Courtesy Photo | Recent Army Flight School graduate Warrant Officer 1 Zachary Pennington walks away...... read more read more
FORT RUCKER, Ala. – For the graduating class of Army Aviation flight school, the final flight isn’t always just a checkride – it can be a journey through Army Aviation history with the Friends of Army Aviation (FOAA). FOAA offers graduating aviators, their friends, and families a “grad ride” aboard a vintage UH-1 Huey helicopter.
The idea for these rides originated with Chief Warrant Officer 2 Logan Peugh, a UH-60M instructor pilot currently assigned to A Company, 1-212th Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker. Peugh, when he was in flight school in 2021, was introduced to FOAA through his mentor, Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Sam Baker. A subsequent flight with FOAA in March 2021 proved pivotal.
Inspired, Peugh approached Baker with a proposal to offer a similar experience to his graduating class. Baker agreed, with the stipulation that Peugh organize the class and secure a minimum number of passengers to make the flight feasible.
Peugh successfully rallied his classmates, and on May 6, 2021, 85 students and family members flew in the Huey. The inaugural flights proved popular, and FOAA has since extended the opportunity to each subsequent graduating class, embarking on their 100th grad ride on September 18th.
“I realized FOAA wasn’t just about the legacy of the original ‘lift’ aircraft,” Peugh said, “but most importantly, they provided a space for Army Aviation veterans of every generation to engage with one another.”
Peugh was particularly moved by the opportunity to speak with Vietnam veterans associated with FOAA. “Their stories and legacies were incredibly motivating,” he explained, prompting him to offer the same experience to his graduating classmates. He himself flew with seven family members, including his wife, parents, grandparents, and siblings, many of whom had never flown in a helicopter before.
“It gave my family a glimpse into my job and the legacy that guided my fellow graduating students and me,” Peugh said. The flight was especially meaningful as his class was unable to host a traditional family day due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Baker, now an Army Civilian Professional at Fort Rucker, who last flew a UH-1H in 1995-96 with the 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, began volunteering with FOAA around 2019. He emphasized the natural fit of the grad rides, allowing families to experience the aircraft up close and personal during a significant milestone.
“The ability to culminate a yearlong journey and have your family and friends here for graduation…is just not something that happens every day,” Baker said. He noted the overwhelmingly positive reactions from passengers, often overcoming initial fear and nervousness to experience “elation and happiness.”
The grad rides have fundamentally changed FOAA’s operations, shifting the organization to a year-round schedule. Previously, flying operations paused during the winter months. Now, fueled by the demand for graduation flights, FOAA continues to operate even in colder weather, with passengers consistently opting for open doors despite the chill.
For Peugh, now back at Fort Rucker as an instructor pilot for the UH-60M advanced airframe track, the experience has come full circle. On Sept. 18, FOAA held its 100th graduation flight event at its hangar in Ozark. Both
Peugh and Baker were both in attendance, where FOAA flew over 140 new graduates and their families and friends.
“It’s surreal to be back here teaching flight students,” Peugh said, “and to attend the 100th FOAA flight school graduation flight.”
Baker echoed the sentiment, highlighting the value of exposing new aviators and their families to the rich history and camaraderie of Army Aviation. He emphasized that FOAA’s mission remains focused on sharing that legacy through the dedication of its volunteer members.
Warrant Officer 1 Zachary Pennington, a Washington National Guard Aviator, shared a Huey flight with his family Thursday, marking the end of his flight school training and a lifelong dream.
Pennington’s mother, Paula Pennington of Live Oak, Florida, experienced her first helicopter ride during the flight. She said she wanted to participate in the flight to better understand her son’s journey. “I wanted to experience what he has gone through and experience his training,” she said.
For both seasoned veterans and newly winged aviators, the grad rides and those who fly them provide a powerful reminder of the shared history and enduring bonds that define the Army Aviation community.
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2025 22:26 |
| Story ID: | 548848 |
| Location: | OZARK, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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