F-22 Connection

Once again, Air Camp did what Air Camp does by connecting a future aviator with ambitions to someday fly the F-22 with a leading member of the original F-22 design / test pilot team!! During a late evening spirited discussion on the third night of this past summer’s OVERNIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMP about his favorite airplane being the F-22 with a member of the Air Camp administrative team, Conner Staten, a rising 7th grader in the Dayton Area, expressed his hope to someday fly the plane he loves for the United States Air Force. He also indicated that he was sad to learn that the F-22 would be retired in the future and that he hoped it would not be before he was old enough to earn his wings and take the controls of the iconic airplane first.

He could not have known that the person he was casually speaking to happens to have a long-standing professional relationship with the primary test flight pilot for that exact airplane. Within 48 hours, General Mike Mushala graciously showed up on the very day that Conner and his fellow participants were piloting mostly Cessna aircraft themselves from the Greene County – Lewis A Jackson Regional Airport. The decades-wide age gap barely noticeable between them, Conner sat wide-eyed taking in all that was said by the man who was instrumental in the design and development of the airplane he loves for almost an hour.

General Mushala, Mike (as he prefers to be called) has not only been an invaluable volunteer for over a decade for Air Camp sharing his expertise through countless Physics of Flight lessons, teaching elements of Flight Planning in Ground School, expert photography and social media posts about the Air Camp experience, and so much more, he is the down to earth kind of gentleman who was on site to meet Conner just 20 minutes after hanging up the phone. With a 16’x20′ framed photo under his arm taken down from a wall in his own home, 2 books about the F-22, and a business card, he gave his knowledge and personal treasures to the bright-eyed middle schooler to keep at the conclusion of their conversation. What Connor may not yet realise is that they both believe the same thing..that Conner will almost certainly succeed him in piloting the airplane they both love so much someday and we are so excited to have played a part in inspiring one more child that he can certainly make his dreams a reality!

Mike shared some epic photos of the aircraft in action over the years. You’ll notice one with Pop Star Mariah Carey from the filming of her music video for “I Still Believe” at Edwards AFB in 1998… He mentioned, “It took a bit to convince her that she could not stand on the jets in high heels.”