Aeroplane pilot Ben Jones knows exactly how he became interested in flying - through an experience he's about to give 28 Albury youngsters.
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Captain Jones and First Officer Tim Bowler will take a plane full of primary school students who have never flown before on a joy flight over North East skies on Sunday.
The Kids with Wings project has been co-ordinated by the Rotary Club of Albury West, with Rex Airlines, Aero Refuellers and Air Services Australia, as well as the pilots, all donating resources and time in support.
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Organiser and Rotarian Neville Hull said the day evolved from a wish for the children to experience something completely new.
"I think flying has that little bit of difference to going in a bus or something, that's what we want to create," he said.
"We don't know what it will create or what will happen, but down the future the kids might say, 'Well, wow, if I do that little bit harder, who knows where I could go in life?'."
The participants come from nine schools in Albury, with Springdale Heights Public School holding a writing competition to choose its representatives.
Year 6 student Tiana Harmer, 11, admitted to feeling excited but a little nervous about Sunday's flight as she viewed the 34-seater Rex plane on Thursday.
"There's a lot of radars and buttons, a lot of mechanical stuff," she said.
"Having the first time being in the air, it will be really fun, looking down and look at the view."
Captain Jones said the journey over Eildon Dam, across to Shepparton and around Albury would be conducted like a commercial flight with all the same procedures.
"I do this every day, I've been flying for 24 years, flying with Rex for 12, never had any issues," he said.
The captain still remembers his first chance to go up in the air as a child.
"After that flight I was like, 'Yeah, I want to be a pilot', no other way," he said, smiling.
A free barbecue will be held for the passengers' families during the joy flight.
Mr Hull said he'd like to offer Kids with Wings again given the enthusiastic response this time.
"We can't take everyone (now), but maybe down the future we might be able to do that," he said.
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