12-year-old Fairborn girl flies with stunt pilot Sean Tucker ahead of air show

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Twelve-year-old Fairborn student Olivia Collins said she was “kind of nervous” as she boarded Sean Tucker’s Oracle on Friday morning in anticipation of the Vectren Dayton Air Show.

As she prepared for take off, her mom Angela Collins was even more nervous, Angela said. But her dad Rick Collins said he taught her to love aviation from a young age.

“We went upside down, we did loops, we did rolls … I liked all of it except for going upside down,” Olivia said. “I guess it was just scary and I felt like I was going to fall out even though I know I couldn’t.”

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Throughout the flight, she said she could see a lot of trees, land and houses, and most of what was going through her mind was the hope that she wouldn’t die, but she was also having a lot of fun. After landing, she said she would do it again.

Olivia was the Young Eagles essay contest winner, a program started by the Experimental Aircraft Association. As a student member of EAA, Olivia will be be able to continue aircraft lessons, but she said she’s most excited about being able to go to most museums for free, she said.

She’s also considering a career in the Air Force or as a nurse.

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