Oklahoma and the

FRENCH FELLOWS IN Somme : aeronautics, OKLAHOMA 2019 the heart of their heritage. summary

● Project aims and a brief presentation of myself. ● Preparation in France before the trip. ● Project activities during the visit. ● Meeting (questionnaires, interviews, field visit in order to accomplish my project goals ). ● Conclusion and perspectives. Project aims and a brief presentation of myself. Introduce myself

 the main reasons for me to have undertaken the project is that, firstly, I like English ( I am graduated of the Cambridge diploma). I study during two hours English-speaking history every week. It’s thanks to that that I’m very interested in the American civilization. Secondely It was one of my biggest dreams to go to the USA. I chose this topic for my project because I would like to discover the aeronautical culture of Oklahoma. The aerospace industry is a big job-creating sector in both the Somme and Oklahoma. I wanted to compare the economical consequences of the aeronautic activity in Oklahoma and in the Somme for example Airbus company (in Méaulte). Moreover I wanted to compare the different organisations in flight school like the French flight “ L’aéroclub d’Abbeville and Wiley post in okc and also want to understand why in Oklahoma the aviation is so popular because in France it’s reserved for very few people and how, thanks to the oil boom, Oklahoma could develop as much aviation. Managed to developpe d aviation so much , Picardie, a land of pioneers in the field of aviation

Le Journal d’Abbeville : Rue Aviation takes an important place in our region because we have a huge Airbus factory which has an important economic role, the Caudron brothers, aviators and inventor, and Bessie Coleman was the first black woman in the world to be able to pilot a plane and the first person of African-American and native American origin to hold a pilot license, (obtained in France, at Le Crotoy, at the Caudron flight school.) We entitled at a village hall Rue, with her name to pay her a tribute ,

Preparation in France before the trip Preparation before the trip

 What I planed to do before my visit was:

- -To visit local museums like “ le musée des frères Caudron”, creators of famous planes like the C.460 to be able to compare our planes with those of Oklahoma.

- - To visit in June the famous French event “Salon du Bourget” in order to get contacts which could help me for my project.

 - To visit the Airbus factory of Méaulte in Picardie.

 - To contact again the French engineer of the Airbus factory of Chester to have additional information about what I want.

 - To meet pilots and former pilots of my airfield to understand how aviation operates in the Somme.

 - To contact Oklahoma pilots and engineers to identify on-site questions.

 It was really important for me to anticipate this trip well because it is a huge chance that the academy of Amiens offered us. So the desire not to disappoint was present. Museum of the Caudron Brothers, Pioneers of Aviation in Picardy

 I visited the local museum in Rue “ le musée des frères Caudron”, creators of famous planes like the C.460 to be able to compare our planes with those of Oklahoma.

 I went to this museum many times ( for the commemoration of the “Frère Caudrons” or homage of Air Force officers to Caudron Brothers for example ) to get in touch with the director who helped me a lot by giving me documents and lots of information on the history of Picardy aviation.

René Caudron first flight pulled by his horse « Luciole »  ●The museum director gave me full size copies of the women pilot posters so I could give them to the ninety-nines museum. Salon du Bourget

- In June I went to the famous French event “Salon du Bourget” in order to get contacts who could help me for my project and that work !

Thanks to this huge gathering, I was able to visit companys stands located in Oklahoma like an aeronautical company or insurance or an aerospace museum.

- French fighter planes were highlighted like the Mirage and the Rafale. These planes are envied even in America.

The Airbus factory of Méaulte in Picardie.

“The specificity of aeronautical engineer work is team work: you cannot build an aircraft on your own! We therefore work specifically on single part, but we need to be able to talk to the international. This is done on a global scale.” - To meet pilots and formers pilots of my airfield to understand how aviation operates in the Somme.

 The Abbeville’s aerodrome helped me a lot in the build up and development of my project. Françoise Sockeel, in charge of the animation department, organizes in 2020 an exhibition entitled “Women-pilots, high-flying women”. In addition to celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the aerodrome, it will be the 10 year anniversary of the French association of women pilots. They will therefore participate in this event to celebrate their annual gathering.

 At this moment my project then taking a double target. My role was now to inform the 99 association in okc of this French event,therefore to make known this event to the association of women pilots in Oklahoma "the ninety-nines“. The explanation of my project was made during an event which annually marks the year in my aerodrome, Mrs. Sockeel revealed all the tracks of my project. Project activities during the visit. Firstly

Before making my visits and meeting aviation personalities, I prepared some goodies and contact cards in order to continue an exchange later. Activities during the trip

 What I did during the trip in Oklahoma :  -Visit high school aviation classes in Oklahoma like the “Edmond North High School”  - Interview pilots, retired pilots, women pilots, students in school flying in Oklahoma and a Strasbourg aeronautical engineer in Oklahoma for three years .  - Visit the ninety-nines museum and contact the museum director  - Visit airports  -Meet women pilots Edmond North High School, Aerospace Science classes

 With a retired air force member I visited high school aviation classerooms in the “Edmond North High School” /Oklahoma. The Aerospace Science Instructor

Michael Penning, the Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI), is a 22 year Air Force Veteran and Senior Aerospace Science Instructor. Now he is a teacher at Edmond North High School.

I was lucky to meet and interview him.

He explained to me a lot about his career. the ninety-nines museum The NINETY-NINES INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN PILOTS

 The NINETY-NINES INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN PILOTS promotes advancement of aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support while honoring our unique history and sharing our passion for flight.  They decided to open a museum in 1972. It has over 5,000 square feet of displays and artifacts focused on preserving the history of women in aviation, and providing education and inspiration for young adults to enter the field of aviation and aerospace. In addition, archives and other resources are maintained on site. Another goal of the museum is to educate the public about the important contributions that women have made to aviation.

 The same fight for all these women

 I visited the ninety-nines museum and contacted the museum director. Also I met many members of the association of ninety nines in order to collect as much information as possible. I had the honor of making a private visit with the director who explained to me the history and the fight of all these women like Bessie Colman in the field of aviation which was very masculine and macho at that time. It highlights the united spirit that these women had, this desire for mutual aid which was their only chance to succeed in aviation.

Visit airport

 I visited several airports thanks to Holly Blunk, passionate pilot and pilot and instructor’s wife. She kindly took me to different places. What struck me in this three airport was the difference of the user and their financial means. I had the feeling that aviation is less expensive in America than in France thanks to petroleum which is their black gold there. But this is not the case because in France we advocate the spirit of club and volunteerism which is nonexistent in Oklahoma. In Oklahoma ; aviation cost are heavy because they are individual. The costs are not shared between aviation lovers as in France. The price of aviation in France is expensive due to the price of oil in general, but we are lucky having our club, petrol is more expensive which reduces costs. Sundance airport

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This one is reserved for very affluent customers. It is very modern and chic. It is impossible to see one like this in France. We almost forget that this place is made to pilot planes. very modern technology

This plane simulator is from NASA company

← Wiley Post airport An airport known historically for its air trade

This airport is known historically for its air trade because it is one of the first established in Oklahoma. Now the airport provides a base for over 300 aircraft in its leased hangars. Trade has given way to enthusiasts

I pleased to meet a war plane lover how showed his hangar and his planes in reconstruction Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport

I was lucky to be able to fly from this airport with Michael Penning, the Aerospace Science Instructor how I met earlier in the week. We flew over Edmond and its surroundings leaving me in command! Oklahoma from the sky Women in aviation and aerospace day

This ceremony is reserved for aviation and aerospace enthusiasts, offers individuals the opportunity to learn more about Oklahoma's general, commercial and commercial aviation, the future of the industry and the way the Oklahomans can defend the interests of girls and women on behalf of aviation and aerospace. aviation interests. Seated at the table of ninety-nines, I was able to talk with them for a long time. They all had a different and touching story, one of which particularly marked me; this woman was selected to go into space at the time but she failed because she was a woman. So she missed the chance of her life because of her gender.

The smallest plane in the world

During this ceremony I was able to meet an engineer creating the smallest airplane in the world, he was able to explain to me the specifics of this aircraft deviating the lift laws. what I remember Aviation studies

 Concerning studies:

 In Oklahoma, many grants are in place to allow young people to fulfill their dream of becoming a pilot. There are more than in France, it costs at least 100,000 euros .

 By visiting the Edmond North High School, I understood that from their 2nd year of high school (15-16 years old) they can already start their career in aviation.

The economic consequences of the aeronautic activity in Oklahoma Despite different size of the area, the number of airports remains equivalent, the two countries have a lot.

20 km A retired soldier sent me documents that explain a lot about the economic side of aviation in Oklahoma

As with the aeronautical factory in Méaulte, Oklahoma has a lot of jobs and business related to aviation

Aviation, an essential role for the economy Bibliography

 -Courrier-Picard

 -Aujourd’hui en France Acknowledgements

To the Amiens academy especially to Tatiana Viallaneix, Jean Bourdin and Latifa Madej To Marc Barbier and Valérie Lamblin and Boucher de Perthes’ teachers To the French Alliance To Cindy Shaw To Holly Blunk To Abbeville’s airport, especially Françoise Sockeel and Jean-Pierre Lignier To Rue’s museum And all the people who helped me for this project in Oklahoma.