Matt Elzweig

Junior Tom Rizzuto has been planning to take to the sky for his entire life. ÒI always had an affinity for flying.Ó he said in a recent interview. In September, he started his first semester at the BOCES Wilson Tech aviation program at the SUNY Farmingda le Aerospace Facility, located at FarmingdaleÕs Republic Airport.
He will be enrolled in the program for three years. Two of those years will be spent during high school. The third year will take place the year after he graduates from Northport.
Rizzuto studies a variety of aerospace related topics at Wilson Tech. Some of these topics include flight environment, communications, navigation, and flying. A typical week at the program consists of flying, lectures, and yes of course, homework and te sts.
Every aviation instructor at Wilson Tech is a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor). The head aviation instructor at Wilson Tech is George Norin, a certified aircraft mechanic, private pilot, commercial pilot, CFI, and former Navy pilot. ÒHeÕs over-educatedÓ said Rizzuto of Norin.
On his 16th birthday, Rizzuto received an F.A.A. Class 3 Medical, which is the equivalent of a learnerÕs permit for driving. He actually flew for the first time on January 5th.
His class flies over Northport frequently. They have also flown to Jones Beach. Eventually they will fly to Islip, and Sikorsky Airport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are also planning to fly over Manhattan and back.
RizzutoÕs only flying experience, prior to his enrollment in the program was when he took a flying lesson with his uncle last year. After Wilson Tech, Rizzuto plans to go to aviation college. He eventually hopes to be a pilot in the US Air Force. ÒItÕs great training.Ó said Rizzuto in reference to the Air Force.
RizzutoÕs ultimate goal is to be a corporate pilot. He looks forward to receiving the great benefits and the ÒlayoversÓ, or paid vacations that go along with being a corporate pilot.
Rizzuto is not the first member of his family to be involved in the field of aviation. His grandfather made cameras that were attached to plane guns during WWII. ÒYou ever see World War II footage from guns on planes? Chances are, my grandfather made th em.Ó said Rizzuto. Rizzuto also has a cousin who fought in Desert Storm as a helicopter pilot.
For now, Rizzuto will have to settle for learning to fly in the northeastern United States, but who knows what layovers, missions, and other worldwide adventures await him in the years to come.