Cameron Ward
Sharing aviation one passenger—and student—at a time
When he’s not working for Coughlin Brothers Racing of Columbus, Ohio, CFI Cameron Ward is instructing at Spencer Aviation in Marysville, Ohio, or helping out with Dewey Davenport’s Goodfolk and O’Tymes Biplane Rides as they offer rides in a Travel Air 4000 or New Standard during airshow season in Ohio, May through October.
The 26-year-old, 1,750-hour instrument-rated pilot loves sharing aviation with others, especially kids. “All the flights start out the same: The kids are kind of nervous as we start up and taxi out, so they’re not talking or doing much of anything in the passenger seat. I get one-word answers at first when I ask them questions. Then, as the flight is nearing its end, most of these kids are talking a mile a minute about all sorts of things as they realize how fun flying is and they’ve begun to relax. They all become very chatty right when I’m coming into the traffic pattern, but I’m still able to concentrate. I know I’ve done my job when I see the faces light up and they’re all fired up about airplanes!” Ward said.
The same experience happens when he helps passengers climb into one of Goodfolk and O’Tymes historic aircraft. Riders are often first-time flyers and Ward helps get them situated and comfortable before one of the airshow pilots takes them for the ride of a lifetime.
“Dewey is introducing people to a side of aviation that they’ve most likely never seen or experienced before. Most people think of big commercial airliners when they think of airplanes, not an open cockpit biplane from 1929. Dewey gives an experience that few pilots can replicate. I like being a part of that,” Ward said.
He got his private pilot certificate when he was 17. “My love for aviation started primarily because of my dad. I remember when my brother and I were little kids, our dad would take us to Dairy Queen to get ice cream cones and then we’d head over to our local airport to watch the airplanes come and go. He was always taking us to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, and we’d go to many fly-ins and air shows in the area in the summertime,” Ward says. “It all grew from there and before I knew it, I was training for my private pilot certificate, passing my checkride a month before I graduated high school.”
“I know I’ve done my job when I see the faces light up and they’re all fired up about airplanes!”Ward and his brother own a Cessna 150 with their father. “My biggest challenge as a pilot was actually getting the ratings. I guess that would be every pilot’s biggest challenge! It’s hard work, and at times it can feel like no progress is being made, or that it’s taking longer than you thought it would. But in the end, I came out the other side. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I also know what’s expected of me.”
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