Enjoying the view: Harrison Ford

Many of us were introduced to Harrison Ford in 1977 when he played space smuggler Han Solo in the first film in the original Star Wars trilogy. He was, to say the least, engaging; the magical combination of handsome and dangerous of which movie heroes are made.

If you need reminding: http://goo.gl/fpyNQ

Since his breakout role in the hit film (actually titled, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope), Ford has made a litany of hit films including the popular Indiana Jones series,
but along the way he cultivated a hobby that offers a different glimpse into the personality of the A-List actor. For the past 17 years, he has been a pilot and a staunch supporter of the general aviation industry.

Last week, Ford did a live interview at EAA’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to talk a bit about his experience as a pilot, and to encourage space exploration of the aviation kind.

“I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to represent others in the aviation community to the general public, as communication is pretty much what I do,” Ford said, smiling.

Of course, Ford has a new film out now, so any interview is an opportunity for self promotion. (The film, Cowboys and Aliens, opened last Friday in theaters nationwide). Outside of a brief mention of the film’s opening and encouraging moviegoers to check it out, Ford talked up the need to encourage young people to explore aviation. Certainly, that is what AirVenture is all about, so Ford’s comments were on target for his Oshkosh audience. In the broader sense, they should appeal to the rest of us, too.

Ford was chairman of the EAA’s “Young Eagles” program for several years, and personally gave children the opportunity to experience their first airplane flight through the program. That positive experience with general aviation can touch a child’s heart in a profound way, Ford said.

“One of the things I feel very strongly about is that an interest in aviation promotes an interest in learning,” Ford said. “A lot of kids are just not focused on achieving, and they don’t see opportunities for themselves. If they can get involved in aviation with its incremental learning and the combination of responsibility and freedom that comes out of that, they can develop a lifelong interest in learning.”

Last year, Ford won the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, the highest honor awarded each year to a "living American for significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States."

Consider these highlights of his pilot resume: In 2010, he piloted humanitarian flights in his Cessna Grand Caravan to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, delivering doctors to Port-au-Prince and Hinche; he also spoke to a Congressional caucus about the importance of general aviation to economic development, humanitarian efforts, and medical services; and he has made public service announcements to continue the drum beat for the cause. And those are just the highlights of the past year.

While Ford has the visibility to lend to his passion for aviation, he obviously admires his fellow aviators. Pilots, he said, “are good people.”

“A lot of people are not involved in their communities, are not involved in their government. By and large, pilots are responsible, engaged, educated citizens.”

How cool, to have a hobby that gives you such a positive view.

(You can watch the entire Ford AOPA Live interview at the AOPA’s website:
http://www.aopa.org/aopalive/?watch=ZibzFwMjq9yYt4Y7LumVOglMlzUtI6rh)

Copyright 2011 By Marianne V. Heffernan