Why We Fly

There was an instant attraction when Dillon Barron of Hannibal, Missouri, first flew the Blanik L-13 glider.

“It was love at first ride,” said Barron about the two-seat, all-metal, semi-aerobatic sailplane. “It’s quiet, peaceful, simple, and the view is absolutely spectacular. It’s virtually an open cockpit and you can see in all directions. It’s really cool.”

What’s even cooler is that Barron completed his first series of solo flights in the glider when he turned 14—the youngest age at which a person can solo—on June 25, 2009, at Hannibal Regional Airport. His grandfather, John Barron, piloted the tow airplane, which would take Barron to a height of about 2,000 feet before releasing the glider.

Barron’s 20-minute flight was a success.

“Flying gliders is the simplest flying you can do…with no electronics or engine failures…it’s not nearly as complicated as flying a powered airplane and I enjoy it much more,” said Barron. “And I can say I can fly a glider before I can drive.”

Through his family’s business, Barron Aviation Group in Perry, Missouri, he has been exposed to nearly every facet of aviation while growing up.

At the world-class facility for Cessna 195 restoration, custom-built airplanes, and repairs, he works closely with and learns from his father, Mike Barron, a pilot for more than 20 years.

“He’s been flying since he was 4. If he could see over the dash, I could’ve soloed him in a Cessna 150 at the age of 5,” said his father, Mike, who trained Dillon in the glider, cut his shirttail to celebrate his solo, and honored his son with a flight logbook of his own to maintain. “Aviation has done so many different things for Dillon. In general, it gives him something to work toward and be proud of, something different than a lot of other kids get to do.”

Barron is involved with aircraft maintenance, structural repair, interiors, painting, and flying of all types of aircraft—such as the Cessna 195, 150, and the D-18 Twin Beech—with an emphasis on the radial engine classics.

“It’d be weird for me not to like aviation,” said Barron. Although he’s considered other career paths, so far, aviation is his choice, but he knows there is plenty of time to decide.

Barron is home-schooled through the University of Missouri’s high school program, which provides college credit for distance learning courses.

“We travel quite a bit, but Dillon works his studies into his schedule,” said his father, adding that he’s getting ready to check Dillon out in the Thunderbird Ultralight aircraft. “If you set them [children] up to achieve, it’s much simpler and cheaper, and it can be done in a shorter period of time, which is important for a young person. You have to get them started and get them to stick with it.”

Once he turns 16, Barron is prepared to fly for his glider pilot’s certificate. In the meantime, he dreams about all the possibilities. “I want to visit Alaska to see what adventurous bush flying is like or maybe it might be fun to take over the family business,” he said. “I look forward to flying for our hunting and fishing trips into the North and Northwest areas, too.”

He has to wait a few more years to give glider rides, but he said he can’t wait.

“I love all types of flying, especially gliders, they are my favorite,” said Barron. “I hope more kids will get involved with glider flying. It is a great way to get started in aviation.”

Name: Dillon Barron
Age: 14
Certificate: Student
Flight time: Logged time—25 hours, Unlogged time— about 300 hours
Aircraft flown: Blanik L-13 glider, Cessna 195 and 150, and D-18 Twin Beech
Home Airport: Hannibal Regional Airport (KHAE), Hannibal, Missouri