Manchester Second-Graders Fly To Hawaii ... Sort Of

A group of second-graders from Manchester were given some inspiration for their future careers when they took at tour at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

The students in Jessica Gwin’s class at Manchester Township Elementary School not only got to see and touch a C-17, they also got to fly one.

Well, sort of.

After learning what all the controls of the plane do, the students took a seat in a flight simulator of a C-17 and got to fly to Hawaii and “land” the plane there.

That was just a piece of the trip for Gwin’s class. The field trip, funded through Donors Choose, began wit them meeting a retired Air Force pilot upon entering the base.

Before entering the training site, the bus drove around the base and the students were able to see C-17 planes on the flight lines. The students were given the opportunity to wear a real pilot’s helmet; see the back of a C-17 airplane (loadmaster’s station) and learn what all the controls do, as well as learn about the importance of the United States Air Force. They got to see a C-17 engine and cockpit, and finished their trip with a pizza lunch provided by the McGuire staff.

When they returned to school, they made a C-17 model out of clay.

“It truly was an awesome experience that my second-graders are still talking about!” Gwin said. “I would like to thank the donors again for giving her class this wonderful opportunity!”

(Students from Manchester Township Elementary School took a virtual flight to Hawaii in the C-17 simulator at the Joint Base. Credit: Jessica Gwin)