​Into Space

​Little Neil was just two years old when his Dad took him to watch an airplane race. The year was 1932 and in those days air shows featured brightly colored aircraft piloted by daredevils. At that early age Neil was already fascinated with flying. At age four, Neil went with his Dad for their own ride in an airplane. While Dad was nervous, Neil had the most wonderful time. Later, Neil spent time making balsa wood model airplanes. Then he graduated to more complicated plastic models. He paid for his models and lots of flying magazines by mowing lawns. When Neil was thirteen, the family moved to a new town. Neil adapted to a new school, joined the Boy Scouts, and played in the school band.

​ He still flew model airplanes and immersed himself in the night sky using a neighbor’s telescope. The fascination with flying never diminished. Neil was old enough to walk to the nearby airport to watch the planes. As a part-time job he washed planes and made extra money. Then he realized that he wanted to learn to be a pilot himself but lessons cost $9 an hour. Why, Neil would need to work for 25 hours at his other jobs to afford just one lesson, but it was well worth all the hard work. Neil asked his parents for permission and, knowing how much he loved airplanes, they agreed that he could learn to fly an airplane. Even though he couldn’t get a driver’s license for a car, at age 16 Neil had his student pilot’s license. When Neil grew up he became a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and then a test pilot for advanced rocket-powered aircraft. Have you guessed which Neil the story is about? On July 20, 1969 astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon with the famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mank