such as a 1940's themed hangar dance and a fly in pancake breakfast. 

Dave Holden, one of the owners of the Union County Airport would like community members to know, that this is the community's airport. They welcome everyone to come out and see what a great aviation community we have. Everyone is welcome, even if it’s just to sit under the awning and watch the aircraft fly.

Thank you, Union County Airport for making Marysville more than just a town 45 minutes northwest of Columbus!